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USACE Buffalo District to Assist City of Rochester in Planning Study

Published Feb. 23, 2016
Under the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, the city of Rochester, New York has requested planning assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District to conduct an economic and dredging analysis, to help the city determine the benefits associated with making Rochester Harbor a tourist destination for Great Lakes cruise ships.

Under the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, the city of Rochester, New York has requested planning assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District to conduct an economic and dredging analysis, to help the city determine the benefits associated with making Rochester Harbor a tourist destination for Great Lakes cruise ships.

Under the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, the city of Rochester, New York has requested planning assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District to conduct an economic and dredging analysis, to help the city determine the benefits associated with making Rochester Harbor a tourist destination for Great Lakes cruise ships.

 

The PAS program is used to prepare plans to manage water and related land resources. Under this program, states and nations can benefit from the Corps of Engineers’ technical expertise in conducting studies which include water quality studies, wetland evaluation studies, and harbor or port studies.

 

It is also important to understand the authority does not lead to the development of detailed designs or construction, but can provide technical recommendations for the areas being investigated. More importantly, the PAS program fosters cooperative relationships between the Corps of Engineers and states.

 

Recently the Port of Rochester, Rochester, NY enlisted the support of the USACE Buffalo District through the PAS program. The program will provide a comprehensive economic analysis which will determine if there are any regional economic benefits associated with upgrading existing facilities to accept Great Lakes cruise ships. Further, the study will include an analysis to determine if the Genesee River has adequate draft to accommodate the large cruise ships, and determine the necessary infrastructure upgrades that would need to be accomplished before the cruise ships could call the Port a destination.

 

“The PAS authority is a great program for the city to tap the expertise of the Corps of Engineers to assist in providing unbiased documentation and recommendations that will set the stage for future growth for the city of Rochester,” says Laura Ortiz, Buffalo District certified floodplain manager.

 

These Great Lakes cruise ships currently offer 10-day trips between Chicago and Montreal with stops in Windsor-Detroit, Mackinac Island, and Sault Ste. Marie, among other destinations. Cruisers are exposed to beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife viewing, and thriving Great Lakes communities to explore.

 

The Port of Rochester, located at the confluence of the Genesee River and Lake Ontario, offers diverse attractions, such as fishing, boating, and swimming beaches like Ontario Beach Park. Often you can see people enjoying walks along the Charlotte Pier, which is part of the USACEs navigation system.  

 

Currently, a Memorandum of Agreement is in route to be signed between the USACE Buffalo District and the city of Rochester. Once signed, this MOA will lead to the development of detailed economic and dredging studies, results of which will provide valuable information to the city. 

 

The cost of the PAS study will be shared 50% federal and 50% non-federal, and once funding is in place, it is anticipated that the study will begin in late spring 2016 and will take approximately six months to complete.

 

This partnership between the USACE Buffalo District and the city of Rochester will provide the city with updated economic information, which the city can use to make risk-informed decisions about future economic development of the Port of Rochester and the Genesee River area.

 

For more information regarding the PAS program, contact Laura Ortiz, laura.v.ortiz@usace.army.mil.