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Congressman Dan Goldman, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Announce $164 Million Grant to Revitalize the Brooklyn Marine Terminal

September 20, 2024

Award Follows Advocacy Led by Goldman and Supported by Coalition of Elected Officials Representing the Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Goldman Serves as Chair of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force

Read the Coalition’s Letter of Support Here

Brooklyn, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today announced that he and a coalition of elected officials secured a $163,800,000 Mega Grant award from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), which will be used by the City of New York to revitalize the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT).

As Chair of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force, Congressman Goldman led a letter of support for the grant award, joined by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, New York State Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, New York State Assemblymember Charles Fall, New York State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York City Councilmember Alexa Avilés, and New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif to the U.S. DOT.

Upgrades and repairs to the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which hosts an active container terminal and cruise terminal, would ensure the future viability of the working waterfront in the New York-New Jersey Harbor. Once complete, the modernization of the BMT will create quality jobs and reduce truck trips while serving as a global model for modern shipping utilizing low-emission, last-mile freight movement, community hiring, and neighborhood engagement.

Congressman Goldman – alongside State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Councilmember Alexa Avilés – founded the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force to ensure that the revitalization of the BMT was grounded in community engagement. The BMT Task Force will ensure that every neighborhood is represented throughout this process and will center the needs and concerns of community members while developing the future of the BMT. 

“I am delighted that we have secured $163,800,000 in funding for the vital redevelopment of the Brooklyn waterfront,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This incredible investment in our Red Hook community will be transformative. While the Brooklyn Marine Terminal had been mired in decades of inertia, we have entered a new era with this long overdue federal funding. This infusion will allow our city to fully enhance the economic growth and health of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, while taking into account the public health and climate goals of surrounding communities. The future is here – and it’s looking bright for Brooklyn.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “After years of advocating for the revitalization of Brooklyn’s waterfront, including preservation of existing freight operations and addition of new manufacturing and assemblage of wind power infrastructure, not to mention bike lanes and parks, I’m proud to deliver this MEGA grant win with my congressional partners, Rep. Dan Goldman and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. $163.8 million for New York City’s Brooklyn Marine Terminal modernization project is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law I led to passage. The rehabilitation and rebuilding of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal is the next step in reimagining and revitalizing the Brooklyn waterfront. The project will boost the economy and create good-paying jobs for those in adjacent communities, including Red Hook, Sunset Park and Gowanus, and add upgraded and safer bike and walking lanes to boot.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “I am proud to announce that your federal New York representatives have delivered more than $160 million to revitalize the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT). This MEGA federal grant will fund one of the city’s top priorities – turning BMT into a premier model for modern, global maritime use. This funding will create jobs in New York City, optimize low-emission technology to improve air quality in Red Hook and surrounding communities, and reduce truck traffic in the city. Democrats delivered on this important project that will bring new life to historically disadvantaged communities and ensure NYC’s green economy continues to prosper.” 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “New York City has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the 122 acres of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and this funding unlocks unlimited potential for this underutilized waterfront. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and our partners in Congress for issuing this grant as we set our sights on the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. We’re excited to work with the local community, our fellow elected officials, and key stakeholders to deliver for Red Hook, for Brooklyn, and for our entire city.”

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “By building a better Brooklyn Marine Terminal, we're building a better future for Brooklyn and the whole region. This federal funding will help make up for years of disinvestment of the piers and allow us to invest in a modernized terminal that can sustainably handle freight deliveries, reduce emissions, expand economic opportunity and create new jobs. I'm thankful to Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Biden Administration for awarding this crucial grant, and look forward to working with community partners to ensure we maximize its impact.”

New York City Councilmember Alexa Avilés said, “The DOT's Mega Grant will kick start critical work at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which will contribute to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and modernization of our port infrastructure. I look forward to these funds being used to improve traffic flow in our community and toward getting trucks off of our roads, all while building livable wage jobs for the people of our community.”

New York City Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer said, “I am thrilled by today's announcement and want to thank the entire New York delegation who supported this grant application, and particularly Representative Goldman for his leadership role on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force. With collaboration at every stage of government, including the tremendous investment from the federal government announced today, the City of New York is poised to reimagine the Brooklyn Marine Terminal as a resilient, low-emission modern maritime facility with sensible transportation that minimizes emissions and congestion and is integrated with additional public amenities that benefit the surrounding communities and city more broadly.”

New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball said, “This is a historic investment for a generational project that will truly transform Brooklyn’s waterfront and deliver positive economic and environmental impacts across the region. An enormous amount of thanks to the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the role it can play in bolstering our Blue Highways network throughout the five boroughs. I also want to thank our federal elected officials Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congressman Dan Goldman who is leading our Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force for their efforts in advocating for this project.”

In May, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced that they would be taking over ownership of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and initiating a community-led master planning and visioning process for the future of the Terminal. Congressman Dan Goldman was tapped to serve as Chair of the Task Force and Senator Andrew Gounardes and Councilmember Alexa Avilés were tapped to serve as Vice Chairs. The Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force has oversight over NYCEDC’s master planning process.

The Mega Grant award included three components: (1) Rehabilitate Pier 10, (2) Demolish Piers 9A and 9B and construct a new Pier 9, and (3) improve traffic and circulation on the BMT campus for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. The funding will be released in two waves. $3.8 million will be released to New York City in Fiscal Year 2025 and the other $160 million will be released in Fiscal Year 2026.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mega Grant program supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits.

Congressman Dan Goldman has worked tirelessly to modernize the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and support the Red Hook Community.

Congressman Dan Goldman serves as Chair of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force alongside Vice Chairs Senator Andrew Gounardes and Councilmember Alexa Avilés.

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