ROBERTA E. WEISBROD, Ph.D.

Principal

Sustainable Ports

<weisbrod@ix.netcom.com>

Work: (718) 722 2824

 

Over thirty years in the public policy sector, with expertise in port and waterborne transport.  Leader in successful project initiation and implementation with state and local government; for private businesses; and for the not-for-profit and civic sectors.

 

Principal, Sustainable Ports, (1998-present) Selected projects:

Development of Goods Movement Strategy for Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area.  Member of team with HDR, Dec. 2009-present.

Understanding Urban Goods Movements: National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) 15.  Member of study team with Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA), July 2009-present.

I-70 Corridor of the Future, Truck-only Lanes (TOL), Ohio through Missouri, To investigate the port and waterborne intermodal links to I-70 as part of TOL study, for four states through INDOT, with WSA, June 2009-present.

 

Niagara Frontier Urban Area Freight Transportation Study.  Leading the investigation into maritime intermodal freight opportunities as well as agriculture/food transport as part of a larger freight economic development study under contract to the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (MPO), with WSA. (2007-present).

 

Port Authority New York/New Jersey Planning Retainer.  Part of team to provide expert Financial Advisory Services in the category of Green Energy and Environmental Initiatives, with Integration Strategy.

 

Port Authority New York/New Jersey Transportation Planning Retainer.   To work on specific Intermodal Freight Transportation issues on a contract (to 2011), with Resource Systems Group, Inc.

 

Mohawk-Erie Multimodal Transportation Corridor Study. For New York State Department of Transportation, project is designed to improve corridor freight transport; leading investigation into maritime transport as well as agricultural/food logistics. Contract is with WSA, anticipated start in 2010.

 

International Ferry Safety Project.  For Interferry, coordinating the International Maritime Organization joint project in Bangladesh with all of all components of the ferry sector in Dhaka.  Pro bono (2004-present).

 

Hunts Point Produce Market Logistic Enhancement Study. Led effort to evaluate the feasibility of using intermodal waterborne transport (trailers, containers and rail cars) as well as improving the cold chain for North America's largest produce market.  Study was performed under contract to NYS DOT and NYSERDA with KLD Associates.  (2004-2006).

 

Gowanus Canal waterfront redevelopment.  Developed conceptual plan for waterfront & neighborhood revitalization with diverse stakeholders on: sediment & water quality, dredging/dredged material disposal, shoreline erosion, brownfields, & maritime transport; conducted research, planning, documentation, outreach & negotiations with elected/agency public officials for Com. Dev. Corp. (2000-2004).

 

Lower Manhattan Freight ferries. Identified optimal operations and financial feasibility for time sensitive air cargo between Newark airport and Manhattan. Client: C & K, a NYC-based real estate firm; worked closely with clientÕs tenant, FedEx (2001).

 

Union County NJ Freight village study. Evaluated the applicability and feasibility of high quality intermodal freight transportation facilities, freight villages, to serve the Port of NY/NJ. Developed conceptual plan and implementation strategy (2001). Published papers on subject.

 

Metro New York Freight Ferry System Planning.  Evaluated public benefits of new ferry services, with a strong focus on freight ferries, for metropolitan NYC for civic organization, Municipal Art Society-Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (1998-2001).

 

Downstate New York Regional Freight Plan.  Prepared solid waste component of the Regional Freight Plan for the NY Metropolitan Transportation Council, region's MPO (2000-2001).

 

Metro New York Deepwater Port.  Assisted in developing a proposal for a client seeking to create a near shore deepwater port in New York City, at Sunset Park Brooklyn (1999).

 

Metro New York Dredged Material Disposal Strategy.   Assisted Brooklyn Navy Yard environmental manager in developing strategy for dredging and dredged material disposition  (1998).

 

Other Professional Experience:

 

Director, Sustainable Transportation Program, Inform, Inc. (1998-1999).

Researched, published papers, and advocated about the technology, economics, policy, and environmental impact of alternative fuel/ alternative modes of transportation for environmental NGO.  Established the metropolitan Fuel Cell group.  Published several reports on alternative transportation fuel use, in NYS, NJ, and China.

 

Director, Port and Intermodal Planning, NYC Economic Dev. Corp. (1997-1998)

á      Developed RFP for the Strategic Plan for the Redevelopment of the Port of New York. Incorporated planning for public open space, alternative fuel use, and enhanced intermodal delivery into RFP; project incorporating elements being implemented.

á      Developed RFP for the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Major Investment Study to enhance rail floats and analyze rail freight tunnel to improve freight access for NYC.

á      Undertook outreach to community, businesses & officials in metropolitan region.

 

Special Assistant to the Commissioner, New York Harbor Port maritime environmental issues, NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation (1985-1996): As coordinator for port environmental issues: developed/implemented special projects to prevent and respond to critical oil spills and floatable marine debris wash-ups. Lead in used oil reuse; shoreline cleanups; dredging, & dredged material disposal.

á        Prepared/presented Federal, state local legislative testimony on port/maritime issues.

á        Member Long Island Sound and New York Harbor Legislative Commissions.

á        Led the Bi-State Oil Spill Prevention Conference (oil industry leaders, federal, state & local agency officials & NGOs). Result: the industry undertook verifiable audits.

 

Environmental Consultant (1981-1984):

Researched, via literature/interviews, the effect of anthropogenic activities on seacoasts for book author.  Also wrote issue papers for environmental NGOs.

 

Professional activities:

á        Chair, Ferry Transport Committee, Transport. Research Board (TRB) (2008-present).

á        Review Panel for NCFRP-24, Preserving Freight Infrastructure (2009-present)

á        Review Panel for NCFRP-23, Locating Intermodal Freight and Warehouse Facilities (2009-present)

á        Co-chair, TRB Marine Highway Subcomm. (2008–present).

á        Review Panel, for NCFRP-17, Marine Highway RFP (May 2008-present).

á        Secretary, Ferry Transport Committee, TRB (2005-2008). 

á        Steering Committee, US Coast Guard Harbor Operations Comm. (2000-present). 

á        Co-chair Economic Development, Waterfront, Brooklyn Chamber (2001-2004).

á        Associate Member, Society of Naval Architects (1999-present).

á        U.S. representative to the Environ. Comm. of the Intl. Navigat. Assoc. (1998-1999).

á        Co-chair, Dredging Conference Õ96, '97, '98, '99. Maritime Assoc. the Port of NY/NJ.

á        Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Urban Technology (1995-present).

á        Chair, Environmental Sciences, New York Acad. of Science (1987-89; 1991-1995).

 

Civic Organizational Activities:

á        Chair of the Board, Working Harbor Committee (2006-present).

á        Co-chair, Save the Graving Dock Committee (2005-2007).

á        Chair of Board, Neighborhood Open Space Coal./Friends of Gateway (2000-2006).

á        Member of Board, Friends of High School for Environmental Studies (1997-2004).

á        Trustee, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1983-1996); Chair, Science committee.

á        Initiator and Chair, New York Chapter of the American Littoral Society (1972-1978).

 

Academic/Teaching

Lecturer, Columbia University, (1975-1978; 1980-1981). Biology

Assistant professor, Yeshiva Univ., (1978-1980). Biochemistry, Biology & Chemistry

 

Education:

á        Post-doctoral research, Rockefeller Univ., Cell biology of marine algae (1972-1975).

á        Post-graduate summer program, Marine Biol. Lab, Woods Hole (1972).

á        Post-doctoral research, New York Blood Center, Molecular biology (1971-1972).

á        Ph.D. Cornell Medical College. Biochemistry (1971).

á        B.S. Brooklyn College, Chemistry. (1964).

 

 Selected Publications and Presentations

ÒOxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History,Ó Book Review and Essay, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (October 2009).

 

Essay Book Review, on redemptive cities, in Journal of Urban Technology (Fall 2008).

 

ÒUrban Maritime Infrastructure: Inventory, Protect & Embrace,Ó before the TRB Ports Waterways and International Freight Annual meeting, Baltimore, Md. (June 19, 2008).

 

ÒPort investments: Why now?Ó before the Project Finance Panel of the City Bar Association, May 13, 2008.

 

ÒFreight Ferries: Factors for Success,Ó co-author, Catherine Lawson, presentation, TRB Annual Meeting, Jan. 15, 2008.

 

ÒContainerization and the City,Ó Book Review/Essay of four books related to containerization and its urban impact, in Journal of Urban Technology (Dec. 2006).

 

ÒThinking Outside the Box,Ó Essay on the impact of fifty years of containerization and review of three books, in Marine Technology, J. of Society of Naval Arch. and Marine Eng. (Oct. 2006).

 

ÒRail ferries and floatbridges: White Paper on technologiesÓ for New York State Governor transition team (Summer 2006).

 

ÒNew Life for the Gowanus,Ó New York Sun, (July 26, 2006).

 

ÒSouth Street Seaport, Treasure for the City, Suddenly in Play,Ó New York Sun (June 26, 2006).

 

ÒIt Takes a Freight VillageÓ The Slatin Report, online real estate journal (Feb. 16, 2006).

 

"Private Portable Ports: Rainbow at the End of the Storm?" by Catherine Lawson and Roberta Weisbrod. Poster presented at the TRB annual meeting January 2006.

 

"Ferry Transport: The Realm of Responsibility for Disasters in Developing Countries." By Catherine Lawson and Roberta Weisbrod, J. Public Transport. Vol. 8 No. 4 (2005).

 

"Freight Villages and Context Sensitive Design," presentation before US Federal Highway Administration Talking Freight series, May 18, 2005.

 

"Ferry Transport: The Realm of Responsibility for Disasters in Developing Nations," by Roberta Weisbrod, Catherine Lawson, & Len Roueche, TRB Annual Meeting Jan. 2005.

 

"Ports of the 21st Century: The Age of Aquarius," Chapter, in Moving People, Goods and Information: The Cutting-Edge Infrastructures of Networked Cities, edited by Richard Hanley, Routledge, 2004.

 

"Ports of the 21st century and the urban freight dilemma," invited speaker before the EU-sponsored City Freight Conference (BESTUFS), December 2004, Prague.

 

"Transportation Security: Critical Gaps in Information Sharing" Rudin Transp. J. (2004).

 

"Information Sharing: Mind the Gap (about the need for maritime threat information sharing) in Cargo Security International (international journal) February 2004.

 

"Ferry Safety: Staten Island Case Study," presentation TRB annual meeting, Jan. 2004.

 

"Freight Villages and the Urban Freight Dilemma" invited presentation before the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, Seventh Annual Freight and Logistics Symposium December 2003, Minneapolis, MN.

 

"Ferry Systems Planning -- For the Revitalization of Cities,Ó by Roberta E. Weisbrod and Catherine T. Lawson, Journal of Urban Technology (August 2003).

 

"High Speed Cargo Vessels,Ó Book Review in Marine Technology, the Journal of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (April 2003).

 

"Global Freight Villages and Regional Competitiveness," before the NY Chapter American Planning Association (June 12, 2003).

 

"Homeland Security and the Bulk Liquid Supply Chain: Strengthening the Role of the Private Sector," by Roberta Weisbrod and Catherine Lawson, Presentation, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C.,  (Jan. 2003).

 

"Global Freight Villages: Coming to America?" by Roberta Weisbrod and MK Murphy. Presentation, TRB Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. (Jan. 2003).

 

"Freight ferries: Taking a fresh approach," Presentation before the US Maritime Administration Short Sea Shipping Conference. New York City (November 2002).

 

"Making Ferry Systems Work: Taking a Systems Approach to Achieving Value,"

by Catherine Lawson and Roberta Weisbrod. Presentation, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Annual Conference, Baltimore, Md. (November 2002).

 

"Ferries Since 9/11& Into the Future," NYU Rudin Center Transportation J. (Fall 2002).

 

"Freight ferries for New York/New Jersey harbor," Presentation at TransAction, New Jersey annual transportation conference, Atlantic City, NJ (April 2002).

 

"Rebuild New York: Strengthen the Maritime Connection," J. Urban Tech., (Dec. 2001).

 

"Global Freight Villages: A Solution to the Urban Freight Dilemma," by Roberta Weisbrod, Ernest Swiger, Gerhardt Muller, Mack Rugg, and Mary Kay Murphy, paper and presentation at the TRB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (January 2002).

 

"Emerging Trends/Technology Needs -- Maritime Transport in New York/New Jersey Harbor," before the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee Research and Technology meeting in Washington, DC, (November 2001).

 

"Taking Back the Legacy of Greatness: The Future Port of New York," before the Gotham Center History Conference, New York City, (October 2001).

 

"Moving Freight on Water" (in NY/NJ harbor), www.gothamgazette,com/waterfront (Sept. 2001).

 

"Brooklyn Navy Yard," in www.gothamgazette.com (July 2001).

 

"Freight ferries in NY/NJ harbor: How to make them happen," Transportation Research Board annual meeting and published proceedings, Washington, D.C. (January 2001).

 

"Envisioning the Port of the Future," presented at New York Academy of Science-Urban Technology Institute Conference, NYC (June 26-27, 2000).

 

"The Great Port," in www.gothamgazette.com Commentary (March 6, 2000).

 

"Great Ports," invited speaker, presentation and proceedings, before the Baltic Port Association Sustainable Development Conference, Gdansk Poland (Mar. 31, 2000).

 

"Federal Alternative Fuel Transportation policy: New York State Case Study," TRB annual meeting and proceedings, Washington, DC (January 2000).

 

"Emerging Environmental Technologies for Sustainable Port Cities," at the U.S. Trade Development Agency World Port Conference, Charleston, SC (Nov. 9, 1999).

 

"Training intermodal transportation workers for the future," Transportation Research News (Jan –Feb 1999).

 

"Freight Transportation in NYC & the Region," in www.gothamgazette.com (Oct.1999).

 

"Sustainable Ports," at the Submerged Lands conference, New York City (Oct. 4, 1999).

 

"Solving ChinaÕs Urban Crisis: ChinaÕs Transportation Energy Future," J. of Urban Technology (April 1999).

 

"Sustainable Ports," presenter 1st Soil & Water Env. Conf., Quito, Ecuador (May 1998).

 

"New York as a Global Port City," The Metroplanner" NYC-APA newslet. (Winter1998).

 

"Ports and their Cities,Ó International Downtown Assoc. Conference, NYC (Sept. 1997).

 

"Fast ferries – challenges & opportunities," High-Speed Ferry Conf., NYC (Apr. 9 1997).

 

"New Dredging Technologies," Dredging Conf., Maritime Assoc., NYC (Nov. 18, 1996).

 

"Port Trends: Growth, Technology and Sustainable Development," Journal of Urban Technology (Spring 1996).   (In Sustainable Ports Issue. Journal of Urban Technology (1996; Guest Editor, Roberta Weisbrod).

 

"Contaminated Sediment and Sustainable Ports: Can the Dredging Crisis Lead the Way to Environmental Restoration?" at the New York Academy of Science, (April 18, 1996).

 

"Dredging: The Harbor is Getting Cleaner – Why are the Sediments Testing Dirty?" at the New York Water Environment Federation Association conference (Jan. 1996).

 

"Environmental Issues of Ports," at US Merchant Marine Academy, (Dec. 8, 1995).

 

"Dredging & the Future of the Port," Conf., US Merchant Marine Acad. (Oct. 25, 1995).