ROBERTA E. WEISBROD, Ph.D.
Partnership for Sustainable Ports, LLP
(718) 722 2824; fax (718) 246 2664
Over
thirty years providing expertise in the maritime public policy sector. 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,
Partnership for Sustainable Ports (1998-present)
Planning for
implementation of maritime transport and waterfront development projects.
Niagara
Frontier Urban Area Freight Transportation Study. Leading the investigation into the
maritime freight opportunities for economic development as part of a larger
freight economic development study (2007-present).
Ferry
Safety in the Developing World. Coordinating Interferry of the Interferry-IMO Ferry Safety
project in Bangladesh. Facilitate decision making by Bangladeshi
partners; bring international resources to implement Bangladeshi decisions.
(2004-present)
Hunts
Point Produce Market Logistic Enhancement Study. Leading effort to evaluate the
feasibility of waterborne transport including freight ferries for North
America's largest produce market. Under contract with NYS Department of
Transportation and NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (2004-present)
Gowanus
Canal waterfront redevelopment. Developed conceptual plan for waterfront
and neighborhood revitalization. Worked with diverse stakeholder community on
sediment, water quality, shoreline stabilization, bulkhead repair, brownfields,
and maritime transport; conducted research, planning, documentation, outreach
and negotiations with elected & agency public officials for Community
Development Corp. (2000-2004).
Port
Education. Developed and executed a Port
Educational Program for Nation�s Port, a bi-state port advocacy organization.
Chartered New York Harbor ferries as platform to teach area students about the
harbor's maritime life (2000-2004).
Freight
ferries. Identified
optimal operations and financial feasibility for freight ferries to transport
high-value time sensitive air cargo between Newark airport and lower Manhattan.
Client: C & K Properties, a NYC- based real estate development firm; worked
closely with C & K's tenant, FedEx (2001).
Freight
villages. Evaluated the
applicability and feasibility of high quality intermodal freight transportation
facilities, freight villages, for Union County, NJ. Developed conceptual plan
and implementation strategy (2001). Ensuing efforts to present.
Ferry
System Planning. Evaluated public benefits of new ferry
services for metropolitan NYC for civic organization, Municipal Art
Society-Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (1998-2001).
Regional
Freight Planning.
Assisted in preparation of the Regional Freight Plan for the NY Metropolitan
Transportation Council, region's MPO (2000-2001).
Dredging
strategy. Prepared a strategic plan for maritime
working waterfront improvement and public outreach for the Brooklyn Navy Yard
(1998).
Director,
Sustainable Transportation Program, INFORM (1998-1999). Conducted research; wrote publications on
alternative fuel use implementation; and advocated for enhanced alternative
fuel transportation. Established the metropolitan area Fuel Cell group.
Director,
Port and Intermodal Planning, NYC Economic Development Corp. (1997-1998)
� 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 these elements now being implemented.
� Developed RFP for the Cross Harbor
Freight Movement Major Investment Study designed to enhance rail floats and
analyze creation of a rail freight tunnel to improve freight access for New
York City.
� Undertook outreach to community,
businesses & public officials in metropolitan region.
Special
Assistant to the Commissioner, New York Harbor maritime environmental issues,
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (1985-1996)
�
As
coordinator for port environmental issues: developed and implemented special
projects to prevent -- and respond to – critical oil spills and floatable
marine debris wash-ups. Worked on bulkhead replacement. Leadership role in used
oil disposal; shoreline cleanups; and dredging and dredged material disposal.
�
Prepared
& presented Federal, state and local legislative testimony on port/maritime
issues.
�
Member Long
Island Sound and New York Harbor Legislative Commissions.
�
Led the
Bi-State Oil Spill Prevention Conference (major oil industry leaders, federal,
state and local agancy officials and NGOs). Result: the industry undertook
verifiable audits.
Environmental
Consultant (1981-1984):
Researched, via
literature/interviews, the effect of anthropogenic activities on the coastal
regions for "Neptune's Revenge" by Anne Simon; Wrote issue papers for
environmental organizations, marine and maritime focus.
Professional
activities
�
Secretary,
Ferry Committee, Transportation Research Board (2005).
�
Co-founder
and co-lead, Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (2004-present).
�
Steering
Committee, US Coast Guard Harbor Operations Committee (2000-present).
�
Member of
the Board, Nation�s Port (2001- present).
�
Member,
Interferry (International Ferry Organization-present).
�
Associate
Member, Society of Naval Architects-present.
�
U.S.
representative to the Environment Comm. of the Intl Navigational Assoc.
(1998-1999).
�
Guest
Editor, Ports Issue. J. Urban Technology (1996).
�
Co-chair, Dredging
Conference �96, '97, '98, '99. Maritime Assoc. of the Port of NY/NJ.
�
Member,
Editorial Board, Journal of Urban Technology (1995-present).
�
Chair,
Environmental Sciences, New York Academy of Science (1987-89; 1991-1995).
Civic
Organizational Activities:
�
Chair of
the Board, Working Harbor Committee (2007-present)
� Chair of the Board, Neighborhood Open
Space Coalition/Friends of Gateway National Recreation Area (2000-2006)
� Co-chair Economic Development, Waterfront
& Transportation Committee, Brooklyn Chamber (2001-2004). (Waterfront
development, waterborne transportation strong focuses)
� Member of the Board, Friends of the High
School for Environmental Studies (1997-2004)
� Trustee, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
(1983-1996); Chair, Science committee
� 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 University,
(1978-1980).
Biochemistry, Biology & Chemistry
�
Post-doctoral
research, Rockefeller University, Cell biology of marine algae (1972-1975)
�
Post-graduate
summer program, Marine Biol. Lab, Woods Hole (1972)
�
Post-doctoral
research, New York Blood Center, Molecular biology (1971-1972)
�
Ph.D.
Cornell Medical College. Biochemistry (1971)
�
B.S.
Brooklyn College, Chemistry. (1964).
Selected
Papers and Presentations:
�International
Ferry Safety Project,� presented before Interferry Annual Conference,
Stockholm, Sweden (Oct. 2007).
�Containerization
and the City,� Book Review Essay. Journal of Urban Technology (Dec.
2006).
�Thinking
Outside the Box,� 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. (October 2006).
�New Life for
the Gowanus,� New York Sun, (July 26, 2006).
�South Street
Seaport, Treasure for the City, is Suddenly in Play,� New York Sun (June 26,
2006).
�It
Takes a Freight Village� in The Slatin Report, online real estate journal (February
16, 2006).
"Private
Portable Ports: Rainbow at the End of the Storm?" by Catherine Lawson and
Roberta Weisbrod, Transportation Research Record, Submitted July 2005.
"Preventing
Ferry Fatalities: Reaching out to the Responsible Realm," by Roberta
Weisbrod and Catherine Lawson, Transportation Research Record, Submitted July 2005.
"Ferry
Transport: The Realm of Responsibility for Disasters in Developing Countries."
By Catherine Lawson and Roberta Weisbrod, Journal of Public Transportation, Accepted with revisions, August 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, and Len Roueche,
Peer-reviewed paper presented at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual
Meeting January 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, December 2004, Prague.
"Transportation
Security: Critical Gaps in Information Sharing" in Rudin Transportation
Journal" (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 before the TRB annual
meeting, January 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," by Roberta E.
Weisbrod and Catherine T. Lawson, Journal of Urban Technology (August 2003).
"High Speed
Cargo Vessels" 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, Transportation Research Board 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 Journal
(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," by Roberta E. Weisbrod,
Journal of Urban Technology, (December 2001).
"Global
Freight Villages: A Solution to the Urban Freight Dilemma, " by Roberta
Weisbrod, Ernest Swiger, Gerhardt Muller, Mack Rugg, and Mary Kay Murphy,
presented at the Transportation Research Board 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
(September 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," Transportation
Research Board 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).
"Freight
Transportation in New York City and the Region," in www.gothamgazette.com (Oct.1999).
"Sustainable
Ports," at the Submerged Lands conference, New York City (Oct. 4, 1999).
"Solving
China�s Urban Crisis: China�s Transportation Energy Future," Journal of
Urban Technology (April 1999).
"Training
intermodal transportation workers for the future," Transportation Research
News (Jan –Feb 1999).
"Sustainable
Ports," invited speaker to 1st Soil & Water Environmental
Conference, Quito, Ecuador (May 1998).
"New York
as a Global Port City," The Metroplanner" NYC-APA newsletter
(Winter1998).
"Ports and
their Cities," at the International Downtown Assoc. Conference, NYC (Sept.
1997).
"Fast
ferries – challenges & opportunities," High-Speed Ferry
Conference, NYC (Apr. 9 1997).
"New
Dredging Technologies," Dredging �96 Conf., Maritime Assoc., NYC (Nov18,
1996).
"Port
Trends: Growth, Technology and Sustainable Development," Journal of Urban
Technology (Spring 1996)
"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," before the US Merchant Marine Academy, (Dec. 8, 1995).
"Dredging
and the future of the Port," Conference, US Merchant Marine Acad. (Oct. 25,
1995).
"Restoring
New York Harbor Waters," National Coalition to Restore Urban Waters
Conference, (Sept 29, 1994)