|
 Happy Holidays from the Port of Baltimore!
|
|
MDOT MPA Receives Federal Grant for Coastal Resiliency Assessment
We are happy to announce that the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) has been awarded a $150,000 Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant under its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program. The funding will be used to develop a comprehensive flood and storm vulnerability assessment and improve overall coastal resiliency at the six state-owned Port of Baltimore (POB) marine terminals and their adjacent communities. The study will also encompass the World Trade Center Baltimore, which houses the MDOT MPA’s corporate offices.
The study results will assist funding opportunities for the engineering phase to identify needed mitigation options. “I want to thank FEMA for helping to support our efforts to further protect Maryland’s Port of Baltimore,” said MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle.
 Photo: The study will include a detailed assessment of all buildings and structures on the public terminals; piers, berths, and cranes; roadways and rail; storm drains and stormwater infrastructure; wastewater and waste management infrastructure, in addition to telecommunications, electrical, lighting, and security systems. Photo credit: MDOT MPA
|
|
Hart-Miller Island Run – A 5-Miler Filled with Fun
The 3rd Hart-Miller Island Run took place on October 22nd, and it was a big success! Approximately 200 people traveled to the island for the event, where 109 runners competed in the race. Participants were mostly local, from the Baltimore Metro area, but the event also had out-of-state attendees who traveled from Virginia, Pennsylvania and as far away as Florida.
The event was possible thanks to partnerships with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), the Maryland Park Service, Charm City Run, MDOT MPA, Friends of Hart-Miller Island, Friends of Maryland State Parks, and awesome volunteers from the North Point - Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department. "You all should have this race twice a year. Have a spring event and a fall event,” said a happy runner after the race.
 Photo: The weather and boating conditions were perfect, which was a major factor in the success of the event. Photo credit: Robin L. Reed / Maryland Department of Natural Resources
|
|
Duncan Street Miracle Garden is Spruced Up and Ready for a New Season
On November 5th, the Baltimore Port Alliance (BPA) Environmental Committee united forces with the New Broadway East Community Association and community volunteers to clean out the raised vegetable beds of the Duncan Street Miracle Garden. Volunteers included current and former staff from the MDOT MPA, Vane Brothers, C. Steinweg Group, EcoLogix Group, and Baltimore Development Corporation. Baltimore City Councilman Antonio Glover also joined the effort.
Nestled in the middle of the 1800 block of Duncan Street in East Baltimore, the Duncan Street Miracle Garden is a focal point for the community, and is used by gardeners from various Baltimore neighborhoods. The food produced there is often donated to churches and soup kitchens. Also, picnic tables, painted birdhouses and colorful flowers make this garden a beautiful place for relaxation, recreation, work, and community gatherings.
 |
|
Photo (Above): After only two hours of love and attention, the half-acre food garden, covering the 1800 block of Duncan Street, turned into a fresh oasis, ready for a new season of a vast variety of delicious fruits and vegetables!
Photo (Left): John Shkor of Vane Brothers, rototilling at warp speed!
Photo credits: Dan Spack / EcoLogix Group, Inc.
|
|
|
BPA Initiative to Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose Used Wharf Logs
Wharf logs are used at marine terminals as curb stops to increase safety for cargo handling equipment moving around the water’s edge. Over time, these heavy composite logs must be replaced, but what to do with the old pieces? Instead of disposal, the State donated the wharf logs to the BPA, who works with community organizations that have need for such materials. The Greater Baybrook Alliance (GBA) had interest to reduce illegal dumping at Farring-Baybrook Park in Brooklyn & Curtis Bay and determined the wharf logs would be ideal as a deterrent.
Photo: Used wharf logs were transported from Dundalk Marine Terminal to C. Steinweg’s Baltimore location where they were cut to size and bundled. The MES transported the material to the Farring-Baybrook Park, where the GBA then contracted for the installation of wharf logs along the park’s edge. Photo Credit: MDOT MPA.
 |
|
GBA Director of Revitalization Programs Sarah Hope said, “We are grateful for the donation which allowed our project to be completed within budget and will contribute to the beautification of this valuable community resource.”
Photo: MES staff placing wharf logs near the parking lot at Farring-Baybrook Park.
Photo Credit: Sarah Hope / GBA
|
Photo: Used wharf logs installed along the park's edge. Photo credit: Dan Spack / EcoLogix Group
|
|
2022 Cox Creek Open House Was a Hit
On October 15th, the MDOT MPA welcomed the public to the 2022 Cox Creek Open House at the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility (Cox Creek DMCF). The 120 attendees were welcomed to visit 15 informational and interactive stations from partner organizations, such as Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center, Hart Miller Island and Poplar Island Native Bee Survey by Gene Scarpulla, Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Orchard Beach Volunteer Fire Department, and Anne Arundel Bird Club.
 |
|
The interactive stations included fish, terrapins, crafts and coloring, Touch-A-Truck, van tours of the expanding Cox Creek DMCF site, remote mower demonstrations, and both guided and self-guided birding. “This was a great experience, very educational, staff was friendly and inviting,” said one attendee in the exit survey.
Photo: Kids were able to explore and experience a variety of heavy-duty equipment during the event, including a fire truck, an ambulance, a dump truck, and as pictured above, an excavator!
Photo credit: Katrina Jones/ MDOT MPA.
|
Photo: Among the 120 total attendees, 35 were birders who attended the morning guided birding tour, 21 were children under the age of 18, and 44 were first-time visitors. Photo credit: Dallas Henson/MES and Danielle Fisher/ MDOT MPA.
|
|
DMMP Annual Report & Annual Meeting: Building the Future Together
Save the date! The MDOT MPA is holding the Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) Annual Meeting on December 9th, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Please join us to network, meet our leaders, and learn how the DMMP is Building the Future Together while successfully maintaining the Port’s channels and honoring commitments to our community partners and the environment. The meeting is hybrid and registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. For in person participants, a continental breakfast will be available at 9:30am and an exhibit hall featuring 2022 accomplishments will be open until 12:00pm.
And that’s not all! The DMMP will soon release the 2022 Annual Report, detailing achievements from the preceding year that were guided by DMMP committee recommendations in the preceding annual report. New committee recommendations for 2023 DMMP efforts are also detailed as we gear up for another great year. For more information and to view recent DMMP Annual reports, please click here.
 Photo: Participants from the Port’s Youth Birding Week enjoying Masonville Cove on a bright, sunny day. The site was restored into a beautiful environmental oasis as a direct result of the DMMP. Photo credit: courtesy of Katrina Jones/MDOT MPA.
|
|
BPA’s Fall 2022 Hiring & Career Expo Attracts Nearly 190 Attendees
On October 24th, the BPA hosted another successful Hiring & Career Expo at the Community College of Baltimore County Dundalk Campus featuring exhibitors from both public and private sectors. The job seekers who joined the event had the chance to learn about available maritime, transportation, and logistics careers in the Baltimore area. As reported by an attendee/jobseeker, “All the recruiters I spoke to today were quite informative and quite helpful, extremely professional, and I would be glad to have employment with any of the above.”
The event was an opportunity for companies to showcase their brand and culture within the industry, while attracting talent looking for meaningful job opportunities. Please find the full list of exhibitors here.
 Photo: The Hiring & Career Expo is a valuable networking opportunity for both job seekers and employers. Photo credit: MDOT/MPA
 Photo: A group of Baltimore City high school seniors who have been trained in relevant trades through career readiness pathways attended the event. Photo credit: MDOT MPA
|
|
|
These committee meetings are open to the public. Some meetings may be virtual or in-person in accordance with COVID protocols. Please visit maryland-dmmp.com for details and to access information for each meeting. For questions, please contact ecoport@marylandports.com.
DMMP Annual Committee Meeting - December 9th at 10:00AM (Hybrid)
Registration is open – maryland-dmmp.com
MedStar Harbor Hospital
3001 Hanover Street
Baltimore, MD 21225
Cox Creek Citizens Oversight Committee Meeting - January 11th at 5:30 PM
Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility Operations Building
1000 Kembo Road
Baltimore, MD 21226
Hart-Miller Citizens Oversight Committee Meeting - January 17th at 6:30 PM
For more information, visit maryland-dmmp.com.
For questions, ecoport@marylandports.com.
DMMP Citizens Advisory Committee - February 8th at 6:00PM
For more information, visit maryland-dmmp.com.
For questions, ecoport@marylandports.com.
Innovative Reuse Committee Meeting - February 28th at 5:30PM
Pt. Breeze Maritime Center I
2200 Broening Highway
Baltimore, MD 21224
|
|
ECO Port Newsletter is the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration’s bi-monthly update of projects and programs that help the agency contribute to a thriving economy, environmental stewardship, and community partnerships. As always, we thank the many private sector businesses, government leaders, communities, and individual citizens who have helped make these achievements a reality. |
|
|
William P. Doyle, Executive Director
MDOT Maryland Port Administration
The World Trade Center
401 East Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21202
1-800-638-7519 / www.marylandports.com
|
|
|
|
|
