The Port of New York and New Jersey (PONYNJ), the 3,000 acres of marine terminals spread across five facilities in two states, is the third largest port in the United States. In 2016, PONYNJ handled over 3.2 million cargo containers. Arguably a critical economic driver for the region and the entire East Coast, the PONYNJ is responsible for the vast majority of goods available in the Tri-State area and supports an estimated 336,600 jobs. PONYNJ operates in a challenging industry, answering to myriad constituents and geographies, and managing everyday operations cheaply and efficiently enough to remain the largest port complex on the eastern seaboard. Against this backdrop the Port Authority of New York & Jersey’s Port Department hired a consulting team to deliver a Port Master Plan that considers the next 30 to 40 years of PONYNJ’s future operations, land use, and economic health. A critical component of accomplishing this long-range planning and visioning requires engaging and understanding the large number of actors who are affected by the Port. To strategically and thoughtfully engage this complex range of stakeholders over the yearlong planning process, Karp Strategies was hired by prime consultant Hatch as a strategic partner to lead this work. Karp Strategies developed and deployed a holistic stakeholder engagement strategy that tailors different engagement activities and methodologies to the wide variety of actors involved. Results of these engagements helped Hatch to develop different scenarios for the Port’s future – ultimately delivering an actionable Port Master Plan to the PONYNJ that includes broad stakeholder awareness, inclusion, and support.

In 2020, Hatch received the American Council of Engineering Companies New York Diamond Award in the category of Studies, Research, and Consulting Engineering Services, as well as the 2020 National Recognition Award from the National American Council of Engineering Companies for the consulting team’s work on the New York and New Jersey Port Master Plan 2050. Karp Strategies is proud to have served as a partner on this complex, innovative, and critical project.