By Manuel Muñoz Jr.
On Thursday, July 2nd, the Port of Hueneme welcomed California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin along with other local and state leaders for Ticket to Results, a special event dedicated to showcasing the various projects that received funding through the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program [PFIP].
In 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom awarded $80 million to the Port of Hueneme to support its mission of becoming a zero-emission transportation hub by 2030. This funding was allocated from the state’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program [PFIP] and will be used to demolish old buildings, add zero-emission infrastructure, deepen berths, improve wharf safety and efficiency, electrify equipment, expand shoreside power, and support the local fishing industry. This investment will continue to help The Port create opportunities for employment, improve air and water quality, enhance transportation equity, and strengthen the region’s supply chain.
The Ticket to Results event highlighted the progress the Port of Hueneme has accomplished with the help of the funding it received through PFIP. Secretary Omishakin spoke on the ways this investment will help the Port of Hueneme uphold the California State Transportation Agency’s Core Four Priorities: safety, impact on climate, equity, and economic prosperity. He explained, “These impressive Port of Hueneme projects funded by the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program are not just critical for California’s supply chain system but they are also of vital importance to our communities. Governor Newsom’s investments in transportation infrastructure are delivering cleaner air and better jobs to communities across California.”
Although they were unable to attend the event in-person, both California State Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett sent pre-recorded video messages that outlined their support of the Port and its PFIP-funded initiatives.
The event was held at the Port of Hueneme Oxnard Harbor District office and included a tour of the port and its facilities. Port staff led guests through a tour of completed and ongoing projects while highlighting the ways the PFIP investments are increasing capacity, improving operational efficiency, reducing emissions, strengthening workforce development, and enhancing trade across the region. The tour began with the recently completed modernized berth, a designated space for ships to dock or anchor, and the removal of the obsolete Warehouse 1A to increase safety and efficiency on the wharf. The next stop was the Squid Street Station, which included the squid offloading relocation project and the modernized staging area. The tour continued with the South Terminal Shoreside Power Station and concluded at the Workforce Station to highlight the S.P.E.E.D. [Sustainability, Prosperity, Education, Equity-Driven] Initiative.
Other stops included ZE Station, where the Port is using $9.2 million in PFIP funding to replace its south terminal shoreside power system, which removes diesel exhaust by allowing vessels to plug in while at-berth. These funds are supporting $40 million in disaster relief from the State of California Office of Emergency Services. Other highlighted projects included a relocated squid operation and an innovative $2 million workforce development initiative known as S.P.E.E.D.
“The PFIP funding is truly transformational for the Port and is allowing us to improve the safety and efficiency of both terminals while giving us the tools and resources we need to pursue our goal of reaching zero emissions status by the end of 2030,” said Jason Hodge, President of the Oxnard Harbor Commission.
The Port & Freight Infrastructure Program has helped the Port of Hueneme attract other sources of funding. “We’ve leveraged PFIP funds to attract federal and private dollars totaling over $85 million,” said Port of Hueneme CEO Kristin Decas. “That means every dollar the state has invested through PFIP has delivered additional returns while helping us reduce emissions, boost the local economy, and create good jobs.”
It was stated that all Port of Hueneme projects valued at or above $250,000 are completed under a negotiated Project Labor Agreement using union labor. PFIP-funded projects are expected to create between 150 and 300 construction jobs and support approximately 700 long-term jobs.
Project implementation will continue through June 30, 2028, as the Port completes PFIP-funded projects to strengthen California’s supply chain.
The event helped shine a light on the way that the transportation industry can be a vehicle for social mobility through the investments in the local student population and workforce.