The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has presented in the Port of Miami (PortMiami) the actions that Spain is carrying out to enhance the railway and road connections of its ports, as well as the progress in the electrification of the docks.
During his visit, Puente held a meeting this Wednesday with Eric Olafson, Director of Global Trade and Business Development at PortMiami, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and best practices in port management.
As the Ministry has pointed out, the head of Transport has detailed that both the improvement of connections and the electrification projects are being strongly promoted in Spain by the Department itself and by Ports of the State. He also emphasized that the contrast with the policies developed in Miami is particularly useful due to the accumulated experience there in railway links, roads, and in infrastructures such as the PortMiami Tunnel.
"The meeting has been very interesting, we have been able to share experiences and we have established collaboration ties between the Spanish ports and the port of Miami," said the minister, who pointed out the importance of this link because Miami is "one of the most important entry ports in the United States and one of the best access points for our ports."
In the released note, the Ministry emphasizes that in Spain, the improvement of connectivity between the ports and their areas of influence, along with the strengthening of freight rail transport, are considered key elements to gain competitiveness and advance in decarbonization. In this context, the joint strategy of Transport and Ports is situated, which contemplates an investment of 950 million euros aimed at the electrification of the port docks.
Transport network in Miami and cooperation with Spain
The minister has also taken advantage of his stay in Miami —where he spoke on Tuesday at the LAC Transport Forum organized by the Inter-American Development Bank— to hold a meeting with Stacy Miller, Director and CEO of the Department of Transportation and Public Works of the county.
In that meeting, Puente has highlighted the role of the Miami-Dade transportation system, emphasizing its contribution to the economic development of the county, social inclusion, and the capacity to adapt to the risks associated with climate change.
In this context, the minister has exchanged experiences with those responsible for mobility management in Miami regarding public transport, active mobility, roads, and logistics of goods, with a long-term perspective. The conversation addressed local initiatives from the state of Florida, such as the SMART Program, the Better Bus Network, and the County Master Transportation Plan.
Puente has also pointed out the interest of Spanish companies and their technical solvency in the planning, construction, and operation of complex multimodal transport systems. In this regard, he emphasized that there is a wide field to deepen the technical dialogue on aspects such as service reliability, asset management, accessibility, and the integration of public transport with walking and cycling trips.
Finally, the minister has offered Spanish experience in the planning and operation of rail and metropolitan transport, in interoperable rail networks, and in the digital management of traffic and mobility, supported by public entities, including ADIF and Renfe, as well as by Spanish companies that have an extensive international track record in these sectors.