Port Putnam is strategically located at the intersection of waterway, rail, and road networks, making it an ideal site for developing a regional transportation hub. The federal waterway along the St. John’s River connects Central Florida to the Atlantic Ocean and JAXPORT. The rail line links the seaport to Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and beyond. Additionally, the road network in Palatka, just south of Port Putnam, connects the city with interstates and major highways across Florida and beyond. The nearby Palatka airport, less than two miles from the seaport, is poised to expand its runway to accommodate larger cargo planes.
These elements, combined with its central location, make Port Putnam the perfect site for an intermodal cargo hub. The 2023 Port Putnam Master Plan outlines a ten-year framework for the seaport’s revitalization and development, supporting the Putnam County Port Authority’s goals of job creation and economic revitalization.
Goals & Objectives
- Replace a 75-year-old bulkhead to resume commercial cargo traffic.
- Resurface and expand lay down area.
- Further cargo volume increases after the dredging of the access channel and the raising of the Shands bridge as part of the First Coast Expressway construction.
Current or Planned Investments
- BULKHEAD REPLACEMENT
- PORT ANNEX INTERMODAL DEVELOPMENT
- PORT ACCESS DREDGING PROJECT
Accomplishments
- Continuing Authorities Section 107 project initiated by US Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the access channel
- Designated as a member of the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council by the Florida State Legislature.
Mission
The Putnam County Port Authority was established in 1967 and authorized to carry out public purposes of benefit to the citizens of Putnam County and the state of Florida.