Urban Engineers Supports Award-Winning Camden Terminal Rail Improvement

CAMDEN, N.J. - The Balzano Marine Terminal infrastructure upgrade earned the 2025 Distinguished Engineering Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action.

According to the release from Urban Engineers, Inc., the project is led by both Urban Engineers and the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC). The project was one of many awarded by the New Jersey Alliance for Action and sought to modernize “the terminal’s rail system to enhance freight capacity, reduce emissions, and improve economic resilience.” As part of its collaboration, Urban Engineers worked to rehabilitate the old infrastructure that was originally constructed in the 1930s. Both Urban Engineers and SJPC assessed the rail conditions and subsequently developed “comprehensive design plans” that targeted the aging track.

As part of the work, Urban Engineers worked to “streamline the rail layout” in order to achieve better cargo movement, design “embedded rail systems for rubber-tired cargo equipment and tractor-trailers”, design plans for cast manganese steel crossing frogs where freight rail meets the Ship-To-Shore crane system, upgrade stormwater drainage, and conduct field evaluations and make any necessary design revisions as part of construction phase services.

After the project’s completion, the terminal can “triple its rail freight throughput capacity” while reducing emissions.

SJPC Director of Engineering Chris Perks, PE said, “This project significantly expands our rail capacity, supporting our mission to provide efficient, consistent cargo handling to our customers. We strive to bring value to our customers and partners, while working every day to be a good neighbor along the Camden Waterfront. We appreciate the work that Urban Engineers did on this project.”

Urban Engineers Project Manager Frank Teifeld said, “This project represents what smart infrastructure can achieve – greater efficiency, cleaner operations, and economic benefits. . . We’re proud to have helped bring this vision to life for Camden and the region. Thank you to SJPC and our dedicated partners for making this success possible.”