The Establishment Of The Port Of New York Authority And The Development Of Port District (1921-1962)

In April30,1921, New York and New Jersey established a common port management agency in the form of the Interstate Compact-"Port of New York Authority"(now known as "Port Authority of New York and New Jersey"), and clearly delimited its jurisdiction and development of "Port District". This is the first interstate public authority established through interstate compact in American history, and has make a significant role in promoting the transportation and economic development of New York-New Jersey region and even the whole country. This thesis aims to elaborate on the establishment and development history of this particular authority, and then explore its influence on transportation, politics and economic of New York region.Except introduction, this thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter traced its historical background from four aspects. Firstly, the establishment of the Port Authority is an inevitable requirement of the economic development and urbanization; Secondly, contradictions and conflicts on the port issue between New York and New Jersey is the hotbed and soil of establishment of the Port Authority; Thirdly, progressive philosophy in Progressive Movement is ideological foundation of Port Authority; Finally, the outbreak of the First World War, especially port defects of management and operation exposed during World War I directly contributed to the final formation of the Port Authority.The second chapter focuses on the process of the establishment of the Port Authority. This chapter was written from the father of the Port Authority firstly Cohen. New York-New Jersey Port and Harbor Development Commission was first-ly established, and soon invented "Port Authority" conception follow the example of the Port of London Authority. In April1921, two states, the Port Authority of New York came into being ultimately after amending three times of Interstate compact. Based on the important position of the interstate compact, I enumerated and analyzed some of the important contents of this compact in this chapter, and interpret its committee management and self-financing model.The third chapter describes its development and operation of Port District in forty years. This chapter divides40years into three stages, including:the plight of the20’s,30’s turnaround and development, as well as the expanding of40’s-60’s.The fourth chapter deals with the management features of the Port Authority and its effects on Port District. Firstly, it opens the modernization of public authority in the United States, provides a new choice of unique operation and management of the government reform in metropolitan area of and regional management; Secondly, the Port Authority over forty years in the harbor construction and maintenance a series of transport facilities on the New York area transportation, economic development and political reform had a certain impact; Third, the formation and development of the Port Authority is reflection of American culture, such as competition, capitalism, regionalism, and free mobility.Finally, I pointed out some questions currently existing in Port Authority briefly in the epilogue. It can also provide some implication for our Shanghai Harbor development and provide a new way of thinking for the current government reform.