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Virginia Port Authority will not privatize

Posted at 2:35 PM, Mar 26, 2013
and last updated 2013-03-26 18:46:43-04

Norfolk, Va. - In an open session on Tuesday, the Virginia Port Authority Board voted to dismiss all port privatization bids.

Officials say they will reorganize VPA and VIT instead. This measure passed the board with a unanimous vote.

"I think the board understood the proposals. We fully value what we can do. We have some natural advantages that play into that,” says VPA Chairman William Fralin, Jr.

During the meeting, Fralin told the group that this area is the gateway to the east coast.

"It’s based on track record, based on our history, natural advantages, based on consulting reports, we can really take off here and we're excited by it," says Fralin.

There was quite a bit of opposition to the idea of privatization in the maritime community.

"We understand as a board how important this is to the maritime community,” says Fralin.

Related:

Virginia Port Authority holds public meeting about future