Maritime director John Driscoll said the move would target the handling of more containerized cargo.

"We're building for growth in a shipping industry that is becoming more and more competitive," Driscoll said. The port would team with private developers and public agencies to modernize infrastructure and investment from all three sources would be used to create new logistics capabilities in Oakland. His proposal includes:

• $244m, mostly from government grants, to separate railroad tracks from major port roadways;

• A $90m, 283,000-square-foot privately built refrigerated warehouse called Cool Port to increase chilled beef and pork exports;

• A $50m expansion, also privately financed, of the port's second-largest marine terminal.

Construction on Cool Port could begin next month.

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