November 24, 2025
Moving Goods Differently: The Promise of Blue Highways
Balancing Industry and Waterfront Access
New York City is exploring how its extensive waterways can support a cleaner, more efficient approach to urban freight. In a recent article published by Bisnow, KSS Partner Scot Murdoch, AIA, joined leaders from the public, logistics, and maritime sectors to discuss the city’s Blue Highways initiative—an effort to shift more goods from congested roads to marine transportation.
The article features insights from Andrew Kimball, CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation; Jeremiah Kane and Read Mortimer, Senior Vice Presidents at Prologis; and Garry Johnson, CEO of Paradise Express Ferry. Together, they examine the infrastructure, partnerships, and development strategies needed to establish a viable maritime freight network.
It’s not one or the other. We have to think about this in terms of both. People need the goods and need access to the water.
Scot Murdoch, AIA, Partner, KSS Architects
With e-commerce deliveries continuing to grow, Blue Highways could help reduce truck traffic, emissions, and pressure on aging roadways. The emerging system would connect waterfront logistics hubs with strategically located landing sites, where goods could transfer to trucks, e-bikes, cargo quads, and other last-mile delivery vehicles.
Murdoch noted that the concept could serve as a model for other cities with navigable waterways and significant congestion, including Philadelphia. He also emphasized the importance of thoughtfully integrating freight infrastructure into increasingly mixed-use waterfronts.
KSS Architects Partner Scot Murdoch and Prologis Senior Vice President Read Mortimer discussed Blue Highways on an October Bisnow event.
Through careful planning and design, low-profile maritime facilities could support essential logistics operations while remaining compatible with neighboring residential development, public spaces, and recreational waterfront uses. This balanced approach can help cities reconnect with their industrial waterfront heritage while building more sustainable and resilient systems for moving goods.
Read the full article in Bisnow: World’s Largest Warehouse Owner Scouting Sites Along ‘Blue Highways’
