“In short, usable space for increased port facilities just isn’t there at a cost anyone can afford.”
Of course it’s there: Eminent Domain, the same as would be necessary for that Trans-Texas corridor, or whatever it’s called.
And this would be a perfectly legitimate use of eminent domain, unlike the SC case which approved the taking of private, beach front homes for a hotel or condo development because it would pay more taxes
And those homes were taken at FMV, though the owner’s didn’t think the price offered was fair. But if beachfront property can be taken for that purpose, it can definitely be take for needed new port facilities.
The East Coast is already pretty much tied up in properties the public wants to keep that way ~ and eminent domain won't change a thing ~ since most of those properties are already owned by the government.
The politics of things won't even let the oil fields off the coast of Florida be tapped, nor windfarms be set out off Cape Cod.
The West coast is also tied up.
Expansion can take place in Mexico with little impact on anybody.