The U.S. government is providing more than $220 million to support port upgrades
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced that the U.S. government will provide more than $220 million to 15 U.S. states and territories to improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program.
"This $220 million federal grant will improve America's ports.""Nearly half of the projects are located in opportunity zones, which were created to revitalize economically depressed communities," Zhao said.
The funds are used for facilities at or near coastal ports and to provide support for planning, infrastructure improvement, project management and operations."These grants will help our nation's economy and ensure that America's ports can continue to operate effectively in a competitive global market," Mark H. Buzby, the director of the Maritime Administration, said in a statement.
"AAPA and our U.S. member ports are grateful and grateful to MARAD and Congress for passing the Port Infrastructure Development Plan to ensure continued investment in our nation's multimodal port infrastructure," said Christopher J. Connor, President and CHIEF Executive officer of the Association of American Port Authorities.These projects mark an important step toward investing in one of our nation's most valuable and important assets -- our seaports."
Among the priorities announced: $20 million for rail yard improvements at Norfolk International Freight Terminal;$22 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of crown Bay Freight Terminal on St. Thomas Island;$10 million to repair 134 miles of the Port of Coos Bay rail line;$10 million for dock retrofitting to help upgrade the former Evendale Shipyard cargo terminal.
In Bellingham, a $7 million grant will pay for dock retrofitting to increase the harbor's barge loading capacity.It will also support the construction of a larger, stronger heavy-duty zone and the removal of rocks that limit the draft of ships moored at one of the berths.
"This is great news for us," said Rob Fix, executive director of the Bellingham Port Authority."This funding will modernize our shipping terminal to accommodate a greater variety of ships and cargoes, and provide a viable alternative to shipping at crowded Canadian ports north of Watercombe County.The growing trade and commerce in Bellingham Shipping Terminal will create jobs, family wages, and support a statewide economic recovery."
Other key projects include:
Baltimore, Maryland: Mid-Atlantic Multimodal Transport Center ($10 million)
The grant will add additional corridors, build a bulk cargo import and export terminal, install a modern portal complex and upgrade a heavy road network.The project will upgrade rail connections and repair all aging utilities.
Wilmington, N.C. : Container Portal Innovation and Access ($16 million)
The grant will build a new container portal with optical character recognition and dynamic weighing sensors that will allow drivers to enter and leave the port without having to stop.The proposed improvements also enable the port to streamline container traffic throughout the terminal and open up additional storage capacity in the yard.
Port of Conneaut Connector ($20 million)
The grant will help connect trucks and rail freight to Conneaut Port, a deep-water Great Lakes port on Lake Erie.The project includes the construction of a dredger facility to maintain shipping lanes, a new road, and a new railway spur line.
Seattle, Washington: Terminal 5 Highland Modernization and Redevelopment Project ($10.7 million)
The grant will support infrastructure improvements, including paving, paving and strengthening of the stormwater treatment system throughout the pier.In addition, the project will focus on increasing electric refrigerating plug capacity and improving dock rail infrastructure.
