Grant awarded to Port of Oakland

The TIGER grant is the second grant secured by Oakland. Along with state funding, the grant means Oakland’s FY11-15 Strategic Plan to make the port more competitive and cleaner, is attainable.

Port executive director, Omar R. Benjamin, said: “We need support from every level of government if we are going to make this project a reality. The state is heavily invested in the OHIT along with the local, public, and private sectors because this project will deliver future benefits locally, regionally, and nationally. Additionally, these funds will help create good-paying construction jobs.”

The OHIT Rail Access project is part of the joint City-Port OAB redevelopment plan. It will enhance rail capacity so the seaport can accommodate more goods by rail rather than by truck and provide vital rail access for the proposed Oakland Army Base.

The project should result in less truck traffic, congestion and emissions, and also aims to lower costs for trade-dependent businesses.