US ports win record funding for improvements

It’s the latest demonstration of how the Biden-Harris Administration continues to throw its weight behind ports and supply chains as part of President Biden’s ’Investing in America’ agenda and to make sure they are more resilient to shocks to the system in the future.

Cary Davis, AAPA President and CEO said that the decision has come largely as a result of the USDOT Secretary Buttigieg, MARAD Administrator Admiral Phillips and to all of its champions in Congress.

”These competitive grants will be used to expand capacity, repair seawalls, build new berths, upgrade terminals, improve intermodal connections and rehabilitate wharves and docks. PIDP is essential to maintaining strong ports, and by extension, a strong America,” he said.

Increased efficiency

The funding will help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland river ports.

A significant portion of domestic and international U.S. commerce by weight, (over 2.3 billion short tons) moves by water. The port improvement projects will strengthen supply chain reliability, create workforce development opportunities, speed up the movement of goods and improve the safety, reliability and resilience of ports.

These investments are part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history – nearly US$17 billion through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Projects were selected based on their ability to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods, as well as on how well they would improve port resilience.

Other factors considered during the project evaluation process included the amount of non-federal funding an applicant committed to the project and how well the project enhanced economic vitality, supported workforce development, addressed climate change and sustainability, and advanced equity and President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative.

Some of the larger grants include include $43,376,746 for dock infrastructure replacement at Cold Bay, Alaska, where the project will include the design, permitting, and construction of a new dock to replace the community’s only existing dock, which is nearing the end of its useful service life. 

Also, the North Harbor Transportation System Improvement Project at Long Beach, California, which will receive $52,633,331 in funding.

Work there will add a third intermodal railroad track to the Dominguez Channel Bridge, relocate and modernise Pier B Street, on-dock roadways and associated utilities; and realign Pico Avenue, including replacing and relocating aging utilities in the area.

Read the full list of grant awards by state or territory.

The news comes hot on the back of plans to establish a number of regional hydrogen hubs across America after the US administration announced funding for seven regional projects.