Port of San Diego secures federal grant

The funding comes through MARAD’s America’s Marine Highway Program, which supports efforts to expand waterborne freight transportation across the country.

The port will use the grant to rehabilitate infrastructure essential to the movement of lumber, container and other cargo, enhancing both regional and national supply chains.

“We’re grateful to our federal and regional partners for their continued support and investment in maritime infrastructure,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

“This investment will help further strengthen our marine terminal and supports the national supply chain by making goods movement more resilient and efficient.”

The grant is part of a broader collaboration between the port, Caltrans, the Oregon Shipping Group and the Port of Bellingham, who jointly proposed the creation of a new coastal shipping route – the West Coast M-5 Coastal Connector. This route is designed to shift some freight from trucks to barges, reducing congestion and emissions along the north-south corridor.

The port has also committed US$9.7 million in local matching funds through its 2021 Economic Recovery Program. The project has cleared environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing work to begin in the near future.