President Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget could see significant declines for most federally funded port-related programmes.
The budget proposes cutting the US Department of Transport’s (USDOT) Transport Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programme which last year awarded US ports $61.8m. This money was used for multimodal infrastructure grant such as dock, rail and road improvements.
“We’re apprehensive about the fiscal 2018 budget,” explained Kurt Nagle, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) president and CEO.
He said: “Adequate federal investments into US port-related infrastructure, both on the landside and waterside, are crucial for the efficient movement of goods so the nation can remain globally competitive.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grants Programme (PSGP) is also expected to experience a significant cut. This programme provided 35 port security-related grants in fiscal 2017.
President Trump has also proposed cutting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget by 31%, the EPA budget funds the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants.
Mr Nagle continued: “International trade through ports is vital to our economy. To help the public and policymakers fully recognize the value and contributions to the economy related to our ports, AAPA has created the America: Keep It Moving campaign, which highlights the needs and benefits of investing in seaport infrastructure.”
The AAPA’s key recommendation for the fiscal 2018 budget is to provide $2.9 billion for the Corps’ Navigation program, including $1.6 billion for the Coastal Navigation portion that covers deep-draft investigations, construction, operations and maintenance, and donor and energy transfer port activities.
It also advices continuing to fund USDOT’s FAST Act programs at currently authorized levels, which includes formula funds to states and FAST Lane grants for nationally and regionally significant transportation projects. Furthermore, expand the amount of funds available for multimodal projects which is currently limited to $500 million a year through 2020.
“While the president’s budget request includes significant funding cuts to some port-related programs, we’re hopeful that, as the fiscal 2018 budget process as well as the anticipated sizable infrastructure package moves forward, that significant federal investments will be made in port-related infrastructure. Such investments will pay huge dividends in terms of economic growth, American jobs and tax revenues,” concluded Mr Nagle.
