The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) yesterday proposed 20 projects to receive funds through the fiscal year 2020 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program. Included among the successful recipients are four members of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC). CAGTC member projects earned about 20 percent of the available $906 million. According to USDOT, this round saw $7.4 billion in requested funds from a total of 173 eligible applications.
Congress created the INFRA program in 2015, through the five-year Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Criteria written into law under the INFRA program focus on goods movement infrastructure and list goals such as increasing global economic competitiveness, improving connectivity between freight modes, and improving the safety, efficiency and reliability of the movement of freight and people. The FAST Act expires on September 30, 2020 and this is the final round of INFRA awards authorized through the five-year law.
“Competitive programs, such as INFRA, are critical to funding large-scale freight infrastructure projects, which are difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods such as formula programs,” said CAGTC Executive Director Elaine Nessle. “We congratulate our members who were successful in this round of awards. Applicants from across the country requested more than eight times the available funding, demonstrating the need for a robustly funded, freight-specific competitive grant program in future reauthorizations.”
Tampa Port Authority’s Port Tampa Bay Container Berth 214 and Cargo Yard will receive $19,862,930 to improve capacity at Port Tampa Bay’s Hooker’s Point container facility to accommodate an additional 150,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. The project will construct Berth 214 and an adjacent yard, and includes a gantry crane rail extension, dredging along the dock to enable berthing of post-Panamax vessels, utility and stormwater improvements, and a new container gate.
“This grant, combined with Port Tampa Bay and Florida’s investment, will provide long term-term benefits for the logistics supply chain as Florida’s population continues to grow. I want to thank Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for awarding our port the INFRA grant so that we can continue to expand service to our community and region,” explained Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay President and CEO, and CAGTC Vice Chairman.
Washington State Department of Transportation’s Puget Sound Gateway Program will receive $73,664,340 to complete 12 miles of highway projects in the Puget Sound region, including the SR 509 completion project, the SR 167 completion project, improvements to I-5, and improved connectivity to I-90. The SR 167 project will construct the remaining four miles of SR 167 between I-5 and its current terminus at SR 161, as well as a new two-mile connection from I-5 to the Port of Tacoma, with three new interchanges at 54th Avenue, Valley Avenue, and SR 161. The SR 509 project will extend SR 509 for two miles from S. 188th Street to I-5, construct a new interchange at 24th Avenue South, and improve four miles of I-5.
“This federal grant, along with $1.9 billion in state and local contributions, will help close key gaps in the nation’s freight highway network,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar. “We are immensely grateful to Washington’s congressional delegation for all their work securing this important grant to support trade-dependent jobs and improve freight connections for the entire Northwest.”
Several CAGTC member organizations supported this project application, including: Northwest Seaport Alliance, State of Washington Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB), and Puget Sound Regional Council.
Port of Houston Authority’s Barbours Cut Restoration and Upgrade Project will receive $79,472,000 to restore and strengthen approximately 2,700 linear feet of wharf and upgrade approximately 84 acres of yard space at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. The project builds on other investments being made to expand the capacity and enhance the efficiency of the terminal, including rehabilitation of the north side container yards, rehabilitation of wharf three, and expansion of the truck gate to add 15 lanes and renovate the existing 14 lanes with new technology to speed through-put.
“This funding support will help bring significant economic benefits to the region and nation while maintaining an efficient and safe movement of commerce to the U.S.” said Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther.
Tennessee Department of Transportation’s I-40 Smart Fiber: Memphis to Nashville will receive $11,200,000 to install approximately 143 miles of fiber optic communications and deploy ITS devices on I-40 between Memphis and Nashville. The ITS devices include CCTV Cameras, dynamic message signs, road weather sensors, and connected vehicle roadside units.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, this project “will allow TDOT and partner agencies to continuously monitor roadway conditions and will dramatically improve response times to incidents and weather-related emergencies. It also greatly increases TDOT’s ability to communicate vitally important information to motorists. It will also help prepare Tennessee’s roadways for connected and automated vehicles.”
