Mega & INFRA grants deliver big freight wins CAGTC members secure $883 million in FY25/26 award funding

| Oct 22 2024 at 09:56 AM

Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced its selection of 11 projects through the fiscal year 2025 and 2026 National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program and 36 projects through fiscal year 2025 and 2026 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program. Three projects received funding through both programs.

More than 53 percent of FY25/26 Mega funding was awarded to projects supporting freight infrastructure and the movement of goods. Projects supported by or directly applied for by members of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) received $428 million in the latest round of Mega awards. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was signed into law in 2021, CAGTC members have received an impressive total of roughly $1.55 billion under the Mega grant program for major infrastructure investments, nearly one-third of the program’s total funding.

The Mega grant program provides funding for very large, complex, and often multimodal projects that are difficult to fund by other means and will generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. While not exclusive to freight, the competitive program serves as an essential federal funding resource for the nation’s largest freight infrastructure projects.

The INFRA grant program provides much-needed federal funding to advance multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance. CAGTC members continue to be successful under the INFRA grant program, receiving over $1.25 billion since the BIL was signed into law. Projects supported by or directly applied for by members of CAGTC received $454.8 million in the latest round of INFRA awards.

As in previous years, both the Mega and INFRA programs remain oversubscribed – for FY25/26, 200 applications totaled over $27 billion in requests for the $4.2 billion in available funding.

Among the award recipients are several projects sponsored by or supported by members of CAGTC, including:

$54.53 million for the California Department of Transportation’s Madera High-Speed Rail Station Project. (Mega)
$98 million for the California Department of Transportation’s Tulare SR 99 Corridor and Paige Avenue Multimodal Interchange Improvements (INFRA)
$105 million for the California Department of Transportation’s SR84 - US 101 Interchange Reimagined Project (INFRA)
$66.5 million for the Florida Department of Transportation’s US 1/SR 5 Long Key Bridge Replacement Project (INFRA)
$209.88 million for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s CREATE Project EW2A. (Mega)
$81.3 million for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s CREATE Project EW2A (INFRA)
$30.9 million for Maryland Port Administration’s Dundalk Marine Terminal Reconstruction of Berth 11 (INFRA)
$163.80 million for the New York City Department of Small Business Services’ From Truck to Barge: Modernizing Brooklyn Marine Terminal Project.(Mega)
$22 million for Port Tampa Bay’s East Port Omniport Expansion of Berths and Uplands (INFRA)
$51.1 million for Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge Girder Replacement (INFRA)

“Federal discretionary grant programs are indispensable to the freight industry, delivering strategic investments in supply chain improvement projects that are often large in cost and scale, cross state or jurisdictional borders, and involve multiple modes of transportation,” said CAGTC Executive Director Elaine Nessle. “We are delighted by the strong record of success CAGTC members have enjoyed under the Mega and INFRA programs and applaud USDOT and Congress for their continued commitment to advancing critical freight projects.”

Port Tampa Bay will receive $22 million for its East Port Omniport Expansion of Berths and Uplands Project. The project will support the expansion of a berth and uplands area at one of Port Tampa Bay's newest port complexes. East Port Omniport will increase the existing facility from 18 acres with a 400-foot wharf, to roughly 27 acres with a 675-foot wharf capable of berthing vessels longer than 800 feet.

“Growth is critical to Port Tampa Bay’s long-term strategy. Our facility serves a significant population in the South East region of the United States and handles 40 percent of all cargo entering and leaving Florida. The federal INFRA award for the East Port Omniport Expansion of Berths and Uplands project will modernize an outdated and underutilized dock and yard, allowing it to receive deepwater ships,” said Port Tampa Bay President & CEO Paul Anderson, who also serves as CAGTC’s Chairman. “We appreciate the support from our Congressional Delegation and the Administration. Economic opportunities made possible through this award will serve our Tampa Bay Community and the nation for years to come.”

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will receive $54.53 million for its Madera High-Speed Rail Station Project. Funding will be used to construct a high-speed rail station for the Merced-Bakersfield California High-Speed Rail (CHSR) Interim Service. The project will design and construct the Madera Station through improvements at the relocated Madera Amtrak Station location. These include new platforms, trackwork, an overhead contact system, a bus depot, expanded auto parking, an access roadway network, a multi-use path, and a station building.

Caltrans will receive $105 million for its SR84 - US 101 Interchange Reimagined Project. The project will replace all ramps at the US 101/SR 84 interchange, widen Woodside Road to six lanes between Bay Road and the northbound US 101 offramp at Seaport Boulevard, lower Woodside Road to increase the vertical clearance at US 101, and eliminate the 5-leg intersection at Broadway/Woodside Road.

Caltrans will receive $98 million for its Tulare SR 99 Corridor and Paige Avenue Multimodal Interchange Improvements Project. The project will reconstruct four outdated hook ramps into a consolidated multimodal interchange, sequential roundabouts at the ramp termini and adjacent local street intersections. In addition, 10-foot-wide Class I shared-use paths will be constructed along both sides of Paige Ave to provide an east-west multimodal corridor for users.

“Partnering with state and local agencies, California is using its transportation dollars to provide travelers with more options that support its commitment to reduce planet-warming pollution and create a more equitable and sustainable system that works for all users,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will be awarded $291 million for its CREATE Project EW2A. The project is supported by the City of Chicago and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). The project will make improvements along an approximately 3-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side to reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction; add a third track to the Norfolk Southern line; replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures; and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant investment to enhancing our transportation infrastructure. It will lead to safer, more efficient travel for people and goods through northeastern Illinois, and across the nation,” said CMAP Executive Director and CAGTC Vice Chair Erin Aleman. “The CREATE program will not only improve our rail and road networks, but it will also support good-paying jobs and reduce congestion in critical areas. As a result, surrounding neighborhoods will experience economic, health, and environmental benefits. We are incredibly grateful to the USDOT for their continued financial support to untangle North America’s busiest rail hub.”

“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the transformational award of $291 million in MPDG grant funding for the CREATE Program’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project,” said Thomas Carney, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation. “The benefits of this project will be felt for generations as we reduce freight delays, enhance the quality of commuter and passenger rail service, implement neighborhood-scale improvements, and develop training and careers for local residents. We appreciate the support of the Illinois Congressional Delegation as well as our partnership with the State of Illinois, Cook County, Amtrak, Metra, and the freight railroads to make this project a reality.”

The Maryland Port Administration will receive $30.9 million for its Dundalk Marine Terminal Reconstruction of Berth 11 Project. The project is supported by Ports America. The project will reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of approximately 597 linear feet of wharf deck, including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.

“The Port of Baltimore is an economic driver in the mid-Atlantic, moving goods and creating jobs that support families, businesses, and communities throughout the region. As a long-time partner of the Maryland Port Administration, Ports America Chesapeake celebrates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s INFRA award for the Dundalk Marine Terminal Reconstruction of Berth 11,” said Mark Schmidt, President, Ports America Chesapeake. “This federal investment combined with investments from other key partners will ensure the Port of Baltimore is equipped to meet the growing cargo demands of the future.”