The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the availability of more than $662 million in funding in fiscal 2023 for MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to modernize infrastructure and strengthen supply chains.
“America’s ports play a central role in our supply chains,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With today’s announcement, we are helping make our ports safer, more efficient, and more reliable strengthening supply chains, reducing costs for the American people, and positioning us for economic success.”
Recent projects funded include installation of fast charging stations and other port electrification components and the development of a scalable plan for transitioning the port and local maritime industry to zero-emission technologies in Jacksonville, Florida; the creation of an intermodal rail yard near an existing port terminal in Kaskaskia, Illinois; and the modernization of electric and stormwater infrastructure and warehouse capacity for the Port of Cleveland by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority in Cleveland, Ohio.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support projects that “improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.” MARAD will also consider how projects address climate change and sustainability, equity, and workforce development objectives.
“This funding will support efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the Nation’s freight transportation needs and ensure our port infrastructure can support future growth,” said Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips.“The program also includes a statutory set-aside for small ports to continue to improve and expand their capacity to move freight reliably and efficiently, support local and regional economies, and support supply chain improvement.”
Last year the Washington Administration awarded funding for 41 projects in 22 states and one territory, with 60 percent of those awards benefiting ports.
(Port of Cleveland photo)
