The Department of Transportation (DOT)announced November 3 that it would be awarding $653 million in grants to improve and upgrade 41 water-based ports across the U.S. According to the Associated Press, these grants are part of the $1 trillion worth of infrastructure investments included in a law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Officials for the Biden administration said the projects will allow ports to meet increased shipping demands while improving worker safety and lowering costs for consumers.
The Port of Tacoma in Washington will receive the most money amongst qualifying projects at $54.2 million. The Port of Tacoma Husky Terminal Expansion Port One plan will lead to the installation of almost 40 refrigerated cargo racks and power suppliers. The investment will also allow the terminal yard to be reconfigured to improve truck circulation and relocate on-terminal structures. The DOT said the new facilities and refrigeration tools will triple the port’s refrigerated cargo capacity.
Some of the other projects expected to receive major funding include the Dock Infrastructure Replacement project in Cold Bay, Alaska ($43.3 million), Long Beach, California’s North Harbor Transportation System Improvement Project ($52.6 million) and the Reconstruction of Berth PN-308 at the Port Newark in New Jersey ($32 million).
“Everything from the food we eat to the cars we drive to the lumber and steel used to build our homes passes through America’s ports, making them some of the most critical links in our nation’s supply chain,” said the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These investments will help expand capacity and speed up the movement of goods through our ports, contributing to cleaner air and more good-paying jobs as we go.”
