News

US Port Projects Granted $61.8m in Government Funding

Source: Lloyd’s List

August 2nd 2016

THE US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has awarded a total of nearly $500m funding for the fiscal year 2016 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Tiger) grants, including port-related projects.

Of the 585 applications submitted totaling $9.3bn in requests, six awards totaling $61.8m, or about 12.36% of the total funding, are going to commercial seaport projects that directly enhance the movement of goods to and from US ports.

The six projects receiving Tiger grants include Albany Port District Commission for $17.63m, Virgin Islands Port Authority for $10.67m, Port of Everett Washington for $10m, Port Authority of Guam for $10m, Portland Marine Terminal for $7.33m and Little Rock Port Authority for $6.19m.

For 2016 grants, port applications totaled 9%, or 53, of the total 585 submitted.

American Association of Port Authorities chief executive Kurt Nagle said the association was pleased that a number of port projects were included in the Tiger grants just announced, “but this year’s grants included few funds for major maritime freight gateways”. He added: “It’s important that projects from the full range of port sizes and types receive grant awards in upcoming rounds of Tiger funding.”

The 2015 Tiger grants dedicated 12% of total funding, or four grants worth $61m in total, to freight-related initiatives that facilitate goods transportation by rail and truck.