Department of Transportation announces $580 million in awards for Port Improvement Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced plans to invest nearly $580 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 31 port improvement projects in 15 states and one U.S. territory. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this funding will strengthen supply chain reliability, create workforce development opportunities, enhance freight efficiency, lower costs, reduce emissions, and improve the safety, reliability, and resilience of our coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports.

Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director at Pacific Environment said, “Pacific Environment applauds the DOT Maritime Administration’s announcement today of $580 million in awards for port improvement projects under its Port Infrastructure Development Program.

In particular, we are excited to see MARAD fund projects that prioritize investments to reduce harmful pollution at ports, such as the $53 million project at Port Everglades that includes the purchase of zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment and the retiring of older, diesel-powered equipment. Through federal programs like PIDP, the U.S. needs to continue to invest in port projects that can contribute to the transition away from the use of fossil fuels to zero-emission solutions.

Achieving a zero-emission maritime sector is critical for protecting the health of port workers and people living in communities near our nation’s ports.”

The funding comes from MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which received $2.25 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve port infrastructure to meet the nation’s freight transportation needs. The program provides planning support, capital funding, and project management assistance to improve the capacity and efficiency of ports in both urban and rural areas.

“In the U.S., 39 million people live within three miles of a port,” said Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, Climate Campaign Ports Director at Pacific Environment, “We encourage MARAD to fund more projects that are good for the environment, climate and health of portside communities, while ensuring safe, efficient and reliable port operations and goods movement.”