WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) proposed 10 large and 10 small projects to receive funds from the fiscal year 2019 INFRA discretionary grant program. Of these, two Coalition for America’s Gateway and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) member projects were awarded a total of $215 million in federal funding with full costs exceeding $633 million. The INFRA program was authorized by Congress in the 2015 FAST Act to make investments in the nation’s most critical freight and highway needs.
“The INFRA grant program is highly-competitive and I congratulate our members for earning an award in this funding round,” said CAGTC Executive Director Elaine Nessle. “Among the largest awards ever granted, Ports America Chesapeake partnered on the Howard Street Tunnel Project, which has been a decades-long effort to address a major freight infrastructure need in our nation’s transportation network.”
The Maryland Department of Transportation will be awarded $125 million to raise the vertical clearance of Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel to facilitate movement of double-stack trains on an important freight rail corridor.
“On behalf of Ports America Chesapeake, we want to thank Governor Hogan, the Maryland Congressional delegation, and the many stakeholders who provided unwavering support to secure this critical federal funding. This project, coupled with our significant private investment at Seagirt Marine Terminal, will allow for continued growth at the Port of Baltimore and will strengthen our position to inland markets,” said Bayard Hogans, Vice President, Ports America.
CAGTC Member Ports America Chesapeake presented on the merits of this freight project this year at the CAGTC annual meeting. A copy of the presentation is available here.
Additionally, the Arizona Department of Transportation will be awarded $90 million to add capacity on a rural, mountainous stretch of I-17 north of Phoenix. CAGTC member Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is the regional planning body for the greater Phoenix region.
“Drivers traveling between Phoenix and Flagstaff—including commercial freight traffic—will enjoy the benefits of these flex lanes in reducing costly delays,” said MAG Executive Director Eric Anderson. “The vital economic and transportation interests served by I-17 is the reason MAG has committed $50 million to the project.” The MAG funding will help build additional lanes along the 17-mile stretch between the north Phoenix suburb of Anthem and Black Canyon City as part of the larger I-17 improvement project.
CAGTC applauds these members on their successful grant applications.
