News Release
FOR RELEASE - September 5, 2013
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-684-5700

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

Port-Related Projects Awarded $104 Million in TIGER V Infrastructure Grants

Critical importance of connective infrastructure to America’s seaports recognized

After evaluating 585 applications for FY 2013 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that 52 transportation projects have been selected to receive approximately $474 million for the fifth round of this multimodal, discretionary grant program.  Of those, 12 awards totaling $103,709,745, or about 21.9 percent of total funding, are going to projects that aid the movement of goods through America’s seaports.

On the U.S. DOT’s TIGER Grants web page, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “These transformational TIGER projects are the best argument for investment in our transportation infrastructure.” He also said that the combined grants support President Obama’s call to “ensure a stronger transportation system for future generations by repairing existing infrastructure, connecting people to new jobs and opportunities, and contributing to our nation’s economic growth.”

Applauding the announcement, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle lauded DOT’s recognition of the critical role America’s ports play and the federal support provided in TIGER V grants for seaports.  He also noted that the 21.9 percent funding for port-related infrastructure projects in this round of TIGER is the closest yet to reaching AAPA’s stated goal of 25 percent.

“While funding for port-related infrastructure received a higher priority this time than in the four previous TIGER rounds, AAPA continues to advocate for a permanent authorization of a TIGER program and urges that 25 percent of future TIGER grants be provided for seaport-related infrastructure, since ports are one of the four eligible areas (along with highways/bridges, transit, and freight/passenger rail) for the program.”

Since its inception as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, AAPA has been a strong supporter of the TIGER grant program.  In the first round of TIGER, port-related infrastructure projects received only 7 percent of the original $1.5 billion allocated. In the subsequent rounds, port-related infrastructure did better, garnering approximately 17 percent (of the total $556.6 million) of the second round, 12 percent (of the total $511 million) of the third round and 16 percent (of the total $485.3 million) of the fourth round.

Projects directly related to seaports included in TIGER V awards are:

• Jackson County Port Authority (MS) - Port of Pascagoula Intermodal Improvement for $14,000,000 – “to upgrade the rail connection at the Port of Pascagoula Bayou Harbor to make the transportation of goods in and out of the port more efficient.”
• Diamond State Port Corporation (DE) - Rehabilitation of Wharf Unit 1 (Berths 5/6) for $10,000,000 – “to rehabilitate a wharf which serves two berths at the Port of Wilmington that  is currently in a state of disrepair.”
• Duluth Seaway Port Authority (MN) - Port of Duluth Intermodal for $10,000,000 – “to rebuild and expand a 28-acre general cargo dock at the Port of Duluth-Superior and connect the site to existing road and rail infrastructure.”
• Port of Houston Authority (TX) - Port of Houston: Bayport Wharf for $10,000,000 – “to extend the Bayport Terminal’s wharf from 3,300 feet to 4,000. The wharf will provide a stable platform against which container ships can be moored and support cranes that load/unload containers and the trucks which handle the container movement on port property.”
• Maryland Port Administration (MD) - Port of Baltimore Enhancements for $10,000,000 – “to expand the handling capacity at the Fairfield Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore by filling in the obsolete West Basin. The project also includes the construction of a rail intermodal facility to handle expanded automotive export and imports.”
• Eastport Port Authority (ME) - Eastport Breakwater Replacement for $6,000,000 – “will replace the dilapidated breakwater at the Port of Eastport and two of its pier sections, which serve as important economic anchors of the local and regional community. In addition…will increase berthing space to enable larger vessels to service Eastport.”
• Port of Oswego (NY) – East Terminal Intermodal Connector for $1,527,000 – “will allow the Port of Oswego to continue to grow and serve critical industries including, aluminum, agriculture and renewable energy.”
• Port of Garibaldi (OR) - Port of Garibaldi Wharf Revitalization for $1,474,761 – “to recreate a modern, attractive, and fully functional working wharf to provide a basis for long-term economic recovery of a rural, distressed community.”

Other seaport-related infrastructure projects receiving TIGER V grants include:

• South Florida Freight & Passenger Rail Enhancement for $13,750,000 – “to better link Southern Florida’s two major freight rail corridors to improve freight and passenger connectivity in the region. Facilitates intermodal connectivity to major multimodal freight centers and the business that use facilities including PortMiami.” 
• Delta Frame Bridge (VA) for $11,957,984 – “to rehabilitate the Lexington Delta Frame Bridges along I-64 in Rockbridge County, VA. I-64 provides the only interstate access to The Port of Virginia, which includes three separate major port facilities in the Hampton Roads area. This project will ensure the bridges continue to serve as critical links joining the exchange of goods and services across the United States.”
• SEPTA-CSX Separation Project (PA) for $10,000,000 – “to separate passenger and freight trains on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s West Trenton Regional Rail Line…which provides access to the Port of Philadelphia.”
• Port of Tucson (AZ) – Container Export Rail Facility for $5,000,000 – “will help provide a seamless transition for Sun Corridor businesses and exports to international markets through West Coast and Gulf Coast ports.”

For a complete list and description of TIGER V grant projects, click here.