MEXICO: The U.S. ports of Hueneme, Baltimore, Indiana, San Diego and Newport have received a combined $44.3 million infrastructure funding boost through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) scheme.
After evaluating 627 applications, 50 of which were from ports, for the U.S. 2015 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx announced 39 awards for $500 million in funding will be made. Of those, five awards totaling $44.3 million, or about 9 percent of total funding, are going to commercial seaports or to projects that directly aid the efficient movement of goods to and from America’s ports.
Another $61 million, comprising four awards equal to about 12 percent of the total funding, is going to freight-related projects around the country which aid in the movement of goods, by rail and/or truck.
American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle lauded DOT’s recognition of the critical role America’s ports play but indicated that his organization had hoped for more. “AAPA urges that 25 percent of TIGER grants be provided for port-related and connector infrastructure, since ports are one of the four eligible areas (along with highways/bridges, transit, and freight/passenger rail) for the TIGER program,” said Nagle. “Furthermore, AAPA strongly advocates for a dedicated funding program for freight in the next surface transportation bill that prioritizes goods-movement projects which optimize and integrate the nation’s freight transportation system.”
