Government

The Port of Miami ( pictured ) secured a $ 25 million INFRA grant for the purchase of electric yard equipment . Mariusz Bugno / Shutterstock . com

Proposed Oregon container terminal among projects winning DOT grants

By Michael Angell

The US Department of Transportation is providing $ 25 million toward further development of a proposed container terminal on the coast of Oregon , one of several port-related projects the agency will fund over the next two years through its latest round of infrastructure grants .

The DOT on Oct . 21 said it will award a total of $ 4.2 billion in grants in 2025 and 2026 under the National Infrastructure Project Assistance ( MEGA ) and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America ( INFRA ) programs , which were created under the Biden administration ’ s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that authorizes $ 108 billion for transportation-related projects .

Among INFRA grantees are the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port ( PCIP ), a joint project of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay and industrial real estate developer NorthPoint Development . The $ 25 million grant will fund preliminary engineering , design and environmental review of a proposed 1.2 million-TEU capacity container terminal at Coos Bay .

The PCIP entails deepening and widening the port ’ s channel to handle container ships , construction of a new rail-served container terminal and improvements to some 120 miles of rail track , including heightening tunnel clearances to allow the double-stacking of containers .

In 2022 , the PCIP applied — unsuccessfully — for a $ 1.4 billion MEGA grant . Nevertheless , the Port of Coos Bay said the smaller INFRA grant “ helps the port move forward with its catalytic infrastructure plans .”

“ The INFRA grant is a game-changer for the Port of Coos Bay and the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project ,” Melissa Cribbins , executive director of the PCIP , said in a statement .

Other port projects that won INFRA grants include the Maryland Port Administration , which secured $ 30.9 million for the reconstruction of a berth at the Port of Baltimore ’ s Dundalk Marine Terminal , which primarily serves roll-on / roll-off cargo .

The Port of Tampa Bay will receive a $ 22 million grant next year toward a berth expansion project at its East Port Omniport facility that will enable it to handle vessels up to 800 feet in length . In 2026 , the Port of Miami will receive $ 25 million for the purchase of electric and hybrid yard equipment , including the replacement of diesel-powered refrigerated container racks with electric-powered racks .

Supporting intermodal

Intermodal is also a beneficiary of the INFRA grants . South Carolina ’ s Department of Transportation will receive $ 195 million over the next two years toward the rebuilding of a portion of Interstate 526 adjacent to the Port of Charleston ’ s Wando Welch terminal , with the goal of reducing wait times for truckers and moving port-related traffic off local roads .

The North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $ 80 million in 2026 toward the construction of a 15-mile dedicated truck corridor between BNSF Railway ’ s Alliance intermodal terminal and nearby distribution and warehouse facilities .

The Port of Philadelphia secured $ 217 million in funds under the MEGA program over the next two years that will be used for expanding the SouthPort terminal , a multipurpose facility that the port said could be used at some point for container activities .

The Brooklyn Marine Terminal , now under the control of New York City , will receive $ 163.8 million in MEGA grants over the next two years for the reconstruction of its piers , along with related roadway improvements designed to reduce truck traffic .

email : michael . angell @ spglobal . com www . joc . com November 18 , 2024 | Journal of Commerce 31