Cargo Business Newswire

Monday, September 15, 2014

Top Story

DOT announces 2014 TIGER recipients, including key port projects

Several port projects were included in 2014 TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program funding, according to a statement from U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who announced the 72 transportation projects to be funded by this year’s $600 million grant pool.

"As uncertainty about the future of long-term federal funding continues, this round of TIGER will be a shot in the arm for these innovative, job-creating and quality of life-enhancing projects," Foxx said. "We're building bridges from Maine to Mississippi. We're creating ladders of opportunity for the middle-class and those seeking to enter the middle-class by investing in transit, road and rail projects from Los Angeles to Detroit to New York City, increasing access to jobs and quality of life."

The Port of Seattle was awarded a $20 million TIGER grant for a construction revamp of Terminal 46. The DOT said the award will pay for repairs and paving the terminal, which handles around 20 percent of the port’s container volume, according to the Seattle Times. The project will also extend crane rail at the dock to fit in more of the largest cranes, allowing workers to load and unload two mega post-Panamax ships simultaneously.

A TIGER grant of $14.8 million will be used for the Port Newark Container Terminal Access Improvement and Expansion Project, which will demolish both dry and refrigerated warehouses and gate facilities, then pave all areas and construct new gates that include truck comfort and service stations at the Port of Newark.

The Virginia Port Authority will receive a $15 million grant from the DOT to help fund the final piece needed to connect the Norfolk port directly to I-564, and to significantly reduce truck traffic from transiting through neighboring residential streets. It involves constructing a dedicated highway on/off ramp, a service gate for terminal personnel and redevelopment of eight acres of brownfield land for container storage.

A $10.8 million dollar TIGER was awarded to the South Carolina Ports Authority for planned upgrades and improvements to equip its Wando Welch Terminal to process mega container ships. Upgrades and repairs include improving the berth and under the wharf for stability and upgrading the waterside and landside crane rails, beams and support pilings will allow for large vessels and increased capacity. The terminal was originally designed for 4,500-TEU vessels, but larger 9,200-TEU ships have caused structural damage.

The Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Plan in Alaska will receive a $2.5 million TIGER for its project-planning phase. It will be used to help develop a master plan for Alaska Railroad Corporation’s Seward port facilities, including the conceptual/ preliminary design of the port and upland support facilities and future west passenger dock replacement.

"For every project we select…we must turn dozens more away – projects that could be getting done if Congress passed the GROW AMERICA Act, which would double the funding available for TIGER and growing the number of projects we could support," Secretary Foxx said in the statement.