Marine Highways get $25 million appropriation

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) on Wednesday announced the availability of $25 million in funding for America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP), which supports the development and expanded use of America’s navigable waterways and will help improve the nation’s supply chains and the movement of goods.

These new resources represent the largest single appropriation of funding ever provided to AMHP and were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which will make a $1.2 trillion investment in U.S. infrastructure and competitiveness.

U.S. Department of Transportation graphic

“America’s waterways are a vital means for getting goods onto our shelves and into our homes,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Thanks to these investments, and others like them in the … Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can help create jobs, reduce delays, and strengthen our critical supply chains for decades to come.”

These grants demonstrate continued action on commitments in the Biden-Harris administration’s Port Action Plan, which meets the demand resulting from the rapid economic recovery and helps address inflationary pressures.

“This historic funding for the Marine Highway Program will expand waterborne transportation options while helping project sponsors increase energy conservation, improve safety, reduce landside infrastructure costs, and reduce travel delays caused by congestion. This investment will also create well-paying maritime jobs,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails; upgrade and expand public transit; modernize the nation’s ports and airports; improve safety; help tackle the climate crisis; advance environmental justice; and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. It will drive the creation of good-paying jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably to help everyone get ahead for decades to come.

To be eligible for a grant award, a project must have previously been designated as a Marine Highway project designated by the secretary of transportation. For more information on the eligible projects, click here.

Applications for the grants are due on April 29 by 5 p.m. EST. Additional information is available here, or by contacting Timothy Pickering, Office of Ports and Waterways Planning, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-0704 or MH@dot.gov.

– U.S. Maritime Administration

By Rich Miller