the U.S. Department of Transportation will allocate $124000 million for projects to improve U.S. maritime highways to help expand port carrying capacity and improve the flow of goods. Funding for 2023 has been set aside by the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation (MARAD), which supports the development and expanded use of navigable waterways in the United States.
The Department of Transportation said it will evaluate proposed projects based on the efficiency and non-federal funding levels of moving goods, as well as geographic diversity, particularly how projects respond to rural areas facing challenges.
A marine highway project is a planned service or extension of an existing service on a designated marine highway route. Since its inception in 2010, AMHP has designated multiple marine highway projects to alleviate overland traffic congestion, increase the use of navigable waterways, provide new and efficient transportation options, and improve surface transportation system productivity.
Maritime Director Ann Phillips said: "Since establishing the Ocean Highway Program, MARAD has awarded more than $910000 in competitive grants to eligible ocean highway service organizations to strengthen our supply chain, modernize port operations, and fight inflation. "These grants support the development and expansion of maritime highways, ships, landside ports and infrastructure, which are critical to building supply chain resilience."
Acting Maritime Administration Lucinda Lessley also said, "This historic funding for the Ocean Highway program will expand water transportation options while helping project sponsors to enhance energy efficiency, improve safety, reduce landside infrastructure costs, and reduce traffic congestion and travel delays. This investment will also create high-paying maritime jobs."
Project funding applications must be submitted by April 28.
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