Brady PieperThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is investing $217 million into a port expansion project at the Port of Philadelphia. The project, led by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PhilaPort), will increase shipping capacity and efficiency through one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S.
This funding is a part of the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) program, a federal initiative that funds large-scale or complex transportation projects. Administered by the DOT, PhilaPort will use the funding to improve efficiency and operational capacity of the Port of Philadelphia’s SouthPort terminal, creating jobs and bolstering the local economy.
Recognized as a key driver of economic growth in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, the project is set to expand aspects of PhilaPort’s SouthPort terminal. The southern terminal’s expansion will include the construction of a second berth, enhancing the port’s capability to efficiently manage the onloading and offloading of goods.
RELATED: DHS partnering with port operators to study vulnerabilities, security measures
Additionally, the project will facilitate infill construction, create more space for vessels to dock and expand the southern port by approximately ten acres.
With the expansion, the port is positioned to attract more cargo traffic, thereby creating new job opportunities and supporting the local economy.
As a whole, the Port of Philadelphia hosts over $30 billion in trade value and 7.4 million metric tonnes of freight annually, according to PhilaPort. Officials anticipate the project will improve shipping and operational capacity and efficiency at one of the busiest ports in the U.S.
Once the expansion is complete, the project is expected to significantly bolster the port’s ability to handle increased cargo, which is critical for both the local economy and the nation’s supply chain.
The highly competitive MEGA program, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), funds projects that are either too large or too complex for traditional forms of funding. Starting in 2021, BIL has provided the program with $5 billion to support projects and initiatives for a period of five years.
The previous round of MEGA grants included projects addressing a variety of transportation initiatives, including tunnel, airport, highway, railroad, bridge and multimodal corridor projects.
Highlighting the highest-funded projects in the previous funding round, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program has been allocated $600 million from the DOT to implement a new seismically resilient bridge connecting Vancouver, Washington to Portland, Oregon. In a partnership between the Washington Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Transportation, the project is set to benefit motorists, cyclists, public transportation and freight stakeholders offering several methods of safe multimodal travel.
Photo courtesy Philaport
