Freight Transportation System News

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was enacted in December 2015. The FAST Act required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan to address multimodal freight transportation. In the Federal Register of December 27, 2019, DOT requested information from the public, including industry trade groups, to aid development of the National Freight Strategic Plan.This article summarizes certain of the comments that were submitted by Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) in response to DOT’s request.

According to the findings of a new report conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of Transportation Institute (TI), the domestic maritime industry in Washington ranks sixth among all American states for jobs and labor income relating to the Jones Act.The industry employs more than 22,500 individuals, produces $6.12 billion for the local economy, and generates more than $1.5 billion in worker income.Regionally, the same study shows that the domestic maritime industry employs over 37,590 individuals, supports $2.5 billion in worker income, and produces nearly $10 billion for the Pacific Northwest regional economy.Washington Senator Maria Cantwell joined business and government leaders from around the region at the Seattle Maritime Festival Breakfast…

When enough to meet the need is not enough to get the help.From my office window in downtown St. Louis, I can see a dramatic illustration of the inefficiency in how our country moves freight. My office faces east, and I look down on a stretch of Interstate 70, that major east-west highway that runs from Baltimore to Interstate 15 in Utah. It is not unusual to see the traffic on this highway heavily congested, even at a standstill at times. This congested traffic usually includes many tractor-trailer trucks.

Nearly $5 million in grant funding awarded this week will help enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York and Connecticut, and support the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island.On Wednesday, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced $4,872,000 in grants for six projects through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, works with public and private stakeholders to support the expanded use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion…

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen visited the Port of Greater Baton Rouge’s container-on-barge operation Tuesday while delivering his personal congratulations on the recent awarding of a $1.75 million grant to the Baton Rouge port and the Port of New Orleans. The grant will be used to acquire specialized container loading equipment to increase efficiencies to the current container-on-barge shuttle service operated by SEACOR AMH between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Container Loading Equipment to Provide Greater Efficiencies for Container on Barge Service Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Port of New Orleans and the Port of Greater Baton Rouge will acquire specialized container loading equipment to increase efficiencies to the current container on barge shuttle service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans with a newly announced grant of $1,758,595 from the Maritime Administration (MARAD). "The container on barge shuttle service, operated by Seacor AMH…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced $4.85 million in grants to six Marine Highway projects along the waterways of 17 states and the District of Columbia. The goal of the Maritime Administration’s Marine Highway Program is to expand the use of U.S. navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, reduce air emissions and generate other public benefits by increasing the efficiency of the surface transportation system. “These grants will help us take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of one of America’s most crucial transportation assets – our coastal and inland waterways,” Foxx said. The grants will help expand existing marine highway operations across New York Harbor…

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) said today it is encouraged by the potential of significant gains for landside freight transportation programs in President Obama’s fiscal 2017 budget, bit is disappointed, however, in the proposed funding levels for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coastal navigation programs, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Port Security Grant program.

After evaluating 627 applications, 50 of which were from ports, for the FY 2015 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced 39 awards for $500 million in funding to be made in the seventh round of this multimodal, discretionary grant program. Of those, five awards totaling $44.3 million, or about 9 percent of total funding, are going to commercial seaports or to projects that directly aid the efficient movement of goods to and from America’s ports.

U.S. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today joined Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and other Federal, state and local officials to break ground on two major infrastructure projects at the Port of Virginia. Supported by nearly $200 million in federal funding, the projects will relieve congestion and delays at the port terminals and naval base, while reducing harmful emissions and increasing safety in adjacent neighborhoods. “Ports like this one show us that having a first-class transportation system can attract first-class jobs and enable American businesses to ship goods all across the world,” said Secretary Foxx. The I-564 Connector Project…

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to establish a multimodal freight investment policy to keep America businesses, farmers and shippers competitive the 21st century global economy. The National Multimodal Freight Policy and Investment Act (S.1680) creates a comprehensive, strategic plan for multimodal freight investment and reduces freight bottlenecks and congestion by investing in the nation’s network of highways, railroads, ports and intermodal facilities. It would also reduce the impact of freight movement on communities and help ensure the vitality of important “last-mile” freight connections. The bill is based, in part, upon the recommendations of the nonpartisan U.S.

American Association of Port Authorities
 (AAPA) say that after evaluating 797 applications totaling requests for $9 billion for FY 2014 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced 72 awards totaling $584 million will be distributed in the sixth round of this multimodal, discretionary grant program. Another $54,469,652 comprising five awards, which is equal to about 9 percent of the total funding, is going to what USDOT classifies as “freight rail” projects. Like freight rail, millions more are being awarded to various road and planning projects which aid in the movement of freight into and out of America’s seaports. On the U.S. DOT’s TIGER Grants web page, Sec.

Following the recent passing of former Cong. James Oberstar, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle described the past chair of the U.S. “In 2003, AAPA honored Cong. Oberstar with its prestigious ‘Port Person of the Year’ award for his many contributions to advancing America’s freight transportation system, including authoring or co-authoring six Water Resources Development Acts from 1986 to 2000, and various Coast Guard and Coastal Zone Management reauthorizations and amendments,” said Mr. Nagle. In March 2010, Cong. Oberstar returned to the AAPA stage as a keynote speaker to share his views about the importance of authorizing new surface transportation legislation.

Trucking, rail and port panelists will explore the benefits of improving America’s intermodal freight transportation system. On May 13, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle will join forces with CEOs representing trucking, railroad and other transportation interests who will offer a host of oftentimes startling facts, surprising statistics and unique stories about the value of investing in our nation’s freight transportation infrastructure in Washington D.C.

The Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation published its final report on United States freight transportation, offering an assessment of its current condition with recommendations for strengthening nationwide infrastructure and U.S. economy. The panel, led by its Chairman, U.S. Rep John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) and Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), was founded by Full Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.) in April 2013 to examine U.S. freight transportation, the role it plays on the nation’s economy and ways in which it may be improved, including financially, structurally and technologically. Direct the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army and the Commandant of the U.S.

Tonnage is up this year at the Port of Houston Authority, with container tonnage through May up by 9%, Executive Director Len Waterworth reported at Tuesday's meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Waterworth also reported that May operating revenue was at an all-time high of $20 million, up 4% or $800,000. This marked the first time in Port Authority history that operating revenue has exceeded $20 million. Year-to-date operating revenue of $96 million reflects a $4 million or 5% increase, again driven by strong container growth.

Commenting  on the release of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) 2013 Report Card for American Infrastructure, Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), said, “AAPA is pleased that ASCE included seaports for the first time in its critical infrastructure Report Card. “AAPA played an active role in providing information and insight about seaports to ASCE. The 'C' grade given seaport-related infrastructure in its study reinforces our viewpoint that the federal government is not investing nearly enough in the landside and waterside connections to ports. The report card  reiterates what other national and international studies have concluded about the neglected state of our nation’s port related transportation infrastructure…

DOT Announces Proposal to Establish ‘National Freight Network’. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the establishment of a National Freight Advisory Committee to provide recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system. A strong freight transportation system is critical to the nation’s economy and essential for helping meet President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015. “Our freight system is the lifeblood of the American economy,” said Secretary LaHood.

Senate EPW’s 2-year reauthorization proposal includes much of AAPA’s platform. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) supports a number of the provisions included in legislation marked up today by the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. S.1813—Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or MAP-21— would fund highway programs at $85.3 billion over two years, contains no project earmarks, adds mechanisms for performance measurements, accelerates project delivery and streamlines the environmental review process.

The American Association of Port Authorities today sent a strong message to Congressional Senate, House and Committee leaders, urging them to "take swift action" to avert a rail strike on Dec. 6, which would lead to a discontinuation of freight rail service, potentially costing American businesses and consumers $2 billion a day. "Railroads are a vital component of the freight transportation system and are critical to international trade and goods movement to and from our nation’s seaports," wrote AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle.

Tug retrofitted to use patented hybrid technology. A second Foss Maritime Co. hybrid tug will soon be working the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Foss once again partnered with Aspin Kemp and Associates (AKA) to retrofit the Campbell Foss with this proven, patented hybrid technology. The tug is the first vessel to be retrofitted with motor generators, batteries and control systems at Foss' Rainier, Ore. shipyard. The Campbell Foss will join its award-winning hybrid sister…

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to reduce congestion on the nation’s roads by encouraging freight to be carried by ships. The measure would create a grant program for America’s Marine Highways to encourage shipping by sea or inland waterway and establish a new program to modernize port facilities to make efficiently transport freight. The bill would also establish a Port Infrastructure Development Program to improve the capabilities of port facilities to move freight. “The strength of our freight transportation system is being threatened by our overwhelmed roads and bridges – and the simple, smart solution is to ship more of America’s goods by sea,” said Sen. Lautenberg. Sen.

Secretary LaHood for the Department of Transportation addressed the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council on July 23, 2009. Consistent with America’s Marine Highway Program’s mandates to reduce congestion, conserve energy, and improve the environment, the Secretary charged the Council to better integrate the Marine Transportation System into the surface transportation system. By relocating freight from highways and urban corridors to commercial waterways (where applicable), the same system which provides the transportation of individuals and families in and between cities can provide a more efficient means to move goods to the shelves of retail stores throughout the United States.