FAST Act Grant Awards Announced

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced 18 proposed grant awards for projects under the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program. The program, also known as the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants, is a new competitive grant program established under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to provide funding for nationally significant highway, bridge, and freight projects.

Five port authorities are on the list of proposed grant awardees:

1.     Georgia Ports Authority ($44 million)
2.     Massachusetts Port Authority ($42 million)
3.     Port of Coos Bay ($11 million)
4.     Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ($10.67 million)
5.     Maine Port Authority ($7.72 million)

The FASTLANE program requires DOT to notify the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee at least 60 days before a grant is awarded for a project. A complete list of projects selected by DOT is available on the House T&I Committee website.

Discretionary freight funding is a top AAPA priority. Congress authorized $800 million in funding for the FY 2016 FASTLANE program.