Measures to solve supply problems in ports announced

(Trends Wide) — The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new set of immediate and short-term actions aimed at alleviating supply chain problems in the nation’s ports, waterways and freight networks, as the administration takes Steps to implement the recently passed, but not yet signed, bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The objectives and actions, as reported by the White House in a fact sheet, “lay the foundation for the successful implementation of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Agreement.” This action plan will increase federal flexibilities for port grants; accelerate the awarding of grants for port infrastructure; announce new construction projects for coastal shipping, inland waterways and land ports of entry; and will launch the first round of expanded grants for port infrastructure funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Agreement. “

The news comes days after the bipartisan infrastructure package was approved by Congress and a day before President Joe Biden’s trip to the port of Baltimore to promote the bill. Biden has yet to sign the bill, and there is no set date for a signing ceremony yet as the White House has signaled that they will wait until Congress returns next week for an event.

But some implementation efforts “are already underway … even before the bill is signed,” a senior administration official told reporters at a briefing. When questioned about its implementation times, the official said that “work is being done right now to start up these projects and programs.”

Measures announced Tuesday include flexibility of port grants through the Department of Transportation to resolve supply chain disruptions, funding for an emerging container yard project underway at the Port of Savannah, a grant program. of US $ 420 million for ports and maritime highways that will be launched in the next 45 days and the identification of coastal and river projects for the financing of US $ 4,000 million for the creation of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

It will also prioritize the identification of the main US ports of entry for US $ 3.4 billion of modernization and expansion projects within 90 days, and will open a competition for US $ worth of port infrastructure grants. $ 475 million through the bipartisan bill within 90 days.

“The bipartisan bill greatly helps the entire freight transportation system,” the official said.

The reallocation of the Savannah, Georgia grant, in particular, the senior official said, will provide “immediate relief” ahead of the winter holiday season, noting that “it may be ready for operation in 30 to 45 days.” Most of the other actions announced Tuesday, the official said, “are relatively short-term programs and projects,” with “much more to come.”

Biden’s visit to Baltimore on Wednesday, the official said, is “an illustrative example” of public-private partnership in the nation’s ports.

The Baltimore visit will also take place near the 127-year-old Howard Street Tunnel, which “right now only supports single-deck cargo containers. It will be expanded to accommodate double-stack containers from the Port of Baltimore. to the Midwest, “in a project co-funded by federal, state and private partners, the official said.

“It is an example of the type of investments that are needed by both the private and public sectors. It is also an example that the co-financing of the bipartisan infrastructure plan encourages the private sector to also carry out this type of long-term investment”, added the official.