Page 19: of Marine News Magazine (March 2022)

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Infrastructure the availability of such funding. The IIJA offers several op- program from which small ports might receive funding is portunities for ports to obtain assistance for infrastructure the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improve- projects, but the PIDP remains the principal source of fed- ments (CRISI) Program administered by the Federal Rail- eral funding for port infrastructure needs. road Administration. IIJA provides $5 billion in funding

The IIJA provides $5.25 billion for the PIDP, but this for this program over ? ve ? scal years. Among the stated total amount is spread over ? ve years, FY 2022 through FY purposes of this program is the enhancement of multi- 2026, at $450 million per year. The amount available each modal connections, including projects that improve rail year, therefore, is not quite twice the total amount of grants access to ports. There are no predetermined minimum or made by the PIDP in FY 2021 and about one-eighth of the maximum dollar thresholds for CRISI awards. total amount of grant requests submitted to the PIDP in The IIJA directs the Secretary of Transportation, in

FY 2021 alone. Under the 25% set-aside, this works out to consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Envi- $112.5 million per year reserved for grants to small ports. ronmental Protection Agency, to establish and carry out

The Department of Transportation has recently issued a a program to reduce truck idling at port facilities, includ-

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $450 in ing grants to fund projects that reduce truck emissions grant funding under the PIDP, for which $112.5 million at ports, and provides $50 million for each of FY 2022 is reserved for “small projects at small ports.” Applications through FY 2026. The implementation of this new pro- must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 16, gram will require time for the preparation and issuance of 2022. This is a major improvement in the commitment of regulations and program details. This program will likely federal funding for port infrastructure projects, but it is be among those coordinated by the Infrastructure Imple- still likely to leave the needs of many ports unmet. mentation Task Force established by President Biden’s Ex-

Ports should be aware of other programs included in the ecutive Order No. 14052, co-chaired by Mitch Landrieu,

IIJA that either provide funding exclusively for ports or for former mayor of New Orleans and former lieutenant gov- which ports would be eligible to apply. For example, IIJA ernor of New Orleans, and Brian Deese, Director of the provides $25 million for the MARAD Marine Highways National Economic Council.

Program. Not a large sum in comparison to the funding Another new program that IIJA directs the Transport Sec- available under the PIDP, but for a small port with relative- retary to establish is the Promoting Resilient Operations for ly modest needs, it could be a useful resource if its project Transformative, Ef? cient, and Cost-Saving Transportation meets the conditions of the Marine Highways Program. (PROTECT) Program. Eligible entities include public port

Among the programs for which ports are eligible, al- authorities. IIJA provides funding for this program of $250 though not exclusively, for federal funding under IIJA is the million for each of FY 2022 and FY 2023, and $300 million existing Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustain- for each of FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026. The imple- ability and Equity (RAISE, formerly BUILD) Program of mentation of this program will require time for the process the U.S. Department of Transportation, referred to in IIJA of issuing and ? nalizing regulations and program details.

as the “Local and Regional Project Assistance Program.” The Becoming familiar with the various funding sources and stated purpose of this program is to fund eligible projects that their requirements for grant applications requires time and will have a signi? cant local or regional impact and improve study. The websites of each of the programs and their and transportation infrastructure. Eligible projects include port Notices of Funding Opportunity provide useful guidance on infrastructure investments, including inland port infrastruc- how to navigate the process. Resources are also available on- ture. The Department of Transportation has recently issued line and from trade associations for ports on the inland wa- a NOFO for $1.5 billion in grant funding under the RAISE terways. Consultants with experience and expertise in prepar-

Program. This is the ? rst discretionary funding program to ing grant applications can be engaged for a fee, if the size of accept applications under the IIJA. Applications must be the grant being requested justi? es that cost. The chances of submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern time on April 14, 2022. success might seem daunting in view of how much the need

Because many inland river ports are intermodal facilities for port infrastructure exceeds the available funding, but one that include the carriage of cargo by rail, another existing thing is certain: no one has received a grant who did not apply.

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