MARAD grants for Marine highways

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the availability of $10,819,000 in grant funding for the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). AMHP is to encourage the use of America’s 25,000 miles of navigable waterways. AMHP "increases the use of environmentally sustainable practices to move freight across our transportation system.” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These investments help local communities reduce congestion and create more economic opportunities.” AMHP supports the increased use of inland waterways to relieve landside congestion, provide new and efficient transportation options and increase the productivity of the surface transportation system. Marine highways are all-water routes, often running alongside or near major highways, and helps integrate coastal and inland waterways, providing alternate options to traditional shipping methods. AMHP provides funding to support the expanded movement of freight by water, while supporting port communities on the nation's coasts and inland waterways, said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley. Applications for the grants are due by 4 p.m. CDT on June 4. Additional information is available in the Federal Register here or by contacting Fred Jones, Office of Ports and Waterways Planning, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202-366-1123 or Fred.Jones@dot.gov.