By Mark Edward Nero
The Port of San Diego has been awarded $10 million by the US Department of Transportation for proposed maritime cargo terminal redevelopment through the federal National Infrastructure Investments program.
US Department of Transportation Deputy Maritime Administrator Michael J. Rodriguez formally presented the funding to the Port of San Diego at an Oct. 30 event at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
The funding is expected to help the port modernize the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in order to meet the growing demand for cargo capacity and goods movement in the region. The terminal modernization is expected to improve efficiency for port users, providing operational space for multiple shippers.
Proposed improvements include removing obsolete transit sheds and constructing new, open laydown area for temporary equipment storage with on-dock rail improvements. The removal of transit sheds is expected to improve the safety of oversized cargo movements by creating adequate space to handle modern cargos, and reduce environmental impacts by reducing intra-terminal truck trips.
The federal grant program, known as TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants, supports transportation projects expected to have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region.
The grant makes up nearly half of the $22 million project cost.
“This important grant from the federal government shows that maritime capacity matters to our nation,” Port of San Diego Chairman Dan Malcolm said. “We are deeply appreciative of the US Department of Transportation’s investment in San Diego maritime cargo operations and its recognition that those operations are critical to our region’s economy and national security.”
“This is a great day, and I want to thank the US Department of Transportation for this award,” Port of San Diego President & CEO Randa Coniglio said during the funding presentation. “When we invest in port facilities, we are investing in the economic future of the San Diego region.”
