The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has confirmed that 35 port projects across 19 states will receive about US$498 million through its Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The awards are for ports on the coast, on the Great Lakes, and along rivers. The round includes US$450 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is the final instalment of the law’s US$2.25 billion PIDP commitment for 2022–2026. The rest comprises US$38.6 million in FY2026 appropriations and US$19 million in unexpended funds recovered from earlier awards. MARAD had opened the funding round in March.

The City of Whittier in Alaska will receive US$50,593,488 to replace the DeLong Dock. Funding will also go towards a seasonal use floating dock, construction of a new dock manager building, three pedestal cranes, and an integrated tug and barge.

Port Everglades in Florida was awarded US$30.75 million to reinforce its liquid bulk terminal and widen the slip for larger ships. Ports of Indiana received US$11.2 million towards a US$14 million equipment upgrade at Burns Harbor, which includes a mobile harbour crane and reach stackers.

The Red Wing Port Authority in Minnesota will use US$10.2 million to rebuild barge-loading infrastructure above the Mississippi River floodplain.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) welcomed the awards but also warned that PIDP funding would decline sharply next year without congressional action. The association therefore called for advance appropriations in the next surface transportation reauthorisation.

“Without help from Congress in the next Surface Transportation Reauthorisation, American Ports will have an infrastructure investment deficit of US$10.9 billion dollars over the next five years,” the association said in its policy priorities document.

AAPA said ports applied for US$4.51 for every US$1 awarded between FY2019 and FY2024. It recorded 681 applicants and 169 awards over that period.

A proposed House FY2027 transportation appropriations bill contains US$538 million for PIDP. AAPA described this as the largest PIDP allocation in an annual appropriations bill.

The money will only become available once Congress passes the legislation and the President signs it.

The previous PIDP round, announced in April, awarded US$774 million to 37 projects.