Mayor Alvin Brown, State Sen. John Thrasher, CSX Corp. Chairman and CEO Michael Ward and Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson will announce Monday the submission of a $25 million grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for TIGER Discretionary Grant funds.
A news release Tuesday said the grant would be a major driver of the port’s growth, enhancing its efficiency and expanding its facilities to further improve the port’s competitiveness and ability to generate positive economic activity.
A formal announcement is planned at 11 a.m. Monday at the TraPac Container Terminal at Dames Point. The terminal is at 9834 New Berlin Court.
On Monday, the Duval County Legislative Delegation voted unanimously to lend its support toward development of an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the port of Jacksonville.
The delegation’s three state senators and eight state representatives who represent Duval County in the Florida Legislature agreed to sign a letter in support of the project.
Thrasher notified the delegation that a letter had been drafted that would be sent to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood.
Representatives from the port and transportation company CSX approached the delegation about the $45 million project. The port and CSX will partner to create the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the port’s Dames Point Marine Terminal.
To fund the project, $20 million is being sought from the Florida Department of Transportation and $25 million from the federal government through the TIGER III grant program.
The grant program has about $527 million available for road, rail, transit and port projects.
Port COO Chris Kauffmann told the delegation that the project will bring on-dock rail to the Dames Point facility and take containers and trucks off the highway, easing traffic congestion near the terminal.
LaHood visited the port and the TraPac terminal in July.
“Having the chance to put eyes on a project like this is helpful to us. We will take a very close look at the proposal that will be submitted by the Jacksonville port and it will get very serious consideration,” said LaHood during the visit.
This is the third round of TIGER grant funding. The port authority hasn’t been successful with its previous attempt to secure the funding, but it has support in key areas from LaHood and local, state and federal legislators.