TIGER Grants Address Freight Movement, Bridge Rehabilitation
Projects that will address truck movement are included in the most recent round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants.
On March 9, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced TIGER grants, which support infrastructure projects for state and local government agencies.
Overall some $500 million was allotted for 41 projects in 43 states and territories.
Some of the projects have an impact on freight movement.
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Safety inspector Anamarie Acevedo guides a truck into a inspection stall at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz. (John Miller/AP)
Arizona was awarded $25 million to add flyover ramps to portions of State Route 189, which links the Mariposa Port of Entry to Interstate 19. The Mariposa port is a border facility that sees more than 7 million vehicle crossings, including 350,000 truck crossings, per year. Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) said this port of entry processes 40% of America’s imported produce.
Currently, Route 189 uses traffic lights, and Arizona DOT spokesman Tom Herrmann said the flyovers will improve traffic flow. ADOT is also adding a flyover ramp to a bridge on Route 189.
“With the increased capacity at the port, we need to match that on State Route 189,” Herrmann said. “This is a very significant boost to our program.”
Nebraska also received $25 million to fund the construction of the Lincoln South Beltway, an expressway that will divert trucks away from local roads with the goal of alleviating traffic in the Lincoln area.
Bridges were also given consideration during this round of funding.
Maine received $10.8 million to help replace three structurally deficient bridges in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties. Rhode Island was awarded $20 million, which will be used to replace or rehabilitate a series of 15 bridges and culverts along State Route 37.
New Hampshire received $10 million to rehabilitate the two bridges carrying I-89 over the Connecticut River between West Lebanon and Hartford.
Some of the bridges highlighted in the grants are important for freight movement: Mill City, Ore., was awarded $8 million to renovate the bridge on a rural freight route; Fort Smith, Ark., which lies on the Oklahoma border, received $8.5 million to repair three rail bridges; and Indiana received $10 million to rebuild the Maunie Railroad Bridge in the southwest corner of the state.
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The American Road and Transportation Builders Association published an analysis Jan. 29 revealing that more than 54,000 of the nation’s 612,000 bridges are structurally deficient.
“The Maunie Railroad Bridge is critical to connecting southwest Indiana to markets across our country,” said Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.). “I’ve been a proud supporter of this project for many years and am very pleased that this major investment is coming to Posey County where it will benefit the entire region’s economy.”
Since its inception nearly a decade ago, the TIGER program has awarded nearly $6 billion for surface transportation projects.
The future of TIGER grants remains uncertain. President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, released Feb. 12, included no funding request for the TIGER program. The proposal also slashes DOT’s discretionary budget by 19%.
“I hope we can depend on our delegation to change that,” said Lincoln Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Bruce Bohrer, citing Sen. Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) longtime support of the Build Nebraska Act. “She’s got a very strong understanding of the importance of road infrastructure for economic growth. She’s a rancher, she understands the infrastructure system and how important it is to moving commodities.”
