U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $7m is being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Virginia Port Authority and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority to support the transportation of marine cargo between U.S. ports. The announcement comes just five weeks after unveiling the America's Marine Highway program, a new initiative to move more cargo on U.S. waterways.
The money will help expand an existing marine highway operation in the Gulf of Mexico between Texas and Florida and one on the East Coast between Richmond and Hampton Roads in Virginia. The money will also help start an entirely new all-water service on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway between Itawamba, Mississippi and the Port of Mobile, Alabama.
"These projects demonstrate how water transportation can help solve some of our toughest transportation challenges," said Secretary LaHood. "Transporting goods by water will let us reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions."
"This is a key opportunity to demonstrate the benefits and viability of moving freight on the water," said David T. Matsuda, Maritime Administrator. "These grants will help a long overlooked means of transporting goods finally grow."
