Savannah, Ga. - July 6, 2016 - The Georgia Ports Authority has
received a $44 million Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) grant
from the U.S. Department of Transportation to increase rail capacity at the
Port of Savannah.
"I would like to thank the Georgia Congressional
delegation, including Congressmen Buddy Carter and Rob Woodall, and
Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, for their dedicated support of
this program," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "As the
nation's fourth busiest container port, Savannah's continued rail expansion
is a key component to freight mobility in this country. This
transformative project will not only increase rail capacity and velocity at
the Garden City Container Terminal, but will also provide substantial
benefits to surrounding communities by improving public safety, reducing
environmental impacts and avoiding commuter traffic."
The $44 million award, made possible through the Nationally
Significant Freight and Highway Projects (NSFHP) Program, is a significant
portion of a total $128 million project known as the Port of Savannah
International Multi-modal Connector. The project is expected to take five
years to complete.
Currently, 18 percent of the containers handled at Garden City
Terminal moves on Class I railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX. The Port of
Savannah handled 3.73 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in
2015.
"Investments such as this and the related inland rail
facilities throughout Georgia will help shift more containers from truck to
rail, allowing greater efficiency and reduced highway congestion," GPA
Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "Rail cargo will play an important
role in our future, not only increasing our capacity, but opening up new
markets for Georgia's ports. Gov. Nathan Deal has also announced a $10
billion freight mobility plan to be carried out over the next 10 years,
which will improve the capacity and fluidity of transportation
infrastructure across the state,"
Comments from elected officials:
"The announcement today is great and well-deserved news.
I was pleased to support the FAST Act last year because the Port of
Savannah and other projects around the state deserve the stability of a
long-term plan from the federal government for transportation
infrastructure improvements," said Rep. Buddy Carter. "As part of
the FAST Act, the FASTLANE program prioritizes federal spending on critical
transportation projects necessary to the nation's security and economic
success, which makes the Port of the Savannah the perfect recipient of this
funding. The Port is essential for jobs and economic growth in the First
District, the Southeast, and the entire nation. This important funding will
assist in increasing this economic success and work to improve rail capacity,
reduce congestion around the ports, improve highway safety, and strengthen
job opportunities."
"We knew going in that the FAST Act needed to be
legislation that would reform how we go about prioritizing and spending
money maintaining and expanding America's infrastructure, and in turn,
start earning back America's trust in how we use their hard-earned tax
dollars," said Rep. Rob Woodall. "This grant, and others in
FASTLANE, is a wonderful example of that effort taking shape. The
Port of Savannah is one of the busiest ports in the country, which makes it
the perfect candidate for what this program is intended to do: steer
taxpayer dollars toward projects that matter most to America. Whether
it's ensuring the safety of workers and nearby residents, clearing traffic
congestion to get folks home to their families sooner, or making sure we
have the necessary infrastructure to create Georgia jobs, this is exactly
the kind of nationally significant project that will benefit Georgia
families and our nation's economy."
"Last year, I was proud to support the FAST Act because
Georgia needs a long-term plan from the federal government to support
urgently needed transportation infrastructure improvements," said U.S.
Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. "I am pleased to see the newly created
FASTLANE program already paying off for Georgia with this critical funding
to help improve rail capacity, reduce traffic and commuter delays on
roadways, enhance economic competiveness of the Savannah port and increase
Georgia farmers' and manufacturers' access to foreign markets. Local
commuters and businesses in the Savannah area will also benefit greatly
from the enhanced movement of maritime cargo and improved flood control.
Furthermore, this project will create both immediate and long-term jobs,
while increasing economic development, and critical safety and
environmental improvements."
"The Port of Savannah is the fastest growing port in the
country and plays a vital role in expanding trade in the Southeast and
around the world," said Sen. David Perdue. "Moving forward, the
Savannah Port needs to increase and improve infrastructure surrounding the
port. With the deepening of the Panama Canal it is critical that there are
adequate transportation corridors around the Port of Savannah to
accommodate increased activity."
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