Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger joined U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin along with Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) in announcing that the Maryland Port Administration has been awarded $10 million in federal funding to expand the handling capacity at the Fairfield Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.
“Already one of Maryland’s biggest economic engines, the Port of Baltimore will now be able to support more hard-working families with the help of this federal grant, ” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “This is exactly the type of common sense investment we should be making to spur job growth in our own community.”
According to the Maryland Port Administration, the project will expand the handling capacity at the Fairfield Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore. This project replaces an obsolete and dilapidated wet basin in the Port of Baltimore with a new 7.6-acre, rail-served cargo lay-down area within a strong export/import auto and roll-on/roll-off cargo terminal.
The project completes a long-planned redevelopment of the Fairfield Terminal wet basin beneficially using dredged material from the Seagirt container terminal access channel as fill material, resolving navigation safety concerns for larger vessels and providing multiple regional and national benefits. Rail access in the project will increase intermodal flexibility for the export of U.S. manufactured cargo, and will return the area to a state of good repair for the benefit of the overall transportation system.
The Port of Baltimore is a major economic engine for America and Maryland, supporting more than 50,000 jobs across the state – including 14,630 direct jobs. Among U.S. ports, Baltimore receives the top rank for handling roll on/roll off cargo, trucks, imported forest products, and imported gypsum and sugar. It is also the largest automobile exporter and importer in the country.
“This public investment in the Port of Baltimore is about jobs, jobs, jobs, ” Senator Mikulski said. “ From the dock workers who unload the ships to the manufacturers who rely on cargo transported by the ships, the Port means jobs. Through construction jobs today, preparing the Port for the bigger ships that will soon be sailing through the widened Panama Canal, we are supporting jobs tomorrow that will keep Maryland’s economy rolling.”
“The Port of Baltimore is an economic engine for our state and a bell weather for our nation’s economic health ,” said Senator Cardin. “Through a solid partnership with the federal government, we are ensuring that the Port of Baltimore is well positioned for the future. Such investments translate into greater activity for the Port and more jobs for Marylanders.”
“The announcement that the Port of Baltimore has been selected to receive a TIGER grant to fund the completion of the Fairfield Terminal is great news for the Port, the State of Maryland, and all of the customers who will be able to use the terminal, ” Congressman Cummings said. “ This investment, which will expand the movement of freight while supporting jobs and adding to our State’s economic growth, is precisely the kind of improvement the TIGER program was created to make.”
“The Port of Baltimore is one of Maryland’s most valuable assets and this federal investment will increase the Port’s capacity and create jobs, ” said Congressman Sarbanes. “ As our state’s economy continues to expand, we must focus on smart investments like this one that spur growth and secure our future. I will continue working with my colleagues in the Maryland delegation to ensure the Port of Baltimore maintains its position as one of the busiest ports on the east coast .”
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Press Release, September 11, 2013