USDOT OKs grant pact to speed capacity expansion at Baltimore port

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Baltimore County late last week signed a revised grant agreement to enable Tradepoint Atlantic (TPA) to use a previously awarded $8.26 million USDOT grant to accommodate more cargo at TPA's terminal on Sparrows Point at the Port of Baltimore.

The TPA terminal is located outside the area affected by last week’s deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and continues to move cargo. TPA’s Tradepoint Rail operates at the Sparrows Point terminal. The 70-mile short line interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.

The adjustments to the previously awarded Port Infrastructure Development Program grant will enable Baltimore County and TPA to expedite paving at least 10 acres that will be used for additional cargo laydown area, USDOT officials said in a press release.

In addition to facilitating the movement of roll-on/roll-off and bulk cargo, the increase in laydown area will more than double the prior capacity of 10,000 autos per month to be able to handle more than 20,000 autos per month, helping to ensure continued automobile imports and exports in and out of the port.

TPA has already begun grading work at the site and expects to be ready to accommodate additional cargo by April 30.

The $8 million follows the USDOT’s release of $60 million to help the state begin recovery from the incident. On April 5, President Joe Biden visited the site of the collapsed bridge.

"My task force on supply chain disruption has been engaging with union, rail, trucking, shipping, state and local leaders to minimize the impact on our supply chain," Biden said, according to prepared remarks.

In addition, the Small Business Administration issued a disaster declaration, which will allow the SBA to offer low-interest loans for small businesses impacted by the bridge collapse.

The Unified Command — which consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Army Corps of Engineers — announced late last week a timeframe for reopening the port, with a limited-access channel expected to open by the end of April and a permanent navigation channel by May 31.