USDOT, California agree to expedite supply-chain infrastructure projects, including rail

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced the Emerging Projects Agreement, a federal-state partnership aimed at facilitating projects and financing opportunities for supply-chain infrastructure improvements in the San Pedro Bay and Los Angeles area.

The agreement allows California to expedite work on a network of related projects that would, among other goals, facilitate the movement of imports and exports and modernize supply-chain processes.

Projects that could receive support through this agreement include:
• port-specific upgrades;
• expanding capacity for freight rail;
• developing inland port facilities for increased warehouse storage;
• rail yard and truck electrification;
• highway upgrades to improve truck travel times;
• grade-separated crossings to reduce the number of rail-street intersections and improve safety and efficiency;
• land ports of entry to expand trade capacity and cross-border commerce; and
• other eligible projects of critical importance identified by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

Under the agreement, the Build America Bureau at USDOT will support CalSTA in developing the projects and assist in exploring "innovative financing opportunities for billions in infrastructure investment," in part through USDOT credit assistance programs Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF), officials said in a press release.

"This partnership will help us jumpstart and support multiple infrastructure projects to improve our supply chain, making sure goods get to where they need to go faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly," Newsom said.