USDOT grant to help fund new rail spur at Louisiana port

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will award a $13.4 million grant to the Port of South Louisiana for a project to make improvements to the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal, including a new rail spur connection, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) announced earlier this week.

The grant will come from the Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program, which is administered by the USDOT's Maritime Administration, according to a press release issued by Graves' office.

Grants under the program are awarded to projects involving improvements within or around coastal seaports to improve safety, reliability or efficiency.

Operated by Associated Terminals, the Globalplex is a 335-acre maritime industrial park within the port's jurisdiction. The improvement project calls for construction of a heavy-load capacity floor in an existing bulk cargo warehouse; conveyor improvements, park access road improvements, a rail-spur connection and a new dock access road and bridge to support heavy cargo at the facility. 

The grant and project will help boost production in River Parishes and the greater South Louisiana region, Graves said.

"We have continued to advocate for the improvements on our navigational channels and the efforts have secured the recent $85 million provided to deepen the Mississippi River by 50 feet," he said. "These continued strategic investments will position the Port of Louisiana and the Mississippi River at an even greater competitive advantage on the global markets."