The Port of Tacoma has been awarded a $15.73 million grant through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to help fund construction of an off-dock container support facility. PIDP grants are awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port.
“We are extremely grateful to Senators Murray and Cantwell and the entire Washington Congressional delegation for their leadership and support in securing this grant for the Port of Tacoma. We’d also like to thank our local legislators, Representatives Kilmer, Schrier, Smith and Strickland for their support,” said Dick Marzano, Port of Tacoma Commission President.
The off-dock container facility will be located on approximately 24 acres of Port-owned land on Thorne Road (near the Husky, West Sitcum and WUT terminals) and will increase off-dock container and chassis storage and free up on-dock space at nearby terminals. Upon completion, the container support facility will have the following capacities:
- Empty Container Capacity: 1,260 20-foot container grounded slots
- Reefer Pre-Trip Capacity: 121 Containers
- Wheeled Chassis Capacity: 170 Chassis
- Block Stowed Chassis Capacity: 195 at One-High
- Wheeled-Reefer Stalls: 100
“As we continue to see increasing levels of marine cargo activity at our port, it is imperative that we move forward with infrastructure projects like this in order to create and maintain family-wage jobs, improve supply chain efficiencies and lower air emissions by reducing truck congestion,” added Marzano. “This partnership and investment help ensure that the Port of Tacoma continues to serve as an important economic driver in our region.”
The grant award represents 38% of the estimated total project cost of $41.5 million and will be supported by $25.77 million in matching funds from the Port. Project design is 30% complete, 60% of the design is about to commence, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permit approval is pending. The project timeline estimates the project to be completed by 2023.
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