News Release #: 01-18

Date: Mar 28, 2018

Maritime Administrator Attends Groundbreaking for Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Project

Rail Expansion Will Increase Productivity and Efficiency of One of Nation’s Busiest Ports

SAVANNAH, Ga. –The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby, attended the groundbreaking of the Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail project. The Mason Mega Rail project will support improved freight mobility throughout the area by increasing intermodal container transportation from ship to rail lines servicing the port and significantly reduce landside congestions in and out of the port.

“The maritime industry is a crucial component in the overall economic success of the country,” said Administrator Buzby. “Investments in our intermodal infrastructure improve the efficiency and intermodal capabilities of our nation’s ports and ensures the U.S. is competitive in the global market.”

Funded by a $44 million FASTLANE grant, the project will increase the efficiency of the port while reducing highway congestion. In addition to improving the movement of freight, the project will also improve safety by removing six railroad crossings and relocating the lead train track onto the port’s property.

Generating more than $1.5 trillion in U.S. foreign trade each year, U.S. ports and inland waterways support good jobs for working class families and are vital to our transportation and supply network. Projects like this port expansion are a priority for the Department and this Administration because of the economic benefits they generate for years to come.

The Trump Administration’s INFRA grant program advances the pre-existing FASTLANE grant program that was established as part of the FAST Act of 2015. For the current round of competition, the INFRA Grant program will make approximately $1.5 billion available to projects that are in line with the Administration’s principles to help rebuild, repair and revitalize America’s crumbling infrastructure.