The Federal Railroad Administration recently awarded the Port of Baltimore $15.7 million to improve rail infrastructure and safety.
Funding will support the construction of two crane rail beams totaling 7,000 linear feet within the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal and four new working rail tracks totaling 16,000 track feet.
Work will modernize the terminal’s intermodal rail yard infrastructure to accommodate future demand as volume grows at the Port. The existing rails will be reconfigured to enhance productivity and provide for anticipated increased cargo volumes, and convert existing diesel-fueled railyard equipment to electrified equipment.
The project will also increase safety, alleviate supply chain bottlenecks by shifting cargo from truck to rail, and contribute to efforts to improve air quality.
U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Reps. Anthony Brown (D-MD), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), and John Sarbanes (D-MD) applauded the action.
“The Port of Baltimore is a powerful economic driver for the region and plays an important role in our country’s supply chain,” the legislators said. “Investing in our Port’s infrastructure ultimately means more Maryland jobs and a smoother transport of goods from ship to shelf. This project complements other initiatives at the Port that add capacity and improve efficiency.”