On Thursday, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) announced the Columbia Port Commission would receive $10.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The grants, part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, will allow the commission to fund the Grant Ouachita River & La Hwy. 165 Multimodal Connectivity and Safety Project which will build a state-of-the-art Truck Parking Facility at the Port of Columbia. Officials said the facility would have surface parking for an estimated 50 commercial trucks, 100 cars and 12 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
“Our ports are a critical part of our economic system in the state, and also provides support for some of the most critical freight movements in the country,” said Renee Lapeyrolerie, DOTD Commissioner of Multimodal Commerce. “Approximately 33% of freight that comes through Louisiana travels by water, and this grant will enhance our port program.”
Officials said the project will begin in late 2023 and be completed in early 2027, weather permitting.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the numerous individuals, companies, and agencies who played pivotal roles in the preparation of the grant application,” said Greg Richardson, Port Director Columbia Port Commission. “Specifically, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the LaDOTD for their invaluable support, whose diverse subject matter expertise guided us throughout the application process.”