The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Friday it had signed a revised grant agreement with Baltimore County to enable Tradepoint Atlantic (TPA) to use an $8.26 million grant to accommodate more cargo at TPA’s Sparrows Point Terminal at the Port of Baltimore.
The grant expansion is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing “whole-of-government” effort to tackle the supply chain disruptions caused by the collapse of the Frances Scott Key Bridge in late March. The TPA terminal is located outside of the area affected by the collapse and is continuing to move cargo. The revised grant, officials said, will mitigate supply chain disruptions and economic impact from the suspension of vessel traffic at the port.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has taken quick action finding every way to help Baltimore and the entire region get back on their feet – including last week’s release of $60 million to help Maryland begin urgent work,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “We signed a revised grant agreement to allow one of the operators at the Port of Baltimore to use previously awarded federal funds to quickly expand cargo capacity at an area of the port that sits outside of the channel blocked by the collapse of Key Bridge.”
The adjustments to the previously awarded Port Infrastructure Development Program grant will allow TPA and Baltimore County to expedite paving at least 10 acres for use as an additional cargo laydown area. The increase in laydown area will more than double prior capacity of 10,000 autos per month to more than 20,000 autos per month. Until the bridge’s collapse, the Port of Baltimore was the top port in the country for automobile imports and exports.