Oil patch bits: Seward & Alaska Railroad Awarded $20 Million Grant

Petroleum News

As reported by the Alaska Congressional Delegation Oct. 9, U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, welcomed the announcement of a roughly $19.78 million port infrastructure grant issued by the United States Maritime Administration for the City of Seward and the Alaska Railroad Corp. to improve the freight dock and corridor in Seward, Alaska. The Alaska congressional delegation wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao supporting the grant application in May.

“This grant announcement by MARAD is an exciting development for the people of Seward and the industries that form the backbone of our economy, particularly fisheries and tourism,” the delegation said. “An expanded and revitalized port at the southern tip of Alaska’s Railbelt will unleash new economic opportunities for Alaskans on the Peninsula and throughout the state, while also expanding vital transportation services to a number of rural communities. We also can’t overstate the importance of this infrastructure to our maritime security and Coast Guard operations, with Seward soon poised to host a new fast response cutter, in addition to the fueling and maintenance work already conducted at this important port. Mayor Terry, the community and the railroad made a strong case for the wide-ranging benefits of this project, and we thank Secretary Chao for heeding the voices of Alaskans.”

According to the grant announcement, the project will lengthen and widen the primary freight dock at the Port of Seward “to accommodate growing freight cargoes and minimize operational conflicts between freight and cruise movements, both onshore and in the harbor.” Additionally, the project will include a roadway connection between the dock and Airport Road, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of passengers and cargo.