Cardin, Van Hollen, Ruppersberger Announce $20 Million in Funding for Baltimore County, TradePoint Atlantic Project

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today announced that Baltimore County will receive $20 million in federal funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program to help TradePoint Atlantic redevelop the former Sparrows Point steel mill site in southeastern Baltimore County. This project is expected to bring over 21,000 jobs to the Baltimore area and will create even greater economic opportunities for the region. The Members also thanked Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for working with them on this important project. In October, Senators Cardin and Van Hollen wrote a letter urging support of the project to Secretary Chao. Congressman Ruppersberger also led the House delegation in a letter on the issue in October.

"Sparrows Point was at the center of Baltimore's economic history, and this grant will enable redevelopment that helps ensure that the site is central to the city's economic future. This strong federal investment in TradePoint Atlantic will bring with it greater economic growth, new shipping capacity and job creation," said Senator Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. "I am proud of the continued federal-state partnership that has supported Maryland and made targeted investments in our infrastructure a priority."

"Creating good-paying jobs in Maryland is our number one priority, and this significant federal investment in Sparrows Point will allow us to do just that. This project will expand commercial opportunities around the Port of Baltimore, and ultimately grow our state and local economies," said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees. "Infrastructure investments such as these are crucial to moving our country forward, and I will continue to fight for full funding for critical programs like the TIGER grants."

"The scale of this project cannot be overstated - it will transform Sparrows Point into a 21st-century transit hub, creating more than 21,000 jobs in the Baltimore area and increasing access to consumer goods for one-third of the American population," said Congressman Ruppersberger."I am proud to have helped bring these dollars back home to Baltimore County. This is exactly the jobs-producing investment that our constituents want and expect from the federal government."

This project will help increase commerce and create jobs locally, regionally, and nationally, Specifically, TradePoint will make structural upgrades to the terminal's East-West Berth, add an upgraded crane rail system to allow direct transfer of cargo from vessels to rail or trucks, design changes to facilitate transfer of liquid commodities, strengthen the bulkhead, and dredge the turning basin and approach channel, in addition to other improvements.

The TIGER Discretionary Grant program allows the Department of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Since 2009, Congress has dedicated nearly $5.1 billion for eight rounds of TIGER grants to fund projects. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and Congressman Ruppersberger have strongly supported full funding for the TIGER program throughout their time in Congress.

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