The U.S. Maritime Administration, known as MARAD, provided more than $7.5 million in grants on January 6 to nine marine highway projects in nine states: Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

[Above photo by the Virginia DOT.]

The agency said its America’s Marine Highway Program or AMHP supports the increased use of the nation’s navigable waterways in order to relieve landside congestion, provide new and efficient transportation options, and increase the productivity of America’s surface transportation system.

“This program is dedicated to expanding the use of our inland waterways for freight movement,” said Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby in a statement. “This round of grant funding will be used to continue that expansion and ensure that our waterways are used effectively.”

Most of those projects received AMHP designation last July in order to qualify for federal funding. MARAD also provided $6.79 million worth of grants to three marine highway projects in New York, Louisiana, and Virginia last April as well; grants focused on addressing freight transport needs.