Fiscal Year 2026 United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP)

The United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP), codified at 46 U.S.C. 55601, was originally established by Section 1121 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce landside congestion through the designation of Marine Highway Routes. The USMHP statute authorizes the U.S. Department of Transportation (“Department” or “DOT”) to make grants to implement Projects or components of Projects that 1) provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation; mitigate or relieve landside congestion; promote Marine Highway Transportation; or use vessels documented under 46 U.S.C. chapter 121; and 2) develop, expand, or promote Marine Highway Transportation or shipper use of Marine Highway Transportation

a State, a political subdivision of a State or a local government; a United States metropolitan planning organization; a United States port authority; a Tribal government (as defined in Section B.5. of this notice of funding opportunity); a United States private sector operator of Marine Highway Projects or private sector owners of facilities, including an Alaska Native Corporation, with an endorsement letter from the current Marine Highway Transportation Route Sponsor (if there are multiple route sponsors, the private sector applicant is only required to submit an endorsement letter from one of the route sponsors).

The criteria will be considered in the evaluation process, which were established in the final rule. This information will have been provided by applicants during the project designation process. No additional applicant input is required to address these criteria. These criteria establish the degree to which projects are expected to: 1. Reduce external cost and provide public benefit, 2. Offer a lower-cost alternative to increasing land-based capacity in the Corridor, and 3. Demonstrate the likelihood of becoming self-supporting in a specified and reasonable timeframe. Also, the following factors will be taken into consideration: 1. Applicants shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the funds received will be spent efficiently and effectively, 2. Applicants shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that a market exists for the services of the proposed project as evidenced by contracts or written statements of intent from potential customers, 3. An applicant shall provide at least 20 percent costs from non-Federal sources unless the application is from a tribal government, is a rural project, or an application from a US territory with a match of $200,000 or less, and, 4. In awarding grants or cooperative agreements under the program, the Secretary shall give preference to those projects or components that present the most financially viable transportation services and require the lowest percentage Federal share of the costs. While the...

Statutory Formula: Title 2, Part C, Subpart 200.48,Public Law Pub. L. 118-31, December 22, 2023.Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law 114-113Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law 114-113 Matching Requirements: 20% The Secretary may increase the Federal share of costs above 80 percent for a grant to a Tribal government for a Project that is located in a rural area. Additionally, for grants to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands, MARAD will waive any cost share requirement for local matching funds under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions). Matching requirements are voluntary.

Fiscal year 2016: Did not award projects in FY2016. Fiscal year 2017: Port New York/New Jersey�Training Infrastructure for New York Harbor Container and Trailer for Barge Services; Commonwealth of Virginia � Richmond Marine Terminal Barge Service Optimization Fiscal year 2022: Marine Highway Grants for the development and expansion of documented vessels, and port and landside infrastructure. 1. Port and landside infrastructure including material handling equipment such as forklifts, cranes, container handlers, as well as terminal equipment such as wharves, docks, terminals and paving, etc., 2. Efficiency or capacity improvements in ports, terminals, aboard vessels and intermodal connectors, etc., 3. Investments that improve environmental sustainability, 4. New or used vessel purchase, lease, or modification, and 5. Planning, preparation and design efforts in support of Marine Highway Projects (However market related studies are ineligible to receive Marine Highway Grants