As government and industry officials try to find ways to unclog near-term supply-chain problems, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the state of California also are initiating a program aimed at longer-range freight infrastructure trouble spots. The plan's goal is to smooth the path to tap federal loans to help pay for supply-chain-related port, rail and highway infrastructure projects.
The "Emerging Projects Agreement," which Biden administration officials and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced on Oct. 28, would draw on two long-standing DOT loan resources, the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Finance Act (RRIF) program.