POLA and POLB receive $112M for Upgrades
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have received a significant boost in federal funding, securing $112 million for critical construction upgrades and maintenance. Announced by California Senator Alex Padilla, who chairs the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, this funding aims to support essential repairs and operational improvements at these key West Coast gateways.
“The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach move 40 percent of the nation’s container imports, transporting the goods that power our economy,” Padilla said. “I am glad to see the Army Corps heed my call to fund these crucial upgrades that will bolster global supply chains and make long overdue repairs to the ports.” The allocated funds are expected to enhance the San Pedro Bay port complex and strengthen the national supply chain.
The funding comes from the Harbor Maintenance Tax, a 0.125-percent duty on a port’s cargo value collected by the federal government and added to a Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). Established in 1986, the program originally focused on dredging projects at American ports. However, most funds were historically funneled to smaller ports or saved in a trust now worth billions.
