In October 2017, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of South Louisiana requested funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants Program for the multimodal Globalplex Intermodal Efficiency Improvements Project. The Project will improve the efficiency and reliability, while also increasing the future capacity at the Globalplex Terminal. The Project provides an extensive local match through the State of Louisiana’s Port Development Priority and Construction Program, Capital Outlay, and Port funds. Funding from TIGER, a requested $16,270,600, is the last remaining source of funding necessary to complete this key project.

The proposed Project consists of the construction of three separate components: dock access bridge, dock reinforcement, and two mobile harbor cranes. The Project has strong support from local communities, local and state agencies, elected local and state officials, and private business. It meets all Primary Selection Criteria. The key aspects of the Project are: (1) efficient intermodal access—vessel to truck to staging—between designated marine highway and the only public facility within the largest tonnage port, (2) construction on a public owned site and right of way, and (3) current and future employment and economic vitality of the region over the Project’s 30 year life span. Key benefits of the Project include: (1) creation of 489 job years in immediate construction, (2) creation of 15 permanent, good-paying jobs once the project is complete with a present value of the net total payroll effects of job creation resulting from this project estimated at $33.1 million over the entire 30-year project period using a 7% discount rate, and $43.1 million discounted at 3%, (3) a BCA ratio of 2.80 and $56,597,000 million in net benefits, and (4) reduced emissions, reduced fuel costs, reduced congestion, and reduced noise pollution.