Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg plans to deliver a keynote speech at the annual Transportation Research Board from Jan. 9-13.
“The meeting program covers all transportation modes, with sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to policymakers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions,” event organizers reportedly stated.
As a member of the White House’s supply chain crisis team, the Department of Transportation chief is expected to address the organization on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Buttigieg has been making the supply chain rounds in recent weeks to push the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure spending package. He has gone on the record indicating that federal grants exceeding $241 million are expected to help fund 25 port projects. Industry insiders believe he will take the opportunity to continue pushing the Biden Administration’s infrastructure policies.
“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains. These investments in our nation’s ports will help support American jobs, efficient and resilient operations, and faster delivery of goods to the American people,” Buttigieg reportedly said.
The federal grants are reportedly part of the Biden Administration’s efforts to improve supply chain efficiency in 19 states. Those funding efforts are expected to increase to $450 million for five consecutive years under the infrastructure law. However, taxpayer money does not necessarily support increased truck driving opportunities.
Upwards of $52.3 million goes to improve rail capacity at the Port of Long Beach, and several grants are designed to reduce the number of truckloads and miles. Although Buttigieg participated in a driver retention roundtable discussion during the summer, he has been candid about emphasizing rail over trucks. Given the persistent need to bring more CDL holders into the industry, reducing truckloads may not necessarily impact driver salaries and benefits.
“This is the largest investment in roads, bridges, and highways since the creation of the interstate highway system, including the largest investment in our bridges ever so that we can avoid devastating closures and disruptive collapses like we’ve seen,” Buttigieg reportedly said. “It’s also the largest investment in public transit ever, with funding that will expand service to communities of all sizes, including improvements for seniors and for people with disabilities. It’s going to replace thousands of outdated buses with clean, zero-emission vehicles and aging railcars with state-of-the-art new ones.”
The Transportation Research Gathering features lectures and workshops involving airport electrification, railway asset management, AI, and public transportation, among others. One crucial panel discussion set for Jan. 11 covers the agricultural sector’s supply chain challenges. In 2020, growers and ranchers struggled to secure freight haulers to transport goods in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Panelists are expected to include Adam Sparger, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Bruce Lambert, with the Maritime Administration.
The conference will reportedly be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme is “Innovating an Equitable, Resilient, Sustainable and Safe Transportation System.”
Sources: ttnews.com, pbs.org
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