Governor Josh Shapiro Allocates $105 Million for Pennsylvania Commercial Marine Locks and Freight Terminals

PITTSBURGH — Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll announced on Monday the distribution of $105 million in state maritime infrastructure grants through the Pennsylvania Marine Transportation Program to modernize commercial bulk cargo terminals, rehabilitate century-old lock gate structures, and dredge deepwater berths along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Delaware Rivers.

The investment targets critical industrial river ports—including the Port of Pittsburgh, the PhilaPort deepwater terminals in Philadelphia, and the Port of Erie—that handle over 65 million tons of steel, aggregates, coal, agricultural commodities, and manufacturing components annually.

Keeping Pennsylvania's River Freight Moving Efficiently Waterborne river freight is the most fuel-efficient method for transporting heavy raw materials, where a single 15-barge river tow carries the cargo equivalent of 1,050 commercial tractor-trailers, significantly lowering highway congestion on Interstates 76 and 80.

"Pennsylvania was built on our rivers and industrial ports, and they remain vital economic engines connecting our Commonwealth to global markets," Governor Shapiro said at a maritime terminal along the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh. "By investing $105 million in modern dock walls, high-capacity cranes, and deepwater dredging, we are keeping our river navigation channels open, lowering shipping costs for Pennsylvania manufacturers, and supporting thousands of good-paying union maritime and industrial jobs."

Major Port Infrastructure Packages The $105 million allocation finances:

• Port of Pittsburgh Inland Navigation Modernization: $50 million to repair crumbling concrete dock walls and install heavy-duty electric crane infrastructure across five regional terminals.
• PhilaPort Deepwater Berth Maintenance: $35 million for maintenance dredging maintaining 45-foot authorized draft along the Delaware River.
• Port of Erie Great Lakes Freight Dock Fortification: $20 million for dock wall stabilization and heavy machinery roll-on/roll-off ramps.

Maritime trade associations, river pilot federations, and manufacturing leaders praised the state investment, highlighting that reliable river locks prevent costly commercial shipping bottlenecks.