- The U.S. Department of Transportation expands the Marine Highway Program by adding four new waterways.
- The Great Lakes route (M-90) gains seven new sponsors to strengthen regional collaboration.
- Grant applications are open to support projects on these designated routes through mid-July 2025.
On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a major expansion of the Marine Highway Program, increasing the total designated route mileage to over 27,000 miles across 35 waterways nationwide, reports gCaptain.
This initiative aims to improve the resilience of U.S. supply chains, enhance critical infrastructure, and foster growth in the maritime workforce by encouraging greater use of America’s navigable inland waterways.
DOT Boosts Inland Shipping
The expansion includes the addition of four new routes: the Big Sandy River (20 miles), Cumberland River (382 miles), Green River (109 miles), and Ouachita River (337 miles). These waterways will now be part of the national Marine Highway network, providing more options for efficient and sustainable freight transportation inland.
In addition to the new routes, the program strengthened the existing M-90 route that spans 2,345 miles through the Great Lakes from Minnesota to New York. Seven new sponsors, including state transportation departments and port authorities, have joined the initiative to enhance coordination and investment in this important corridor.
The Marine Highway Program is also actively seeking grant applications to support projects along these designated routes, with a submission deadline of July 15, 2025. These grants aim to promote projects that help reduce congestion on land-based transportation networks and shift freight movement to waterways, which can be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Overall, the expansion of the Marine Highway Program reflects a growing commitment to leveraging America’s waterways to strengthen supply chains, reduce environmental impacts, and support economic growth in the maritime sector.
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Source: gCaptain
