RAISE Awards — Maritime Analytics
A maritime-segment deep dive on the 2024 RAISE round: 14 port-related awards (up from four the year before), but mostly planning rather than construction — plus a hard look at the spread of EPA's contested 'dry ports' concept and the litigation risk trailing behind it.
This maritime-segment deep dive unpacks how port and waterway projects fared in the 2024 RAISE round. Maritime punched above its weight — 14 “maritime-related” awards versus 4 the year before, and with 50% fewer applications — but most of those wins were planning grants rather than construction dollars. We also flag two watch items for the sector: the spread of the EPA-originated “dry ports” concept into surface-transportation programs (and the litigation risk that follows the end of Chevron deference), and the continued thin support for true inland (on-the-water) ports.
Key takeaways
- Maritime overperformed: 14 “maritime-related” projects won awards (vs. 4 in 2023), despite 50% fewer applications than the prior round.
- But mostly planning, not building: of the maritime-related awards, only 4 (28%) were capital projects — leaving 10 (72%) for planning, mirroring the program-wide surge in planning grants.
- “Dry ports” are spreading: a concept opposed by the AAPA and created by EPA under its Clean Ports Program picked up 2 RAISE awards (1 in Nevada, 1 in Nebraska) — a trend worth watching, with potential litigation exposure after the demise of Chevron deference.
- True inland ports still starved: on-the-water inland ports garnered just 2 awards (1 in Michigan, 1 in Illinois) — a reminder that RAISE is, at heart, a roads program.
- A P3 highlight: the Michigan inland-port award is a public-private partnership benefiting KK Integrated Logistics — proof RAISE will fund what amounts to a facility build-out (track, warehouse, equipment, and all).
A deeper dive
USDOT announced RAISE awards on June 26th. As always, USDOT provides only so much information — consistent on applications and awards, but light on finer project details, with many applications not made public. If you haven’t reviewed our overall program analytics, start there. Now for the goods:
- Maritime projects punched well above their weight class, with (in our view) 14 “maritime-related” projects receiving awards, compared to 4 in 2023 — a historical anomaly that happened with 50% FEWER applications than last round.
- Of the maritime-related awards, only 4 (28%) were capital projects, leaving 10 (72%) for planning.
- Planning projects amounted to ~47% of all awarded projects — a historical high-water mark. Overall capital/planning averages are ~70%/30%, but the 2024 results were 54%/46%: a 30% reduction in capital awards and a 50% increase in planning grants. As we’ve noted, that’s baffling if planning grants truly aren’t precursors to future capital funding.
- “Dry ports,” a concept vehemently opposed by the AAPA when EPA unveiled it as part of the Clean Ports Program, were granted 2 awards — 1 in Nevada, 1 in Nebraska.
- It’s a vaguely troubling sign to see the “dry ports” idea proliferate across other programs, since it was created out of thin air by EPA and arguably flies in the face of the plain language of the statute. And in light of the demise of Chevron deference, we could see litigation over whether a “port” is what we know it to be — something on water — or one of these things.
- Predictably, inland ports (the water kind) got very little love, garnering just 2 awards — 1 in Michigan, 1 in Illinois. That’s roughly what you’d expect: road projects are mostly off the water, even if they start or end there. What is RAISE, again? A roads program.
- That said, the Michigan project is a public-private partnership (P3) for the benefit of KK Integrated Logistics. Never say RAISE won’t fund what amounts to a facility build-out — track, warehouse, equipment, and all.
- Planning for 2025: USDOT has previously advised little will change — same merit and technical components, same APP/HDC focus, same initial $1.5B funding — and committed to issue the 2025 NOFO by the statutory November 30 deadline.
Related reading
This is policy and market intelligence, not legal advice. Have a maritime or inland-port project? Talk to us about your project →