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WASHINGTON – Citing concerns about the supply chain, a senior Maryland senator renewed his calls for colleagues to support emergency assistance for rebuilding the Port of Baltimore region which was hindered due to the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Ben Cardin (D), Senator from Maryland, said during a hearing on Environment and Public Works held June 5, that the potential for long-term impacts of direct assistance to the region’s freight routes increases the longer Congress delays.
The bridge handled 34,000 cars a day. The bridge was closed and we saw an 18% increase of tunnel traffic. This has caused delays in the two tunnels which go through the harbor.
“For those who have hazardous materials, those truckers must travel an additional 25 miles.” A heavy cost for commerce and our community. There’s a pressing need to replace the bridge,” said Cardin, pointing out that supply chain disruptions will continue without significant funding.
Cardin and other members of Maryland’s congressional delegation have recently proposed legislation to access federal funding for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of infrastructure at the Port of Baltimore. The bipartisan Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act is yet to be scheduled in the House or Senate for consideration.
The leadership of EPW acknowledged the urgency. “The collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was a terrible accident. Six people lost their life and thousands of others have had their lives turned upside down by the loss a vital highway link across Baltimore Harbor,” Chairman Tom Carper, (D-Del.). During the hearing, it was stated that six people lost their lives and thousands more had their daily lives upended by the loss of a critical highway link across Baltimore Harbor. “President [Joe] Biden is committed to helping people in Baltimore rebuild the bridge. The Federal Highway Administration has already been — and will remain — a leader in the recovery effort.”
Truckers in Baltimore Struggle to find Loads
Carper added, “I hope the Federal Highway Administration, as the recovery efforts continue, will continue to work closely together with Congress, and other relevant federal agencies as well as state- and local-level leaders to rebuild the bridge.” This is a shared obligation.”
The Federal Highway Administration has provided Maryland with emergency aid of $60 million dollars in response to the collapse. Shailen Bhatt, the administrator of Charm City, updated senators about the situation. “The response to the disaster has demonstrated the ability of government and industry to work together during times of calamity, as they have done ever since the bridge collapse. It was a truly whole-of government response.
Bhatt said that while FHWA is focused on helping Maryland rebuild the bridge, it must not forget the impact of this tragedy on the victims and their family members. We will never forget the six people who died while working to improve our transportation system.
Bhatt, in response to the Army Corps of Engineers announcement that the main channel of the port will be fully opened by June 10 told reporters that “we’re happy that the port will be fully reopened.” This creates more traffic, as the goods have to be brought in from New Jersey, or other places. So, yes, it’s clear that the importance of the port — and how important transportation is — is now understood. “That’s why, again, I recommend that the bridge be built as soon as possible.”
After the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation held meetings with stakeholders including the trucking sector. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration confirmed that the port is still open for truck transactions. The National Transportation Safety Board investigates the circumstances surrounding the containership that slammed into the bridge on March 26.
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