Infrastructure Opportunity Update - February 2024
Here’s our latest update on Infrastructure projects in the GNO Region. Thanks to GNO Inc. for compiling these updates and sharing them.
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We’re witnessing impressive multi-modal investments across ports, airports, roads, bridges, rail, and more. A wealth of funding opportunities, award announcements, and active planning efforts affecting our region’s future can be found below. Please stay competitive and engaged in critical comment periods.
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending, also known as earmarks, have been advanced by Congress. President Biden signed H.R. 4366, The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, a FY24 funding bill including six of twelve appropriations bills – most relevantly, appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. Key GNO priorities and partner projects have been funded:
St. Bernard Transportation Corridor – $15M (Kennedy)
North-South Connecting Road Project – $7.8M (Scalise)
Mississippi River Bridge South in Greater Baton Rouge – $4.4M (Graves)
City of New Orleans Lincoln Bridge Access Project – $4.1M (Carter)
LA Coast Guard Road, Venice Port Complex, LA – $4M (Kennedy)
Delgado Community College Motor Vehicle Technology Center of Excellence – $850,000 (Carter)
Dillard University Utilities Renovations – $850,000 (Carter)
City of Westwego Elevated Walkway, Connecting to the Riverboat Landing on the Mississippi River – $850,000 (Carter)
Port of South Louisiana Infrastructure and Drainage Improvements – $500,000 (Carter)
FAA awarded $7M to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport through the FY24 Airport Terminal Program. This award funds construction of the foundation for the North/South Connector Road, linking the new terminal to parking and rental car facilities. This road will also provide direct access to the planned multimodal transit facility, which will further connect with New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail service and public transit. The $7M, building upon $8M received in the FY23 grant cycle for site preparation, will be put towards foundational piling operations for roadway stability and resiliency.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) held a hearing on New Orleans-Mobile passenger rail restoration, receiving updates from the National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak), CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX), Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS), and the Port of Mobile. STB sought more information on the status of parties’ settlement agreement; since an agreement was reached in November 2022, STB has held the case in abeyance. In September 2023, Amtrak was awarded $178M through FRA’s CRISI grant program to address track improvements. Now, Amtrak, FRA, and all parties are working towards execution of this grant agreement and obligation of the funds. Per the settlement, twice daily service can begin as soon as the Mobile track project is completed; construction may take approximately one year. Amtrak, the Port, CSX, and NS underscored their improved collaboration and progress in actualizing the project.
STB ordered that a detailed report be submitted within 30 days, providing an expected timeframe for service to restart. A November 2024 start date has been floated, although 2025 sounds more likely.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is in the scoping phase and now soliciting public comments for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp), a five-year, $25M mega-study. LMR Comp – authorized by Congress and led by the USACE New Orleans District – will deliver recommendations for management of the Mississippi River from Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico. By law, the study is authorized to consider “hurricane and storm damage reduction, flood risk management, structure and nonstructural flood control, floodplain management strategies, navigation, ecosystem and environmental restoration, water supply, hydropower production, recreation, and other purposes as determined by the Secretary of the Army.” The scoping period will inform priority of these focuses. Ultimately, the study will recommend construction of new projects, modifications to existing projects, monitoring needs, follow-up studies, and more actions that could have generational impacts.
We encourage you, or your affiliated entity, to submit comments no later than April 2 by emailing LMRComp@usace.army.mil or completing this online survey. Comments can underscore Mississippi River-related challenges facing Greater New Orleans and our infrastructure (e.g., saltwater intrusion, subsidence), to increase likelihood of South Louisiana solutions being offered within the Chief’s Report.
For more information about the study, you may join USACE’s virtual scoping meeting on Tuesday, March 12 at 10am, 12pm, and 6pm: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/mvnpao (meeting number: 1991 65 9004).
GOHSEP is accepting mitigation project proposals from local governments through the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Revolving Loan Fund. Last year, Louisiana received the largest award ($6.7M) from FEMA, out of eight original state capitalization grant given. Now, this revolving loan fund, administered by GOHSEP, will provide hazard mitigation assistance – particularly for projects addressing flood and wind-related hazards – through low interest loans to local governments, at a rate of no more than 1% over a 20- or 30-year term.
Project proposals are due to GOHSEP by April 5 by completing this project proposal survey. With questions, email GOHSEPHM@la.gov.
NOAA Climate Resilience Accelerators, which will catalyze infrastructure-related innovation and new climate resilience technologies through entrepreneurship, have announced Phase 1 awardees, including The Idea Village. Idea Village will now develop their “CLIMATEx Accelerator Program” for Phase 2 submission and potential implementation. Massachusetts-based SeaAhead, proposing an “Accelerating Climate & Ocean Resilience with Bluetech Innovation” accelerator, and The National Ocean Renewable Power Accelerator, proposing an “Ocean RePower” accelerator, also have interest in Southeast Louisiana-related infrastructure challenges and Gulf of Mexico deployment.
FTA, with Emergency Relief Program funding from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act, 2023, has granted Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District $18.6M to rehabilitate both Pointe à la Hache ferry landings and associated ramps. This allocation will repair storm damage, address critical evacuation route needs, and improve workforce connectivity.
In 2022, DOTD received $25M from DOT’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program to design and construct new ferry boats, including one that will service this landing.
RTA has kicked off the Algiers Ferry Terminal Renovation Project, supported by a $5.2M DOT Passenger Ferry Grant Program award. This project will result in a modernized ferry terminal in Algiers Point, originally built in the 1970s, to add rider amenities, multimodal improvements, stormwater management, and square footage for administration and operations. A project to replace the Algiers ferry barges will take place on a similar timeframe to improve operational reliability. The project is beginning with a visioning and design phase – RTA has held two community meetings, and an online survey is available to express preferred priorities for the renovation.
DOTD, in partnership with the City of New Orleans, has started construction on the $20.7M Crescent City Connection Decorative Lighting Project. The prior lighting system – installed in 1987 with a gift from the Young Leadership Council (YLC) – sustained major damage from Hurricane Ida. This project is complete overhaul, with new LED technology which allows for customized, changeable colors. Frischhertz Electric Co. of New Orleans, which also led the Superdome LED lighting project, is constructing the project. DOTD expects completion in advance of the Super Bowl.
The City of New Orleans, in coordination with DOTD, is making repairs to I-10 lighting from New Orleans East to Downtown New Orleans. In February, work was completed Read to Bullard Ave., and over 80 lights were repaired between Gravier St. and Orleans Ave. As work continues, expect planned closures eastbound and westbound to facilitate repairs from the City’s contractor, All Star Electric. A recent audit of the 4,300 interstate lights under the city’s responsibility found 470 in need of repairs. Note that 210 additional lights are intentionally turned off as part of an active project, upgrading lights to LED on I-10 near Florida Ave. and I-610.
Furthermore, Jefferson Parish has approved $2.2M to upgrade I-10 lighting from Power Boulevard to the 17th Street Canal. The parish estimates that around 120 lights are broken along the 8-mile stretch of roadway. However, Jefferson Parish plans to replace every lightbulb with new LED lights. This will also be completed in time for the Super Bowl.
Down the road in Lake Charles, DOTD signed the public-private partnership (P3) contract for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, following approval by the Joint Legislative Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee. The $2.1B project – the largest in DOTD history – is supported by $1.2B in state and federal funds, including a $150M DOT Mega grant. Calcasieu Bridge Partners – a joint venture of Plenary, Sacyr, and Acciona – will cover the remaining costs and recoup its investments using a toll system once construction is complete.
The new six-lane bridge, projected to open in 2031, will replace the existing bridge, which opened in the 1952 and is now rated as structurally deficient. The existing bridge is used by more than 70,000 cars and trucks daily; the new bridge is forecasted to accommodate an increase to 90,000 daily vehicles by 2040.
DOT has opened the FY24 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, investing $1.256B in total, split between Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants. Planning and Demonstration Grants – with multiple application deadlines until August 29 – allow for local or regional entities to develop, complete, or supplement a Safety Action Plan, strategies to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injury. Implementation Grants – with applications due on May 16 – allow for infrastructure, behavior, or operational projects, as identified in a Safety Action Plan, to address a roadway safety problem.
In FY22 and FY23 SS4A grant cycles, Planning and Demonstration Grants have been won by the City of Gretna, City of New Orleans, City of Westwego, Plaquemines Parish, and the Regional Planning Commission (for a multi-parish proposal addressing St. John, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa)
The City of Westwego is hosting a SS4A workshop, building off their grant award, on March 27 from 5-7pm at 1220 Avenue H, inviting interested parties to share ideas for safe and vibrant transportation for all road users in Westwego.
DOT has shared a Key Notices of Funding Opportunity webpage, consolidating anticipated dates for upcoming Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for key programs within and relevant to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This list includes projected, prospective program opening dates. For example, DOT indicates the expectation of National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) and the Nationally Significant Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) both reopening in March 2024.
DOT’s Discretionary Grants Dashboard provides communities with an overview of 98 discretionary grant opportunities – sortable by transportation type, eligible applicants, and match requirements – that can fund various transportation infrastructure needs.
St. Tammany Parish is developing its first Multi-Modal Transportation Plan (MMTP). The plan will help facilitate and implement community transportation goals and to improve transportation facilities and services by: “relating the transportation system to existing and future land use and community comprehensive plans and programs; improving the multi-modal transportation circulation of people and goods, using both motorized and non-motorized transportation modes and facilities; and providing a safe, efficient, accessible, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing transportation system.” Projects include new roadways, roadway extensions, roadway widenings, intersection improvements, shared use path, bike lanes, and bridge repairs.
Help the Parish prioritize 151 planned transportation projects – 100 Capacity Improvement projects and 51 Alternative Transportation projects – by selecting your 10 most favorable projects and 10 least favorable projects.
The City of New Orleans released The Big Green Easy, a citywide park and recreation vision plan, developed with community input and collaboration from New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDc), the City's Department of Parks and Parkways, Audubon Nature Institute, and City Park Conservancy. The document, with driving principles of equity and resilience, puts forward a vision plan, a one-year plan, and a 10-year plan. Immediate actions include recommend appointing Chief Park Planning Officer (CPPO) and longer-term actions include adopting park design standards that enumerate stormwater storage goals per acre.
The plan also provides an assessment of the current state of the City’s 216 parks and 7,568 assets. This inventory includes 103 playgrounds, 83 basketball courts, 56 tennis courts, 17 swimming pools, 16 soccer fields, and two skate parks.
While great variation exists neighborhood-by-neighborhood, New Orleans has high park walkability overall, with 84% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a public park or greenspace, compared to 55% nationally.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has launched the Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program. CBPA provides free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans, particularly for zero-emission school and transit bus fleets. These plan may address existing fleet baseline analysis, infrastructure assessment and optimization strategy, procurement and project staging, financial analysis, workforce considerations, and more. Following plan development, plan deployment assistance over multiple years may also be requested. Applications, via an online form, are accepted on a rolling basis.
The City of New Orleans is a pilot community in the DOE Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP), which provides technical assistance with clean energy planning and economic development visioning. The City has worked with DOE and NREL on an analysis of potential microgrid sites (Agriculture St. Landfill, Sanchez Multi-Service Center, Joe W. Brown Park) and a solar feasibility study of City-owned properties. This report, including workforce development recommendations, will be released in the coming months.
CLEAP has compiled a funding database for all communities to implement energy efficiency, clean energy, and related infrastructure.
Senator Cassidy highlighted IIJA-enabled investment of $87M in Jefferson Parish streets and highways during a recent district visit. Through the National Highway Performance Program, $27.2M has been programmed to rehab the Harvey Canal Tunnel, and through the Surface Transportation Block Grant, $16.7M has been put towards work on the Causeway Boulevard-Earhart Expressway project and $13.5M to improve the I-10/Loyola Interchange.
On the second anniversary of IIJA, Senator Cassidy published a parish-by-parish project index, which features over 40 IIJA-funded projects within Jefferson Parish alone.
Enterprise Aquaponics celebrated the opening of their Urban Aquafarm & Training Center in Jefferson Parish, located at 718 Barataria Blvd. in Marrero, with the support of JEDCO. The facility houses systems for controlled environment agriculture – a greenhouse, a warehouse, and a microgreen room – to produce food using sustainable methods, including hydroponics, aquaponics, and recirculating aquaculture, where plants and fish are grown together. The facility can also produce plants for coastal restoration and green infrastructure projects. Schedule a tour for a school group, conference group, or workforce training group online or by emailing info@enterpriseaquatics.com.
USDA has opened two grant programs, for both planning and implementation, that can support urban agriculture projects in GNO and our food sector:
Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) supports public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries, and institutional markets or institutional food service operations. Applications are due on May 14, awarding up to $1M for implementation.
Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) funds projects from farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and others that address food access, education, start-up costs, and development of related public policy. In 2021, Grow Dat Youth Farm in City Park won $141,416 from UAIP. Applications are due on April 9 for awards up to $350,000.
The City of New Orleans, and over 25 partner organizations, hosted the second annual Recycle Dat! to divert Mardi Gras waste and prevent waste from entering, and impeding, the drainage system. In 2024, over 10 tons of material were collected, including 4,288 pounds of glass; 4,564 pounds of aluminum cans (approximately 154,263 cans); and 12,729 pounds of beads and throws. In addition, the Recycling Hub, operated by the Osprey Initiative, collected 306 pounds of plastic bottles (approximately 8,300 bottles).
Recycle Dat! partners include the Office of Resilience and Sustainability, NOLA Ready, New Orleans & Company, Grounds Krewe, Every Can Counts, Glass Half Full, Realcycle, Downtown Development District, French Quarter Management District, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and more. Sponsors include the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Entergy, EMR Metal Recycling, and Louisiana Beverage Association.
The City of New Orleans provided an update on ARPA-funded initiatives, including public infrastructure projects. In total, the City received $388M in ARPA funds; $245M has been spent and another $48.5M is obligated, representing 76% of the City’s total appropriation. City’s ARPA portfolio includes 119 individual projects – 40 have funding spent or obligated, 28 are in contract development or execution, 26 have a procurement open, and 25 are in scope development.
For example, $2.5M for citywide greening is expected to be procured by the end of Q2; $3M for right of way maintenance, addressing traffic signal upgrades, pavement striping and speed management, has been procured and will begin by early Q2.
The City appropriated $10M in ARPA funding for drainage improvements, including drain line and catch basin cleaning, which will address approximately 24,000 catch basins. Two contracts, covering for all five Council districts, were executed in Q4 2023 and work began in January 2024. A Drainage Improvement Dashboard demonstrates work underway, including 29,900 feet of drain lines cleaned and 1,400 catch basins assigned for cleaning.
For more information on all ARPA-funded initiatives, view the City’s ARPA Dashboard at www.nola.gov/ARPA.
As a reminder, EPA has four open grant opportunities to address environmental and water infrastructure challenges:
Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies Grant Program will establish five Stormwater Centers of Excellence across the country, providing up to $980,000 to each. Center of Excellence will administer technical assistance to local governments and advance research on stormwater infrastructure technologies that improves efficiency, cost, and water quality. Applications are due on March 18; questions can be sent to stormwatercenters@epa.gov.
Healthy & Resilient Gulf of Mexico Grant Program will provide grants of up-to $6M to partnerships of five or more eligible entities, including states and local governments, higher education institutions, and nonprofits. Projects should address water quality, habitat restoration, environmental education, or community resilience. Applications should be submitted by April 4, and questions should be directed to the EPA Gulf of Mexico Division at GMP-RFP@epa.gov.
Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) provides free services for communities, like preliminary engineering reports, lead service line inventory, community engagement, rates and revenue analysis, bid support, change order review, Davis Bacon assistance, and funding identification. Communities should submit a request form by May 31, and questions should be posed to WaterTA@epa.gov.
Community Change Grant Program can fund various activities, including tree plantings, stormwater management projects, purchase of zero-emission vehicles, energy-efficient building retrofits, microgrid installation, community resilience hubs, brownfields redevelopment, and waste management projects. Eligible entities are partnerships of two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs), or a CBO with a local government, or a CBO with an institution of higher education. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until November 21. Contact CCGP@epa.gov with questions.
EPA's new $3B Clean Ports Program, created by the IRA, is now live. The program will fund either climate and air quality planning – $150M total, up to $3M per award – or zero-emissions technology and infrastructure deployment – $2.79B, up to $500M per award. Establishment of charging or fueling infrastructure for trucks, cargo handlers, vessels, or locomotives is an eligible use. Public port authorities and private port operators are eligible to apply. Applications are due on May 28.
Congressmen Troy Carter and Clay Higgins introduced the bipartisan TWIC Efficiency (TWICE) Act to improve infrastructure workforce participation and second chances for workers with criminal records. This bill, H.R.7223, addresses access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, which affects 13,825 vessels and 3,270 facilities across the country. These facilities are major employment hubs – ports, terminals, factories, refineries, power plants, and more. TWIC cards are often required for jobs involving the construction, maintenance, or operation of these facilities and their associated infrastructure. In total, 2.3 million Americans have TWIC cards; however, those with criminal records are commonly caught up in a burdensome redress process. If enacted, the bill will mandate that TSA provide guidelines for this redress process and a new pre-application process for those currently in custody. Based on regional stakeholder input, GNO, Inc. collaborated with Congressmen Carter and Higgins to identify this solution, draft legislation, and secure co-sponsors.
Louisiana Infrastructure Technical Assistance Corporation (LITACorp) stands ready to assist local governments with infrastructure grant matching funds or relevant technical assistance. The Matching Funds Grant Program (MFGP) can provide $50,000-$1M per project for local match requirements. The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) provides no-cost support with project development, funding identification, grant writing, and grant administration.
Inquiries about MFGP should be sent to grants@LITACorp.com and TAP assistance requests should be sent to LOI@LITACorp.org.
The Office of Planning and Budget within the Louisiana Division of Administration continues to operate the official infrastructure portal (infrastructure.la.gov) and an official infrastructure newsletter.
To sign up for the newsletter, or to request infrastructure-related assistance and letters of support for grant packages, please email infrastructure@la.gov.
Click the link below to download this month’s highlighted discretionary grant opportunities now open to units of local government.
Please share this information with colleagues, consultants, and grant writers working with your respective jurisdictions. If GNO, Inc. can support your applications, through a letter or other means, please let us know.
Questions? Have updates to share? Contact:
Peter Waggonner
Public Policy Director
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 3475
New Orleans, LA 70163
