By City of Kingman
In an announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the City of Kingman has assumed a pivotal role as the driving force behind the formation of a groundbreaking private/public coalition to advance the development of the I-40 TradePort Corridor. This innovative integrated supply chain system encompasses clean energy, logistics, and industrial hubs and is a collaborative effort with the lead agency, Bernalillo County, NM at its helm.
The City of Kingman, in collaboration with Winslow, and a partnership of regional stakeholders, including the Port of Los Angeles, CA, Bernalillo County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, and the Village of Los Lunas, NM, has been designated as a Regional Infrastructure Accelerator by the USDOT.
Over the coming year, the USDOT RIA will play a pivotal role in expediting project delivery through comprehensive initiatives such as project planning, in-depth studies, meticulous analysis, and preliminary engineering and design work. To kickstart the planning phase, the I-40 TradePort Corridor has received an initial seed funding of $974K.
Working closely with the USDOT Build America Bureau, the I-40 TradePort will explore various agency financing programs to bolster infrastructure investments within the corridor’s vital hubs.
The initial focus of this dynamic partnership is to realize the project along the 805-mile stretch from Los Angeles to Albuquerque. Future plans include expanding the corridor’s reach into the lucrative Texas and Midwest markets, emphasizing the magnitude of this infrastructure development.
Notably, Kingman will play a pivotal role by hosting a Truck Mobility Complex designed to cater to Class 8 electric and hydrogen trucks. This complex will also function as a logistical hub attracting private investment. These manufacturing and distribution projects are expected to streamline trade flow from the Port of Los Angeles throughout Arizona and New Mexico, paving the way for a value-added, cost-saving system.
Additionally, strategic TradePort hubs are poised to spring up in prominent locations, including Los Angeles, Winslow and the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, making the I-40 TradePort Corridor a transformative force for regional economic development.
“We are pleased to expand the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program to 24 regions, helping communities build capacity and get much-needed transportation projects underway,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “DOT partners with these regions to help them secure financing and develop in-house expertise for innovative delivery of regionally significant projects.”
Each of the RIA recipients will sign cooperative agreements with the Build America Bureau and establish work plans to bring their proposals to fruition. (Source)