Earlier this month, the Port of Hueneme was awarded a $2 million federal grant for planning activities related to a parking structure that will serve as the transfer point between ocean-going vessels and the rail or trucks being used to transport automobiles off port. This Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant is only a portion of grant funding efforts from the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to decarbonize, upgrade, and rehabilitate key ports along California’s coast.

“This PIDP grant is a great opportunity to invest in infrastructure at the Port. It’s an investment that will bolster the efficiency of our operations,” said Jess Herrera, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “This funding will also provide us with additional tools and opportunities to further facilitate clean air efforts and support our local workforce through promoting job growth.”

Rendition of future parking structure on the Port.

CEO & Port Director, Kristin Decas, said: “As the nation’s sixth largest port specializing in the logistics of automobiles, this PIDP funding award to start the engineering plan to build a green parking structure on Port is a welcome start for us to maximize the use of critical space to better save the Port’s customers and US consumer demand. With 23 percent of our automotive throughput being electric vehicles, we are excited to build capacity to best serve the rapidly emerging zero emission vehicle market.”

With a total of $74.5 million in grant funds available, California’s ports will have the opportunity to further fund and promote cleaner, energy efficient ports to stimulate a greener economy with less pollution, as well as bolster port infrastructure to support future offshore wind investments. California port projects funded by the Department of Transportation grant opportunities include projects related to enhancing bridge rail capacity, improving roadways, upgrading port infrastructure, and acquiescing new equipment critical to port operations.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Californians by funding key projects across the state to strengthen our ports,” said California Senator Alex Padilla. “This funding will boost clean shipping efforts, rehabilitate degraded port infrastructure, and streamline daily operations up and down the California coast, making our ports more efficient for workers and safer for neighboring communities.”

The Port of Hueneme is the 6th auto port in the United States, and overall, is amongst the top 10 percent of U.S. ports for autos and fresh produce. At a broader scale, California’s ports process about 40 percent of all containerized imports and 30 percent of all exports in the United States. California ports, including the Port of Hueneme, play a crucial role in respective local economy and our nation’s economy, as well as hold a unique position to promote and aid environmental sustainability efforts.