The

U.S. Department of Transportation

(USDOT) yesterday announced $1.73 billion in federal

Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development

(BUILD) program grants for 127 infrastructure projects across 52 states, territories and the District of Columbia.

Freight- and passenger-rail initiatives

collectively received $87.7 million in grant funding. The majority of funding — $1.3 billion, or about 77% — will support road and bridge infrastructure projects. The USDOT also designated $136.8 million for port infrastructure projects, $169.9 million for transit projects and $11 million for aviation projects.

Notably, a $24.3 million rail infrastructure grant was awarded to the

Port of Corpus Christi Authority

in Texas. The authority will use the funding to modernize and lengthen track at its inland port facility, USDOT officials said in a press release.

Under the port infrastructure sector, USDOT awarded a $8.5 grant to

Alaska Railroad Corp.

to widen the Port of Seward's freight dock by 300 feet so vessels can load, unload and transfer cargo faster.

For this round of BUILD funding, USDOT received nearly 1,200 eligible grant applications collectively requesting over $14.5 billion.

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