The Linking Iowa’s Freight Transportation program is a new grant funding opportunity to improve Iowa’s freight transportation system.
OVERVIEW
The LIFTS program seeks to address gaps in multimodal funding to assist in bolstering the freight transportation system – be that by truck, train, barge, airplane, or several modes. Because Iowa is a producer state, products grown or made here take a journey on multiple modes of transportation around the United States and the world. Efficient, diverse, and cost-effective freight transportation is critical to the health of Iowa’s businesses, communities, and economy.
The LIFTS program grant funding is not limited to a particular mode of transportation, but is designed to assist projects that contribute to effective and efficient freight transportation. Project eligibility is far ranging. Examples of projects that could benefit the freight transportation system include, but are not limited to:
- Transload facilities where products are transferred between rail and truck.
- Capacity improvements at barge terminal facilities.
- Intermodal facilities.
- Barge transload facilities where products can be transferred from barge to rail or truck.
- Remove height or width restrictions on existing infrastructure that inhibit the movement of freight.
- Ramps or docks for loading/unloading air cargo.
- Increase weight capacity to use heavier 286,000 lb. rail cars.
- Expand or reconfigure rail yards to increase capacity or reduce dwell time.
- Safety improvements to increase freight capacity.
Though LIFTS is being administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of Rail Transportation, projects are not limited to rail infrastructure. Nor is LIFTS designed to assist projects that can be funded under traditional highway programs, such as highway construction, reconstruction, or modifications.
Some projects that include highway components may be able to take advantage of another Iowa DOT program, Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) program (through a separate application process), for the establishment, construction, improvement, and maintenance of roads and streets to promote economic development in Iowa.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the LIFTS program is to provide grants for projects that help meet the changing demands on Iowa’s multimodal freight system. The intent is to provide funding for freight projects that have public benefit by enhancing the shipment of freight but are ineligible for state or federal highway funding. The funding program is designed to:
- Enhance economic development by improving the multimodal freight transportation system.
- Provide flexible funding for the changing demands of the freight transportation system.
- Enhance the ability to provide competitive transportation options for shipment of products and moving goods.
- Provide incentives to alternate modes for economic development partnership opportunities.
APPLICATION EVALUATION
A team of Iowa DOT staff will evaluate applications on the following criteria. Projects will be evaluated by a review of:
- Freight transportation benefits (40 percent), including freight connectivity; how the project addresses freight challenges and improves freight mobility and reliability; and provides benefits to customers and shippers.
- Economic benefits (30 percent), including job creation and retention; local, statewide, or regional economic influence, including benefits and cost savings to customers and shippers; and other investment by sponsor (leveraging private investment).
- Public benefits (20 percent), including highway user benefits, safety, congestion relief, environmental, and other public benefits.
- Project readiness (10 percent), including design status, environmental clearances, permitting, and expected timeline of project.
Site visits may be arranged if it is deemed beneficial to better understand the scope or intent of a project. The evaluation team will make a recommendation to the Iowa Transportation Commission.
For more information check out the Iowa DOT website.