SB268 Summary

• Transfers $10,000,000 annually from the Public Road and Bridge Fund to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to establish a grant program for inland port and intermodal facility development, improvement, maintenance, and construction.

• Creates the Inland Ports and Intermodal Development Fund within the Department to finance improvements to existing publicly-owned inland ports and intermodal facility infrastructure on a competitive basis.

• Requires minimum 20 percent local funding participation for projects and prioritizes funding for facilities with proven performance in reducing highway congestion and increasing port tonnage.

• Limits eligible uses to capital improvements, dredging in immediate port vicinity, economic development, waterway rehabilitation, and intermodal infrastructure development; excludes routine maintenance, administrative expenses, and new port establishment without feasibility study.

• Exempts the Alabama State Port Authority from the act's provisions and preserves all existing laws and authorities over local port and infrastructure commissions.