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$80 Million Grant Boosts AllianceTexas Smart Port Development in Fort Worth

AllianceTexas Smart Port

A public-private partnership in far north Fort Worth has secured an $80 million grant from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, aimed at enhancing regional, state, and national real-time tracking of goods and services through the upcoming Smart Port at AllianceTexas.

The partnership involves the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the City of Fort Worth, the City of Haslet, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). The AllianceTexas Smart Port was selected as one of only 44 projects nationwide and is the sole recipient from Texas.

The overall project, with an estimated cost of $262 million, includes $96 million in private-sector investment. It will connect the AllianceTexas Inland Port, a critical supply chain hub, to the Dallas-Fort Worth regional transportation network, including the Texas Connected Freight Corridor (TCFC) and essential National Highway Freight Network corridors like Interstate 35 and Interstate 45.

Key features of the project include:

  • Smart Connected Bridge: A bridge will connect State Highway 170 directly to the AllianceTexas Inland Port facility, improving freight traffic flow by diverting trucks from Interstate 35W and local suburban roads, thus reducing congestion and enhancing road safety.

  • Integrated Intermodal Depot: A 32-acre container lot will be developed in collaboration with BNSF Railway, providing efficient drayage services and supporting over 14 million square feet of next-generation warehouse space.

  • 5G Communication Network: Long-term telecommunications infrastructure will be established to support semi- and fully autonomous vehicle technology, alongside expanding public and private 5G networks.

  • Electric Vehicle Freight Operations: A dedicated truckport will be created for electric vehicle and hydrogen freight operations, contributing to a connected freight corridor.

  • Renewable Energy Micro-Grid: The project will include an energy storage and management system to improve resilience against energy demand spikes.

  • Texas AV/EV Connected Freight Corridor: This initiative will create a seamless platform for improving physical and technological connectivity within the 865-mile Texas Triangle, linking the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin-San Antonio, and Houston areas.

Currently, approximately 4.2 million trucks travel in and out of the BNSF Railway Alliance Intermodal Facility each year, with projections suggesting that number will nearly double by 2035. The AllianceTexas Inland Port ranks 15th nationally and serves as the primary port of entry for the southwestern United States, facilitating global goods shipment from the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Houston through intermodal rail containers. The project is expected to significantly enhance freight safety and mobility throughout Texas.

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