The funding will be used to widen and improve Lamar Avenue, a congested roadway that serves regionally and nationally significant freight facilities, including the BNSF intermodal rail yard, the Memphis International Airport, the FedEx Worldwide headquarters, and the Port of Memphis.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the City of Memphis applied for federal funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s fiscal year 2017 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, which is intended to provide federal funding for highway and freight projects of national and regional significance. TDOT has included Lamar Avenue improvements in its three-year transportation plan.
On October 31, 2017, Senator Alexander sent Transportation Secretary Chao a letter supporting TDOT and the City of Memphis’ application for INFRA grant funds. The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the grant has been approved.