February 19, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – The administration of Governor Jenniffer González-Colón continues to secure federal funding to strengthen and modernize Puerto Rico’s critical infrastructure.
During a meeting today in the nation’s capital with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the Governor was notified that $25 million has been released for improvements to the Port of San Juan. Combined with other recently obligated federal funds, the total investment for the reconstruction and modernization of key port facilities now reaches $109 million. These funds will specifically support upgrades at the Puerto Nuevo terminals and Pier 15 in Isla Grande, two of the Island’s highest-traffic port areas for essential supplies and goods.
Governor González-Colón thanked Secretary Duffy, with whom she served in Congress, for his continued partnership and commitment to Puerto Rico.
“We are in constant communication; I appreciate everything you do for the Island, and I value your friendship. And again, this is just the beginning. We have tremendous projects ahead for Puerto Rico,” Secretary Duffy stated.
“We had a highly productive meeting focused on strengthening and modernizing Puerto Rico’s transportation infrastructure. We discussed expediting strategic projects, improving our ports, highways, and roadways, and advancing initiatives that directly enhance mobility, safety, and economic development on the Island. We also discussed the recent Air Cargo report, one of the strategies I advanced in Congress to make Puerto Rico more competitive, among other key priorities,” Governor González Colón said.
Both as Resident Commissioner and now as Governor, González Colón has prioritized the development of a modern infrastructure system that meets the highest safety standards and positions Puerto Rico to compete globally. As a former member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, she secured federal funding to advance these goals, and her administration is now translating those resources into tangible projects. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority has fulfilled all necessary requirements to access these funds.
“The public policy of our Governor, Jenniffer González, is to process, with urgency and strict transparency, all federal funding initiatives related to the rehabilitation and modernization of our port infrastructure. Today, we can announce that the Ports Authority and the U.S. Department of Transportation have executed the Grant Agreements for the rehabilitation of piers in two of the most strategically important areas—Puerto Nuevo and Isla Grande. A significant portion of the goods and supplies that arrive in Puerto Rico transit through these facilities,” stated Ports Authority Executive Director Norberto Negrón.
The federal grants were secured and awarded during Governor González Colón’s tenure as Resident Commissioner in Washington and are allocated as follows:
· $10,000,000 (FY2021) under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the Isla Grande pier area.
· $25,000,000 (FY2022) under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program for Pier C at Puerto Nuevo.
· $21,224,804 (FY2024) under the RAISE program for Pier D at Puerto Nuevo.
· $53,526,756 (FY2024) under the PIDP for Piers N and O at Puerto Nuevo.
All grants fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
According to Negrón, the execution of the Grant Agreements confirms that the Ports Authority complied with all applicable federal requirements, including administrative, technical, and environmental processes—such as compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This allows the projects to move directly into final design, procurement, and construction phases. He credited the coordinated efforts of the Authority’s Planning, Environmental, and Federal Funds departments for meeting the rigorous federal standards.
In September 2025, Governor González Colón, Ports Authority Executive Director Norberto Negrón, and Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli welcomed MARAD Deputy Administrator Sang H. Yi to Puerto Rico to discuss the national security importance of strengthening the Island’s port infrastructure.
The Puerto Nuevo terminals handle approximately 80 percent of all containerized cargo entering Puerto Rico, while Pier 15 in Isla Grande manages cargo transported via ferries from the Dominican Republic.
“As part of our administration’s commitment, $46.5 million in local matching funds have been allocated to ensure full utilization of the federal grants awarded. The Ports Authority reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, transparent, and efficient use of these resources, in full compliance with federal and local regulations, for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico,” Negrón concluded.
