A September 20, 2010 news release by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $7 million in grants to jumpstart the America’s Marine Highway program. Among the projects that received grant funding is the James River Container Expansion Project, sponsored by the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). The project was awarded $1.1 million for the purchase of two barges on Marine Highway Corridor 64 (James River parallel to I-64) to expand the existing container-on-barge service between Hampton Roads and Richmond, as well as to start a new inter-terminal barge shuttle between terminals in Hampton Roads.