Port Tampa Bay OKs pact to fund channel expansion

Port Tampa Bay's board yesterday approved a public-private partnership agreement that will determine how to pay for a $60 million expansion of the Big Bend Channel.

The other partners involved in the agreement include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Transportation, Tampa Electric Co. and Mosaic Co., a global fertilizer company and one of the port's largest tenants, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The channel will be deepened from 34 feet to 43 feet, and widened from 200 feet to 250 feet to accommodate larger ships.

CSX serves Port Tampa Bay.