The Port of Houston Authority reported from its final regular meeting for 2019 outlining its priorities going forward and its preliminary year-end report.
Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo said that the leadership’s primary focus would remain on advocacy efforts to secure federal authorization for the widening of the Houston Ship Channel. He said multiple meetings are planned for the first quarter of 2020 in Washington DC to help obtain authorization for construction to widen and improve the busiest ship channel in the nation.
Moreover, Executive Director Roger Guenther reported that growth in containers had been substantial with container volume expected to reach “and all time high” of almost three million TEUs for 2019.
Port Houston also ranks number one in North America for general cargo, handling breakbulk, special project, and steel, and is expected to record four million tons of volume by year-end, according to the statement.
During the meeting, the Port Commission approved awards totalling $6.3 million towards infrastructure and communications to strengthen the emergency response to the Houston Ship Channel further.
The commission also approved an award of $5.75 million to Motorola Solutions for the construction of two radio towers. These new towers will allow Port Houston to become a System Partner on the Harris County Radio System and should enhance coverage throughout the region.
Port Houston’s number one priority remains to help acquire federal authorization to expand the Houston Ship Channel.
The Port Commission authorized an additional $400,000 in funding to support a design review of the channel project expansion program. These funds are in addition to a record of $23 million already invested in this effort.
