For Funding Associated with Houston Ship
Channel Expansion – Project 11
Strengthening the Future through Investments in
Infrastructure and Leadership
On Tuesday, following its regular monthly meeting, the Port
Commission of the Port of Houston Authority conducted a Special
Public meeting to provide an important public update on the
proposed user fee to help finance the ongoing Houston Ship Channel
Expansion – Project 11.
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the full release here:
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Guests and members of the Port Commission
of the Port of Houston Authority in attendance at meetings held on
May 21, 2024. (Photo: Business Wire)
An overview of the user fee structure currently in development
was the sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting; the
presentation and more information may be found here:
https://www.expandthehoustonshipchannel.com/resources/
Public comment was also received at that meeting, and Chairman
Campo stressed, “We don’t have all the answers today, but we will
provide you with as much information as possible. I want to
emphasize that today, we want to hear from you.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers once again
ranked the Houston Ship Channel the No. 1 busiest waterway in the
nation. Widening it will improve the safety and efficiency of all
vessel transits, enhance its competitiveness, and promote economic
growth in the region.
Project 11 will widen the Galveston Bay reach of the channel by
170 feet, widen and deepen many upstream segments, and add
beneficial use areas including marshlands, oyster reefs, and bird
islands.
“Since 2020, we’ve been evaluating options for payment of this
local cost share,” Chairman Campo said. Rather than waiting at
least a decade in hopes of getting the channel fully funded,
industry members and the Port Authority have worked together to
plan to pay for the local cost share. While the proposed user fee
would help pay the local cost share, $154 million in federal
funding is still needed to complete construction in the upper
segments of the channel.
During the regular Port Commission meeting, Executive Director
Roger Guenther commented on the storm that affected the Houston
region last week and expressed gratitude for the efforts of Port
Police, Fire, Risk Management, and Maintenance teams, among others,
for their response efforts during and after the severe weather.
Guenther added that their actions helped the terminals “be ready
to go quickly” after the storm, and he was thankful to them for
their work and dedication.
During the meeting, Guenther also introduced new members of the
Port Houston executive leadership team. Lori Brownell has been
promoted to Chief Channel Infrastructure Officer, replacing Charlie
Jenkins, the incoming chief executive officer following Guenther’s
retirement at the end of August.
Guenther said of Brownell, “We are fortunate to have Lori, who
has led the tremendous efforts supporting Project 11 and channel
improvement since she has been on board. She is well-equipped and
ready to lead Port Houston channel improvement efforts moving
forward.”
Prior to her time at Port Houston, Brownell spent 20 years with
Taylor Engineering's waterfront group, serving as Director
overseeing planning, design and construction for waterfront, marine
and dredging-focused projects. As Chief Channel Infrastructure
Officer Brownell oversees four strategic-focused departments:
Channel Infrastructure Operations, Marine Regulatory Development,
Channel Infrastructure Real Property, and Strategic Asset
Management, and also acts as Port Houston’s primary liaison with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Guenther also announced Port Houston’s new Chief Business Equity
Officer, Carlecia Wright. He said of Wright, “Carlecia comes to us
with a wealth of experience in business equity, change management,
public relations, external affairs, and organizational culture,
among much other experience.”
Most recently, Wright served as the Senior Associate Vice
Chancellor for the Office of Culture and Community Engagement at
Lone Star College. Previously, she was the Chief Diversity Officer
for the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity. In her
new role, Wright is responsible for implementing and administering
contracting diversity, equity, and training programs, including
Port Houston’s Minority- and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise
Development Program and Small Business Development Program, and is
also charged with providing vision, leadership, and guidance for
Port Houston’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The next Port Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
June 25, at 9:15 a.m.
About Port Houston
For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the
public wharves and facilities along the Houston Ship Channel,
including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most
efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the
advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship
Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public
facilities is the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage and
an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of
Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of
nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide,
and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906
billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information,
visit the website at PortHouston.com.
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Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Office:
713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail:
lashley@porthouston.com