The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority held a Special Public meeting on 21 May to discuss the proposed user fee for financing the ongoing Houston Ship Channel Expansion, known as Project 11.
During the meeting, Chairman Campo emphasised the importance of public input: “We don’t have all the answers today, but we will provide you with as much information as possible. I want to emphasise that today, we want to hear from you.”
The Houston Ship Channel, recently ranked the busiest waterway in the United States by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is undergoing significant improvements.
Project 11 aims to widen the Galveston Bay reach by 170 feet and enhance several upstream segments. It also includes the creation of beneficial use areas such as marshlands, oyster reefs, and bird islands.
Chairman Campo noted the ongoing efforts since 2020 to find payment options for the local cost share of the project. Despite the proposed user fee, an additional $154 million in federal funding is required to complete the upper segments of the channel.
Last year, Campo emphasised the significant economic impact of the Houston Ship Channel. A study conducted by John Martin Associates revealed that in 2022 the Houston Ship Channel generated an impressive $906 billion of economic value for the US, marking a 13 per cent increase since the last study conducted in 2018.