Port Houston has been awarded a USD48 million federal grant to support the construction of a new container yard and the installation of a new exit gate at the Bayport Container Terminal. These projects, part of Port Houston’s Strategic Terminal Operations & Resilience Measures (STORM) application, are designed to accommodate forecasted growth in goods movement demand while maximising operational efficiency, facility resiliency, and safety for employees and terminal users.
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The grant was awarded through the US Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDP), which provides USD450 million in federal funding for projects that improve the movement of goods through US ports. Port Houston will receive USD48 million in PIDP funding and will contribute approximately USD56 million in matching funds to advance these critical improvements.
“Port Houston is grateful for the continued support from our local and federal officials who advocate on our behalf to steer federal investments to the Port and the Houston Ship Channel,” said Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo. “Specifically, I applaud the leadership and partnership of Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Brian Babin, and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia to deliver this vital funding that will help grow jobs for our local economy and support continued growth for our Bayport Container Terminal.”
The elected officials all expressed their praise upon hearing the announcement. US Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said, “Port Houston is a critical gateway between Texas and the Gulf of America. The Maritime Administration’s funding will help support the port’s 47-acre expansion, bringing new terminal gates, reinforcements, and improvements to electrical and communication systems. I congratulate Port Houston on this grant and look forward to witnessing its impact on maritime movement in Texas.”
Congressman Babin also expressed his approval, saying, “Port Houston is a cornerstone of our regional economy and a critical gateway for American commerce. I fought to help secure this investment because expanding capacity at Bayport Container Terminal means stronger supply chains, more jobs, and greater economic opportunity for families across Southeast Texas,” said Babin. “This project will modernise key infrastructure, improve efficiency, and ensure our ports remain competitive for years to come. I will always stand up for the hardworking men and women of the maritime industry and continue fighting for investments that keep Texas leading the nation in trade and growth.”
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia also highlighted its significance, stating, “This USD48 million in federal funding for Port Houston is a major investment in one of the most important economic engines in the country. Expanding capacity at Bayport Container Terminal means goods move faster, supply chains are stronger, and businesses across our district can grow. It also strengthens resilience and modernises infrastructure so the Port can keep delivering for Houston and for the nation. This is how we build a stronger, more competitive future for TX-29 and cement Houston’s role as a global leader in trade.”
The STORM application outlined the following goals:
• Expand Capacity: Increase Bayport’s cargo handling capacity by 440,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
• Improve Trucking Efficiency: Construct a new East Exit Gate to ease truck flow, cut congestion, and reduce truck turn times, saving more than 11 million truck hours over the life of the project.
• Strengthen Resiliency: Develop modern utility and drainage infrastructure to safeguard operations against natural and human-made hazards.
• Enhance Safety and Technology: Expand electrical and communications infrastructure to support modern equipment and bolster terminal security.
Federal support through the PIDP will further enhance Port Houston’s multimodal connectivity, reduce land-side congestion, and improve overall terminal efficiency and resilience at the Bayport Container Terminal. Port Houston is the nation’s fifth largest container terminal, and its container volume has grown faster than any other major port over the past ten years.