$154 million funding boost required for Houston Ship Channel

The Houston Port Authority’s Harbor Commission held a special public meeting May 21 to discuss proposed user fees to fund the ongoing expansion of the Houston Ship Canal, known as Project 11.

During the meeting, President Campo emphasized 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 emphasize that today we want to hear from you.

The Houston Ship Channel, recently ranked as 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 stretch by 170 feet and improve several upstream segments. This also includes the creation of beneficial use areas such as marshes, oyster reefs and bird islands.

President Campo highlighted ongoing efforts since 2020 to find payment options for the local share of project costs. Despite the proposed user fees, an additional $154 million in federal funding is needed to complete the upper segments of the chain.

Last year, Campo highlighted the significant economic impact of the Houston Ship Channel. A study conducted by John Martin Associates found that in 2022, the Houston Ship Channel generated an impressive $906 billion in economic value for the United States, an increase of 13% since the last study conducted in 2018.