MARITIME DIVISION Overview to the Texas Transportation Commission October 25, 2018 Maritime Division October 25, 2018
Overview TxDOT’s Maritime Division (MRD) promotes the development and intermodal connectivity of Texas ports, waterways, and marine infrastructure and operations. MRD also serves as a resource to increase the use of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and promote waterborne transportation to maintain Texas’ economic competitiveness. The GIWW is a 1,100-mile waterway that connects ports along the Gulf of Mexico from St. Marks, Florida to Brownsville, Texas. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 2
Benefits of the GIWW to Texas Along the Texas coastline, the GIWW spans 379 miles from the Sabine River to Brownsville. Though only one-third the total distance of the GIWW, the Texas portion handled 72 percent of all GIWW traffic in 2016. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 3
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Legislative Report - Requirements Texas Transportation Code, §51.007 requires the Commission to continually evaluate the impact of the GIWW on the state. The evaluation shall include: – An assessment of the importance of the GIWW including identification of its direct and indirect beneficiaries; – Identification of principal problems and possible solutions to those problems that include estimated cost, economic benefits, and environmental effects; – An evaluation of the need for significant modifications to the GIWW; and – Specific recommendations for legislative action that the Commission believes are in the best interest of the state. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 4
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Legislative Report – Recommendations Continue appropriations in support of the GIWW-T maintenance strategy – These funds are used to fulfill the state’s duties as non-federal sponsor of the GIWW-T. The duties include sustaining existing placement areas, acquiring real estate for new placement areas as needed, and leveraging opportunities for the beneficial use of dredged material. Support additional federal funding to maintain authorized dimensions of the GIWW-T – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has not received adequate O&M funding to maintain the GIWW-T as designed. On average, the Corps has been appropriated less than half of what is needed annually (approx. $56.7 million). As a result, the Corps has been unable to maintain the waterway to its authorized depth. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 5
Legislative Rider Project Authorizations Rider 45 – FY 2018-2019 Biennium (Cameron County) Rider 45 authorizes the use of up to $20 million per year in the 2018-2019 biennium from the Texas Mobility Fund, or any other source, for port access improvement projects selected by the PAAC. After approval of projects at the March Commission meeting, $5.4 million remained in authorized FY 2019 funds. The PAAC issued an additional Call for Projects in July 2018. The PAAC selected a $1.5 million project at the Port of Brownsville to construct a direct connector road from SH 4 to Ostos Road. MRD is seeking Commission approval of grant funding for this project. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 6
Legislative Rider Project Authorizations - Continued Rider 48 – FY 2016-2017 Biennium (Galveston County) Rider 48 authorized the use of up to $20 million from the Texas Mobility Fund for port capital improvement projects selected by the Port Authority Advisory Committee. A Port of Galveston project was approved in 2016 as a state-let project with both on- and off-system components. The on-system component has since been removed from the project, and the project is now entirely off-system. Funding for the project must now be delivered as a grant for local-let. MRD is seeking Commission approval of a $1.08 million grant for the Port of Galveston to let the project. Maritime Division October 25, 2018 7
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