713-627-3200
Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire
Project Information
| Agency Name | PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY |
| Project Title | Keep the Supply Chain Moving with the Bayport Terminal Yard Expansion |
| Facility/Street/Highway | BAYPORT CONTAINER YARD |
| Limits | AT BAYPORT |
| Description | CONSTRUCT 46 ACRES OF CONTAINER YARD AT BAYPORT TERMINAL. |
| Timeframe | Short Term (0-5 Years) |
| Estimated Cost | $95,018,093.00 |
Investment Category-Focused Criteria
Yes
Port Houston 2040 plan.
https://porthouston.com/infrastructure/development/2040-plan/
High
No
Approximately 4,000 and 10,000 trucks were counted in a day.
Approximately 4,000 and 10,000 trucks were counted in a day.
No
No
Bayport Terminal provides 4,000 linear feet of berthing space for these vessels, with projects underway to expand this to 6,000 feet of wharf. When fully developed, the terminal will have a total of nine container berths totaling 10,500 feet, with the capacity to handle 4 million Twenty- foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) (the standard container measure) for a complex that includes 376 acres of container yard and a 123-acre intermodal facility. The recent growth in the supply chain underscores the need to design and construct a 42-acre Container Yard at Bayport Terminal (the “New Container Yard”). This additional yard is imperative to handle the current demands of cargo and keep the supply chain moving by maximizing terminal and wharf efficiency and productivity. President Biden’s statement on October 13, 2021, drives and supports this Port Authority request for funding. “The bill would also make investments in our supply chains and manufacturing and strengthening our ability to make more goods, from the beginning to end, right here in America. The bottom line: We’ve seen the cost of inaction in the pandemic in the delays and the congestion that affect every American.” Over $357 million in undiscounted benefits are calculated based on efficiency improvements. The purpose of the “Keep the Supply Chain Moving with the Bayport Terminal Yard Expansion” project is to continue to improve the efficient movement of goods to reduce ongoing disruptions to the supply chain.
Yes
The Port Authority continues to evaluate options for efficiencies at their terminals. When the strategies become viable for port operations the port would consider implementation.
No
No
No
Other Investment Category Focused Criteria
Given the Port Authority’s projected growth rate, the current yard space is constrained. Even with the additional projects coming online, capacity will continue to be constrained until the proposed project is opened. Without this project and support from the federal government, supply chain efficiency will continue to be adversely affected. The construction of an additional 42 acres of container yard will improve traffic operations by reducing truck turn times and efficiency delays.
According to the 2018 Economic Impact of Marine Cargo Activity at the Port of Houston study, “In addition to the direct (67,039), induced (126,999) and indirect (64,283) job impacts, the port activity supports 2,950,488 jobs throughout the United States, of which 1,125,671 related jobs are in the state of Texas.” On average, that is 2,659 jobs added for this project alone. The New Container Yard requested will bring an 11% increase to the acreage at the Bayport Terminal, which is expected to process at least 3.6 million TEUs by 2040. The Port Authority’s project to expand Bayport Terminal through the construction of the New Container Yard will provide 42 acres of yard for efficiency improvements by incorporating additional capacity to improve connectivity and truck turn times. The project will improve the capacity of the terminal for handling exports and imports by expanding the amount of space available to move cargo in the yard, allowing the continued growth in exports and imports without delay caused by lack of available yard space.
NA
NA
The 42-acres of container yard reduces inoperability of the terminal. In the case of infrastructure being damaged by a collision or force on nature this yard will allow the capacity needed to adjust around the damaged area. If capacity is reached in all yards there will be no where to put containers when a portion of the terminal is out of service due to an accident.
This is a new container yard and will extend the service life and capacity of existing yard in the terminal. The new yard allows containers to be stacked in a more efficient manner. This reduces wear and tear on current infrastructure by efficiently distributing containers instead of stacking higher.
Planning Factors Criteria
NA
NA
The efficiency of the terminal with the expansion of the container yard reduces the number of containers per acres allowing less traffic in any given location reducing the possibility of incidents.
Resiliency
High
High
The wharf project is not on the Resiliency tool. The roadway nearest the terminal is high risk. The wharf is at a high enough elevation not to flood.
Access/Connectivity
120
581
No
No
No
Environmental Justice
120
581
35
53
67
307
Unknown
The impact of this project will stretch far beyond the terminal boundaries, and especially benefit Harris and surrounding counties. Harris County alone serves a population of over 5 million people, with 104 opportunity zones identified by the Internal Revenue Service. Many of the surrounding rural counties also serve Historically Disadvantaged populations. The project in the Houston-Galveston area impacts Harris, Galveston, and Chambers counties. Effective August 3, 2018, a six-county area including Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery Counties, was designated nonattainment and classified marginal under the 2015 eight-hour ozone NAAQS. This project will help mitigate negative emissions and improve environmental justice goals without causing disruption to the area supply chain. Emission benefits are calculated by using the efficiency reduction of drayage vehicles spent in the terminal (turn times) and electrical yard tractors replacing diesel. Turn time efficiency reduced the time it takes for a truck from gate to gate. This time represents a reduction in idling in the terminal. These hours were multiplied by the emission numbers provided from https://txaqportal.org/mosers/tool#/ and Estimated U.S. Emissions of Sulfur Dioxide | Bureau of Transportation Statistics (bts.gov). The emission results were quantified in metric tons for Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and hydrocarbon (HC). The Carbon emission (CO2) conversions were taken from Houston-Galveston Area Council’s guide for local truck emissions, An estimated $31.3 million emission reduction benefits (undiscounted).
The impact of this project will stretch far beyond the terminal boundaries, and especially benefit Harris and surrounding counties. Harris County alone serves a population of over 5 million people, with 104 opportunity zones identified by the Internal Revenue Service. Many of the surrounding rural counties also serve Historically Disadvantaged populations. Incremental economic impact to the region and nation via the increase in yard capacity: o Net of the revenue accruing to the Port Authority, the economic impact is estimated to amount to up to $22.9 million per year (undiscounted). (Note: Reference Economic Impact Attachment Economics tab.) • Job creation – a total of 3,195 good-paying jobs – is also estimated to be significant: o 958 direct jobs (including many union members), 1,382 induced jobs, and 855 indirect jobs. (Reference Appendix 1, Economic Impact Attachment Jobs tab.) • Significant efficiency and air quality impacts: o 11 million hours of truck idling saved o $357 million in truck turn-time reductions (undiscounted) o $31.3 million emission reduction benefits (undiscounted)
Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
This project is in the mists of a detailed NEPA report for the Department of Transportation as of the current review there are no impacts that have not been mitigated.
Approximately 580 metric tons of NOx and 28 metric tons of VOC.
Innovation
No
No