FREEPORT: Port Freeport Commission Chairman, Ravi Singhania welcomed and thanked Senators Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) for making Port Freeport their initial stop on their tour of the Texas Port System.
Kolkhorst and Taylor are two of seven Senators chosen to serve on the Senate Select Committee on Texas Ports. The two Senators were joined by Staffers; Matthew Russell, Chase Fruge, Jennifer Pate, Chris Noonan, Jackie King and Adrianne Evans of Chairman Brandon Creighton’s (R-Conroe) Office and Senator Joan Huffman’s (R-Houston), Gloria Milsap.
Also on the Port Tour were Brazoria County Commissioner Dude Payne, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyer, Fort Bend Brazoria Rail District Chairman Upendra Sahu, Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner Jeff Moseley, Public Information Officer Raquel Lewis and Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County Director Sean Stockard.
The Select Committee on Texas Ports was created in October 2015 by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick citing the “incredible opportunities lay ahead for Texas with the expansion of the Panama Canal. However, if we do not prepare our ports for the next generation of super ships we could lose out to other states along the Gulf and East Coasts. “Port Freeport recognizes these incredible opportunities which are confirmed by a study performed by Transportation Economics & Management System, Inc. last year.
The Port continues to focus on the Freeport Harbor Channel widening and deepening project, and in partnership with Brazoria and Fort Bend counties exploring a direct rail line to Richmond/Rosenberg. These along with planned improvements to Highway 36A, will allow Port Freeport to be prepared for the opportunities offered by the expansion of Panama Canal,” stated Chairman Singhania.
During the tour, the Committee Members, Staffers and guests were briefed on the Port’s future expansion plans and the opportunities for new projects which will continue to support the numerous jobs created in the Region.
Port Freeport is ranked among the Nation’s top 35 ports. The Channel serves Dow Chemical, Phillips 66, BASF, Tenaris, Vulcan Material, Mammoet, Freeport Liquefied Natural Gas, American Rice, Dole, Chiquita, Seaway, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hoegh Autoliners.
