MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) --
WHAT: Majority Leader Tom DeLay Announces Transportation
Funding for Port Area Transportation Projects
WHEN: Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Lou Lawler Seafarers' Center
1700 East Barbours Cut Boulevard in Morgan's Point
2nd floor conference room
WHO: U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Pasadena Mayor John Manlove
Texas Department of Transportation District Engineer
Gary Trietsch
PHA Chairman Jim Edmonds, Commissioners, and Staff
WHY: Four of the PHA's high-priority projects totaling more
than $40 million in funding have been included in the
Transportation Reauthorization Act that has been sent to
the President for his signature. The four projects in
southeast Harris County would ease traffic congestion and
improve the flow of cargo in and out of the port's public
(PHA) and private facilities. Additionally, the projects
will improve the safety of commuters by improving roadways
used by trucks and by preventing interaction of motorists
and trains at several busy crossings.
Through the leadership and hard work of Majority Leader
Tom DeLay, the Transportation Reauthorization Act includes
authorization for the straightening and widening of Port
Road near State Highway 146, the construction of direct
connectors from State Highway 146 to Port Road, the grade
separation of Choate Road over State Highway 146 and the
Union Pacific Railroad corridor, and grade separating State
Highway 146 over Red Bluff and a future Port Terminal
Railroad Association line that will cross under State
Highway 146 in the area. All four of these projects are
in Majority Leader DeLay's district.
CONTACTS: Argentina James, PHA Public Affairs Director
Office: 713-670-2568 Cell: 713-306-6822
Felicia Griffin, PHA Communications Manager
Office: 713-670-2644 Cell: 713-594-5620
DUE TO HEIGHTENED SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, MEDIA ACCESS WILL BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO THE DESIGNATED LOCATION.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
The Port of Houston Authority logo can be found at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=720