HOUSTON, July 21, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will consider about $10 million in environmental improvements for Bayport Container Terminal which include a future Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-rated structure on Tuesday, July 22, beginning at 9 a.m. in the board room of the PHA Executive Building, 111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
CONSTRUCTION MATTERS
(Agenda G2) Commissioners are being asked to approve a construction contract to Metropolitan Landscape Management, Inc. for Bayport North Shore Landscaping for $223,657. Trees and shrubbery planted in 2000 as part of the Bayport Channel Stabilization project, adversely affected by several dry growing seasons, will be joined with additional landscaping, which will be also provided to enhance the environmental aesthetics of the communities north of the channel.
(Agenda G3) Commissioners are being asked to approve a construction contract to Brooks Concrete, Inc. for Morgan's Point Sidewalks for $68,096. This public safety project near the Barbours Cut Container Terminal will construct a sidewalk along Vinsonia Ave. in Morgan's Point and also provide additional recreational benefits as a part of the port authority's commitment to the Morgan's Point community.
(Agenda G5) The commission is being asked to approve a construction contract to Forde Construction Co., Inc. for Concrete Replacement at Wharf Nos. 23, 26 and 29, located near the Turning Basin Terminal, for $2.03 million. The concrete pavement at the bulkhead line at Wharf Nos. 23, 26 and 29, originally constructed in the 1960s, is in need of replacement. Additionally, concrete pavement at various locations along the Lower Level Road needs replacement.
(Agenda K4) The commission is being asked to approve advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for Bayport Terminal Maintenance and Repair and Building, Phase 1 for $16 to $18.5 million. Required services include the facility design for a building of approximately 65,500 square feet with maintenance offices, equipment repair bays, parts and specified equipment storage. The project site work includes adjoining parking, service roads and utilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda K3) Commissioners are being asked to approve advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for Bayport Container Terminal Administration Building for $8 to $10.5 million. The project includes a two-story building of approximately 30,000 square feet for Operations, Customs and future tenants. As part of the PHA's strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the PHA will seek certification by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) structure.
(Agenda K7) The commission is being asked to approve advertising and receipt of qualifications for engineering and design services, construction management services, project coordination team representation, geotechnical services, surveying, marsh management and other general assistance for the Houston Ship Channel project and beneficial use sites. As the local sponsor for the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels project to deepen and widen the Houston Ship Channel, the PHA is responsible for the local share, and has been deeply involved with all facets of the project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The initial construction phase of the project is complete and it is in the deferred construction phase, where additional placement sites and beneficial use sites are being constructed.
(Agenda M3) Commissioners are being asked to approve an MOA with the USACE for maintenance dredging. PHA is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the maintenance of portions of the Houston Ship Channel (Care facility) by voluntarily contributing funds to be used by the USACE for maintenance dredging. PHA would contribute up to $400,000 to defray the incremental costs incurred by the USACE for the additional non-federal (PHA) work to be added to the existing contract in the vicinity of Carpenters Bayou and Greens Bayou.
(Agenda M5) The commission is being asked to approve month-to-month lease agreements with VPSI, Inc. to lease vans under the METROVan Program for $180,000. PHA expects that the vanpool program will be fully implemented by the end of 2008 with up to 15 vans operating. At full implementation, the program will reduce about 0.76 tons of NOx, 0.86 tons of VOC and 805 tons of Co2 each year. Additionally, the program will result in nearly 1.5 million fewer vehicle miles, 105 fewer road vehicles on the road and 82,000 fewer gallons of vehicle fuel consumption per year. About 14 percent of PHA employees are currently participating in the program.
This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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 7,700 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall total tonnage. 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. PHA is the first port authority in the world to receive ISO 28000:2007 certification for Port Police and the perimeter security operations at both the Barbours Cut and Bayport Terminals. 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
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