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Infrastructure Summit Recap
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- Storm Surge Protection Panel - Panelists: Michel Bechtel, President of Gulf Coast Protection District and Kelly Burkes-Copes, Interim Manager, Coastal Texas Protection and retention Project, US Army Corps of Engineers
- Moderator: Nicole Sunstrum; Executive Director Gulf Coast Protection District
To kick off the Infrastructure Summit, Storm Surge Protection was discussed by panelists Michel Bechtel, Mayor of the City of Morgan’s Point and President of the Gulf Coast Protection District, and Kelly Burkes-Copes, Interim Manager, Coastal Texas Protection and Retention Project. During this panel, they discussed the Coastal Texas Program as well as flood control projects currently underway and planned for the region. Kelly Burkes-Copes' comments about the initial Coastal Texas Program roposal were a key takeaway from the discussion - in revisions to that proposal, they came up with a more natural, nature-based solution using dunes, which gained overwhelming positive feedback from the public. As a result, within minutes, it was signed off and sent to congress for authorization and was approved in December 2022, bringing on the task of carrying out the largest civil works project the US Army Corps of Engineers has ever undertaken. To put this in perspective, the annual operating budget of the entire US Army Corps is $6 billion, to build what is proposed, the budget for this project alone is $34.4 billion and will be a challenge, it will require time, a lot of effort, thinking outside the box and a huge workforce.
- Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Panel: – Panelists: John Baumgartner; City Manager, Lisa McCracken, Certified Plain Manger, Cedar Bayou CIP, US Army Corps of Engineers, Chuck Wolf, Principal/Vice President Freese Nicholas
- Moderator: Chase Kronzer, Texas Director at American Flood Coalition
Our esteemed panelists, John Baumgartner, Lisa McCracken, and Chuck Wolf addressed the Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watersheds in the following discussion. We learned about the ongoing watershed projects during the panel discussion. Many projects appear to be awaiting federal funding and authorization for components that will lead into the CAT 204 initiative. This will result in the construction of a bypass in Clear Creek near FM 270.
- Flood and Drainage Keynote speaker Scott Elmer, Interim Deputy Director of Engineering and Construction with Harris County Flood Control District
During his presentation on the Greater Houston Area Flood and Drainage Systems, Scott Elmer addressed potential tunnel systems that are to be built in the Greater Houston Area. He also underlined numerous floodplain research projects and how the tunnels will aid with flood prevention. Scott also stated that they had already submitted their results to FEMA for consideration. He further talked about stormwater retention basin projects and drainage improvements. The most important takeaway from his presentation was that the Clear Creek (Federally Funded) Project, which has been in operation since 1962, has seen challenges and changes in our rapidly growing area. This project has resulted in numerous modifications to the procedures that must be followed. The goal of this project is to increase mitigation, boost stormwater retention, and revise the project to remove structures that are no longer useful.
- Transportation Panel: - Panelists: Caroline Mays, AICP, Director of Planning and Modal Programs (TxDOT), Matt Hanks (County Engineer, Brazoria county), Craig Raborn (Director of Transportation, H-GAC) Dr. Robin Armstrong (Commissioner, Pct.4, Galveston County)
- Moderator: Honorable David W. Robinson (Chairman, Transportation Policy Council, H-GAC, Councilmember At Large, City of Houston)
Panelist Craig Raborn began the transportation panel discussion by stating that they are inviting local agency submissions based on the investment category for projects to be completed in the regional area. Some of the project submissions concern operational improvement and congestion management; other proposals include initiatives addressing transportation demands in high-growth areas and transit developments. Caroline Mays stressed the NHHIP project and how important it is for evacuation for us in the southeast Houston area. She also mentioned that there is $100 billion federal funds up for distribution to develop the many Texas transposition projects. Throughout the panel, it was also said that there is coordination amongst many local counties and state-level authorities on these transportation projects that may double as flooding, drainage, and storm mitigation projects to exponentially increase the value of transportation in the region.
- Keynote speaker: Dennis Paul, PE, State Representative, district 129, Texas House of Representatives
The keynote speaker at the Infrastructure Summit, Texas State Representative Dennis Paul, Texas District 129, Paul discussed how the house is now in session, holding meetings and reviewing numerous bills. In addition, the final federal budget authorized is $288.7 billion to assist support to Medicaid as well as other transportation and educational needs. He stated that $2 billion is allocated to water projects, transportation, and infrastructure, and $1.5 billion is dedicated to promoting the Gulf Coast and commerce in national commodities, both of which will benefit our communities directly. As Kelly Burkes-Copes, Interim Manager, Coastal Texas Protection and Retention Project, noted during our first panel discussion, $5 million will go toward the coastal barrier project to help continue these existing efforts in partnership with the US Army Corps in Galveston Bay. The fact is that they've received authorization for the barrier but have yet to receive financing to begin building on their designs for the barrier. Representative Paul highlighted that there is a bill called the Gulf Coast Barrier Trust Fund that will create a fund where they will section off money (ideally $5 billion) and put it into that fund to build interest and be invested, and then once the project gets started, they will apply these funds to the coast barrier project to make up the federal match. During the span of 30 years, it will be paid out.
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What a busy few weeks it has been visiting our state legislators in Austin. We conducted 30 meetings across the following advocacy days: Pearland Day in Austin, Green Light Houston, Brazoria County Day, Bay Area Houston Day and Galveston County Day. We want to thank all of our Regional Partners for dedicating their time and resources to coordinate these very important visits.
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With a record UTP of $85 Billion and the Coastal Barrier Project approved, the demand for talent in the civil engineering and consulting industries is increasing. After hearing from a number of our members and graciously being asked to meet with BAHEP’s Workforce and Education Committee we decided to pilot a partnership with Dickinson ISD and Pasadena ISD. They will each be bringing a couple of students to our luncheons, which will give them the opportunity to network with all of you and maybe even fill some internship opportunities you may have in your businesses. If you are a Luncheon Sponsor or Table Sponsor at any of our luncheons you will be offered to host the students at your tables first – don’t worry, you can still invite 8 guests to join your table - we will add seats for the interns. Please reach out if you have suggestions or questions, this is a new program that is a work in progress, thank you for your patience as we work through the logistics.
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H-GAC Solicitation of Additional or New Statements of Project Interest
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At the January 2023 meeting, the TPC authorized the MPO staff to initiate the Project Selection Process. With this approval we are reopening the solicitation for Statements of Project Interest. MPO staff have already sent information to sponsors who submitted Statements of Interest during our summer solicitation, but we also want to ensure that all potential applicants and projects have an opportunity to be considered.
Please download and review
THIS spreadsheet and provide information about any projects you would like them to consider in the project selection process. The projects submitted in the statements of projects interests will be considered for programming in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Ten-Year Plan, and the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Please include previously programmed project that need additional federal funding to complete.
Completed spreadsheets were to be sent to the
SponsorsPriorityList@h-gac.com by
Friday, February 24
. This is an ongoing itterative process, so please reach out if you missed the deadline and wish to submit a project.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact Vishu Lingala, Principal Planner (
Vishu.Lingala@h-gac.com) or Adam Beckom, Program Manager (
Adam.Beckom@h-gac.com).
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Carl Joiner - Chairman
Ken Fickes - Chair Elect
Sivaji Senapathi - Treasurer
Bruce Mann - Secretary
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Thom Kolupski
Kevin Cole
Mike Foreman
Pat Hallisey
Paul Horn
Chris Sallese
Marcy Fryday
Chris Casey
Nick Bokaie
Matt Sebesta
Dr. Robin Armstrong
Sean Middleton
Ashley Graves
Vic Pierson
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