Primary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 2
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Precinct 2
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration (MARAD)
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Commissioners Court Office
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 2 for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration (MARAD) for grant funds in the amount of $52,091,659, with a required match of $13,022,915 for the FY2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).
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Background and Discussion:
Harris County Precinct 2, as the official applicant, is partnering with Houston Jacintoport, LLC to develop one of the last undeveloped deepwater, rail-served parcels along the Houston Ship Channel into a secure, multimodal terminal. The project will add berthing capacity, dry bulk cargo handling, and enhanced emergency response capabilities. Strategically located at the entrance to the channel’s patrol zone, the facility will improve vessel safety, reduce congestion, and strengthen regional maritime security and resilience
The total project cost is $65,114,574. We are requesting $52,091,659 (80%) in FY2026 PIDP funding. The remaining $13,022,915 (20%) will be provided as a non-federal match by Houston Jacintoport, LLC and affiliated partners. This includes 10% construction contingency and 5% soft costs. The proposed timeline anticipates design completion by Q3 2026, construction mobilization in Q4 2026, and operational readiness by late 2027. See Attachment G for the detailed Construction Schedule.
Expected Impact:
This shovel-ready construction project is expected to significantly reduce vessel congestion and staging delays, expand overall port throughput capacity, enable a modal shift from truck to rail and barge, increase access to low-emission marine fuel bunkering (LNG), and create sustained regional workforce opportunities.
Alternative Options:
There were no alternative options identified.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: This project directly advances Harris County’s goals of strengthening resilience, reducing risk, and improving the safety of port operations across the region.
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location: Entrance of the Houston Ship Channel
Address (if applicable): 16730 Jacinto Port, Houston, TX 77530
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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FY2026 Port Infrastructure Development |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
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1.5 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Other |
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$13,022,915 |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$52,091,659 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 2/26/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Mike Lykes, Chief of Staff
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity, Project Narrative