Port Freeport Commission Chairman Ravi Singhania has provided testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Texas Ports in Austin, Texas.
In his testimony, Chairman Singhania described how Port Freeport is positioned to benefit from the Panama Canal expansion, citing “it is the closest deep water port to service the Dallas-Fort Worth distribution centers and is closest to the convergence of three class one rail lines.”
Also testifying on behalf of Port Freeport was Alex Metcalf, PhD., a transportation consultant who authored a study examining the economic impact of converting the port into a deep water port capable of handling the largest new class of ships that will transit the newly expanded Panama Canal and connecting to an intermodal terminal in Rosenberg.
Presently over 70 percent of the containers distributed via the Dallas-Fort Worth Hub come from California ports.
“Texas ports are important to our state’s economy, and Port Freeport was honored to present before the committee on our current and future position ,” notes Phyllis Saathoff, Executive Director/CEO. “ We have congressional approval to further deepen our channel allowing us to continue to grow and serve as an economic engine.”
Also from Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties, in attendance to show support were Former Ambassador Juan Sosa of Panama, Jeff Wiley, Chair/CEO Fort Bend EDA, Sean Stockard, Chair/CEO Brazoria County EDA, Upendra Sahu, Chair of Brazoria-Fort Bend County Rail District and Jason Miura, Director of Economic/Business Development of Port Freeport.
The Select Committee on Texas Ports was created by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick in October 2015. Lt. Governor Patrick has charged this committee to study the economic benefit of the Panama Canal expansion to Texas ports and it will focus on what Texas ports must do to remain competitive.
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