The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded a nearly $36m grant to Port Houston for its terminal upgrade project in the US.

The funding was revealed at the Port of Houston Authority’s Port Commission meeting held last month.

The funds were provided under the State Maritime Infrastructure Grant Program, which is said to be Texas’ first port maritime and infrastructure development grant programme.

Port Houston obtained the grant in order to improve Wharves 4 and 5 at its Barbours Cut Container Terminal, including crane rail redevelopment, a new Stevedore Support facility, utilities, and other renovations.

The project’s overall cost is projected to be $77m, with another $21m provided by the US (federal government) Department of Transportation’s INFRA grant programme.

Works on Wharf 6 at the Bayport Container Terminal have already been completed, according to Port Commission chair Ric Campo and Port Houston executive director Roger Guenther.

The facility is fully operational, providing critical cargo volume capacity to the Gulf Coast's two rapidly growing container terminals.

Campo said: “We appreciate the initiative to permit safe and more efficient two-way traffic for the benefit of all vessels calling the Houston Ship Channel.”

During the meeting, the Port Commission authorised more than $100m in awards to assist the port’s sustained expansion and development.

The TxDOT grant follows the designation of 'HyVelocity', the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, by the US Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy for up to $1.2bn in Bipartisan Infrastructure Act funding.

As a significant organising partner, Port Houston contributed to this effort by focusing on the Community Benefits Plan aspect.