March TxDOT Highway Letting Dates

The March Texas Department of Transportation's highway letting is scheduled for the 9th and 10th. According to a Dec. 19 report, 77 projects are approved to be let with an estimated total of $285,277,606.

The report also said projects may be added, advanced or delayed as deemed necessary.

TSA Awards Port Security Grants

The Transportation Security Administration has awarded $179.03 million in Port Security Grants that will fund 235 applicant organizations representing 442 projects at 326 locations. Of that amount, Texas ports received more than $40 million.

The latest grants are intended for security upgrades such as new patrol boats in harbors, surveillance equipment and the construction of new command and control facilities.

"The Department of Homeland Security is committed to further securing our nation's highways, mass-transit systems, railways, waterways and pipelines, each of which is critical to ensuring the freedom of mobility and economic growth," Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said in a statement when the grants were announced.
"These projects are critical to the mission of securing our ports."

Port of Houston Delivers Security Contract; Army Corps of Engineers Recommends Approval of New Terminal Facility

The Port of Houston Authority commission approved a recommendation to award a contract to Trc-Econ Capital LP. for security infrastructure enhancements. Under the estimated $12 million, three-year design-build contract, Trc-Econ is expected to prepare a security master plan and implement the design and construction of fences, closed-circuit television systems, facility-access controls and other security enhancements.

The commission also approved a recommendation to execute a memorandum of understanding, covering services over a two-year period at an estimated cost of $45,000 to enable the Global Environment & Technology Foundation to help the port authority develop and implement the first security management system at a U.S. port.

GETF will mentor, coach and consult in the training and development of an integrated, multifacility security system that can be managed, updated and improved in a manner similar to the port's environmental management system.

A Record of Decision was released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommending approval of the port's planned $1.2 billion Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal project. The project also received certification by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

Guidelines established for evaluating potential toll projects

The Texas Transportation Commission recently authorized TxDOT to evaluate a project during any phase of development or construction for consideration as a toll road. This includes new location and expansion highway projects on controlled-access roadways, such as adding lanes or constructing new main lanes.

State law allows TxDOT to study, design, construct, operate, expand, enlarge or extend a toll-road project as part of the state highway system.

The commission also approved a measure allowing counties and TxDOT to designate restricted lanes on the state highway system relating to large commercial vehicles to increase mobility and safety. Counties and TxDOT must hold public hearings regarding such designations prior to implementation.

Approval was also given to Bexar County to establish a regional mobility authority to expedite mobility improvements and provide more local control on transportation decisions. Regional mobility authorities allow counties to acquire, construct, operate, maintain or extend a transportation project.

SURA Gets Boost for Grid Networking

Southeastern Universities Research Association recently announced a collaboration agreement with AT&T that will allow the nation's research and education community to use the company's newest national network infrastructure for experimental work on the next generation of networking technology and applications, called grid networking.

The collaboration agreement is designed to speed the creation of regional and national grid services to support the nation's research and education community.

About 8,000 mi. of dark-fiber network will be available to SURA at no cost as well as a substantial inventory of optical-networking equipment. These assets will be used to develop experimental network services to support advanced research that would not be possible using a commercial network.

AT&T will also lease additional network facilities and capacity to SURA and its partners as needed. The company will make its network assets available through USA Waves, a research and education networking initiative created by SURA.

In the announcement of the agreement, Dr. Richard E. Ewing, vice president for research at Texas A&M University and SURA board member, said: "The agreement between SURA and AT&T demonstrates how research universities and industry can work together for the benefit of both. Access to this infrastructure adds to the researchers' capabilities to push networking technology ahead in real-world settings."