Texas 9, May 5, 2024

Contractors’ Plate Full On Interstate 35

By Irwin Rapoport

CEG CORRESPONDENT

Interstate 35, with more than 588 mi. of highway, passes through seven Texas Department of Transportation districts from the Rio Grande in the south to Red River.

The state is continuing to make considerable investments for contractors to repair, rebuild and upgrade roads and bridges to reduce congestion, improve safety and ensure it meets the needs of a rapidly growing population and surging economy.

Along I-35, 19 of the top 100 most congested roadway segments in the state are along this corridor, according to TxDOT.

Construction crews will remain busy on this corridor for the next handful of years, excavating areas, extending highways, building bridges and much more.

Currently, 32 projects worth $4.8 billion are under way, 34 projects ($7.8 billion) are fully funded in the 2024 UTP and 47 potential projects (unfunded/partially funded) worth $14.8 billion are being considered.

Since 2015, 111 highway projects have been completed, at a cost of $7.1 billion.

This has resulted in many contracts being awarded to general contractors, along with the subcontractors they hired.

“Our seven TxDOT districts [along the I-35 corridor] continue to work together and are committed to strategically delivering needed transportation improvement, effectively

Currently, 32 projects worth $4.8 billion are under way, 34 projects ($7.8 billion) are fully funded in the 2024 UTP and 47 potential projects (unfunded/partially funded) worth $14.8 billion are being considered.

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Officials Open New HHSC San Antonio Hospital Facility

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

Over the past number of years, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has been constructing and renovating many state-owned-and-operated hospitals to provide more mental health services for its growing population.

On April 9, HHSC held the grand opening for the new $357 million replacement hospital at San Antonio State Hospital (SASH).

Vaughn Construction was the general contractor responsible for building the new facility and its upgrades.

Since 2017, the Texas Legislature has appropriated more than $2.5 billion in funding to replace, renovate and expand state hospitals in Austin, Kerrville, Rusk, Terrell, Wichita Falls, Harlingen, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, as well as building new hospitals in Amarillo and Lubbock.

Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young is very pleased that the new hospital can serve the city, which is rapidly growing.

“We’re excited to be able to offer our San Antonio State Hospital patients care in a building that will help facilitate their recovery,” she said. “Thank you to those who invested in our state hospitals so that we can give our patients the help they need.”

HHSC began construction on the San Antonio State Hospital in April 2020, with the structure completed this spring.

The original hospital, built in 1892, had undergone expansions over the decades to reach 302 beds for patients. The hospital

offers inpatient adult psychiatric services to people in over 50 counties throughout South Texas, serving approximately 270 people annually.

The three-story, 454,000 sq.-ft. facility, designed by HKS Inc., features a 300-bed non-maximum-security unit. It features single-person rooms, the use of natural light throughout patient rooms and common areas, and outdoor spaces to promote healing and recovery. The project also renovated another building to add 40 additional beds on campus.

The hospital complex sits on 349.1 acres, with a footprint of 155,000 sq. ft. The design is based on five towers (four for patients and

working with community partners and stakeholders on ways to repurpose the existing structures that will no longer be used as part of SASH to further support and expand the behavioral health continuum of care.”

The design of the new SASH has to take in many considerations.

“Designing systems of this size are challenging,” said Ruffcorn, “but not any more than would be expected. The building is on a site with a significant slope, so the building was designed with a lower split level to accommodate the slope. The anticipated building structure has a life expectancy of 70 to 80 years — the building envelope has a life expectancy of 40 to 50 years, building systems 25 to 30 years and interior construction 15 to 20 years. The building design is

one for administration) and a central area for hospital functions, including patient therapy, courtyards, food service, pharmacy and back-of-house operations.

There are 13 patient units and each has access to multiple exterior courtyards. Parking is provided for 292 vehicles that serve staff and visitors.

The hospital offers a variety of therapeutic, recreational and social experiences to prepare patients for returning to life outside the hospital. The patient complex features a music room, beauty salon, canteen, library, gym, greenhouse, chapel and teaching kitchen.

Financed by state funds, Phase 1 in 2017 had $14.5 million for planning and pre-planning approved by the Texas Legislature in 2017. In Phase 2, lawmakers approved $190.3 million for construction in 2019, followed by an additional $152.4 million approved in 2021.

“Some existing auxiliary buildings, such as the warehouse, IT and maintenance will continue in their current space,” said Jennifer Ruffcorn, an HHS Office of Communications press officer. “SASH continued operation during construction and the new hospital is on the same grounds. We are

highly energy efficient and incorporates best practices, while also meeting State Energy Conservation Office requirements.

“Regionally available exterior materials such as limestone, brick, glazed brick and glass are used in the building,” she added.

“Patient Safe mesh screening is used to create secure, non-climbable, courtyard fences.”

The main elements of the building — storage, HVAC, heat and power, and other systems — are incorporated into the building with a chiller yard.

The new building is a concrete structure.

“Texas continues working to increase access to behavioral health treatment for Texans across the state,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “In 2017, I was proud to sign a law that approved much-needed funding for the replacement, renovation and expansion of state hospitals in Texas. The newly renovated and modernized San Antonio State Hospital will help ensure hundreds of Texans receive the long-term and short-term care they need to prepare for life outside of the hospital. I thank the Health and Human Services Commission for their dedication to serving Texans in need.”  CEG

Vaughn Construction photo Vaughn Construction was the general contractor responsible for building the new facility and its upgrades.

HHSC photo

Officials celebrated the opening of the hospital on April 9 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Vaughn Construction photo

The three-story, 454,000 sq.-ft. facility, designed by HKS Inc., features a 300-bed nonmaximum-security unit.

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Hoar Announces Ground Breaking of New College Facility

Hoar Construction announced recently the ground breaking of a Centralized Operational Reliability and Efficiency (CORE) facility on the campus of Texas A&M University-Central Texas (TAMUCT).

The $47.5 million project is part of a $4.8 billion capital improvement plan for the school and will serve as a consolidation of central utility facilities and the campus police station.

Established in 2009, TAMUCT is one of the newest members of the Texas A&M University System, officially joining in 2009. The project encompasses the consolidation of three existing facilities into one limestone cladding building. The single-story building will house several departments, including a complete university police department, an emergency operations center and integrated campus Central Utility Plant. Totaling 43,974 sq. ft., construction is expected to be completed in summer 2025.

“We are proud of the work we have completed within the Texas A&M University System thus far and we are excited for our first endeavor with TAMUCT as we work on this CORE facility,” said Paul Eiting, project manager of Hoar. “This project will enhance security operations and bolster the safety of everyone on campus, which is one of the top priorities of the University. We take great pride in our history of success on meaningful higher education initiatives and will approach this project with the same dedication to efficiency and safety for students, faculty and staff.”

Hoar will oversee the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) lines and chilled water lines and connecting the new building to the three existing structures. Amidst the inherent challenges of operating within a

dynamic campus setting, Hoar will manage the task of routing chilled water lines through the heart of campus. Additionally, Hoar will coordinate the installation of electrical lines extending from across State Highway 195 to supply power to the new facility. These endeavors reflect Hoar’s commitment to navigating complex logistical hurdles while seamlessly enhancing the functionality and efficiency of the campus infrastructure.

Additional project partners include PBK as the architect, Shah Smith & Associates as the MEP engineer and Gessner Engineering as the civil engineer.

As a leading builder in higher education, Hoar completed more than $115 million in total higher education project volume in 2023 alone. Recent projects include the new $65 million Campus Recreation and Wellness Center at Samford University in Birmingham, the first phase of the Science and Engineering Complex at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the expansion of University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) School of Nursing in Tyler, Texas. Colleges that have partnered with Hoar over the last few years include Auburn University, Texas Tech University, University of Houston and Abilene Christian University among others.

About Hoar Construction

Hoar Construction was founded 84 years ago and throughout its history it has been committed to learning from every project to improve its processes and deliver the best building experience possible for clients and partners.

For more information about Hoar Construction, visit www.hoar.com 

(Photos courtesy of Hoar Construction.)

The $47.5 million project is part of a $4.8 billion capital improvement plan for the school and will serve as a consolidation of central utility facilities and the campus police station.

Hoar will oversee the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) lines and chilled water lines, connecting the new building to the three existing structures.

AI Development Tool for Contractors Expands Into Austin

Mercator AI, the AI-powered business development tool for commercial general contractors, recently announced its expansion into the booming Austin market. This marks the Canadian company’s entry into the United States, with plans for further expansion in Texas this year and nationally in the coming years.

Austin’s dynamic and quickly-evolving construction landscape, coupled with a young and tech-forward workforce, creates a unique environment for Mercator AI’s solution. The city’s influx of new construction companies and a younger generation of leaders present an opportunity for Mercator AI to support this shift with AI tools that provide actionable data intelligence and real-time updates on early projects and relationships. This translates to weeks of saved groundwork and places GCs steps ahead of their competitors who lag with outdated information that is just too late.

“Austin’s thriving construction landscape, fueled by a staggering $31 billion growth in its contribution to Texas’ GDP between 2020 and 2024 [U.S. Department of Economic Analysis], makes it a clear yes for our start-

The city of Austin’s influx of new construction companies and a younger generation of leaders present an opportunity for Mercator AI to support this shift with AI tools that provide actionable data intelligence and real-time updates on early projects and relationships.

ing point in the United States,” said Chloe Smith, co-founder and CEO of Mercator AI.

“We’re excited to empower mid-to-large sized general contracting firms with the AI tools they need to force multiply lead generation, build the right relationships much earlier in the development process, and waste a lot less time chasing work that won’t materialize.”

The product analyzes real-time data throughout the development process, from conception to post-construction, making it easy to identify early signs of project move-

ment. Consequently allowing Mercator AI’s customers to connect with the right people at the right time, fostering meaningful relationships and profitable solutions.

“Mercator’s product empowers construction firms to eliminate wasted time and resources spent on unqualified leads,” Chloe added. “What previously took months of research now takes 15 minutes in Mercator, freeing up more time for our customers to do what they do best: build relationships, solve problems and close deals. ”

Mercator’s AI streamlines front-office

operations by saving an average of two hours daily on both determining what to research and the research itself.

Following Austin’s launch, led under the leadership of a 30 under 30 winning Entrepreneur, Chloe, the company plans to establish a presence in key markets such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and cover all major construction hubs in the United States over the next few years.

About Mercator

Mercator AI is a construction tech company that provides an AI-powered business development tool specifically designed for mid-to-large-sized general contracting firms. The platform accelerates early project discovery by harnessing billions of construction interactions to optimize early-stage project progress, pursue targeting, meet prep and lead qualification. By mining and analyzing millions of data points across commercial and industrial projects, Mercator accurately identifies early construction signals, reveals key participants and their historical relationships and aggregates rich company profiles.

Seven Districts Receiving Vital Upgrades On Interstate 35

CONTRACTORS from page 1

and efficiently,” said Carl Johnson, TxDOT’s director of district operations.

To build upon that project delivery success, the DOT has issued an additional $837 million in new projects that are currently under construction.

Between March 2023 and last February 2024 projects worth $2.75 billion have been completed and four projects worth $837 million are under way.

A key element of the I-35 Statewide Corridor Plan is to have six or more lanes from the Red River to Rio Grande.

The investments in the seven districts include:

• Wichita Falls District has one $208.4 million of project under way, with $738 million of fully funded projects (six) in the 2024 UTP;

• Dallas District has $2.779 billion of completed projects (22) since 2015, $998 million in projects (nine) under construction, $1.783 billion in fully funded projects in the 2024 UTC and $74 million for future projects (22);

• Fort Worth District has $1.997 billion in projects (five) completed, one $13.4 million project under construction and two $38 million fully funded projects in the 2024 UTP;

• Waco District has $1.1783 billion in completed projects (32), $261 million in one fully-funded project in the 2024 UT

and $102 million in potential future projects;

• Austin District has $374 million in completed projects (26), $2,282 million in 12 projects under construction, $4.567 billion in 10 fully-funded projects in the 2024 UTP and $371 million in two potential future projects;

• San Antonio has $205 million in 19 completed projects, $2.282 billion in five projects under way, $361 million in two fully-funded projects in the 2024 UTP and $344 million in four potential future projects;

• Laredo has $9 million in completed projects (7), $15 million for four projects under way, $29 million in two fullyfunded projects in the 2024 UTP and $20 million in potential future projects.

The I-35 corridor is vital to Texas’s economy and is responsible for $1.2 trillion — or 49 percent — of the state’s GDP.

“If it were a country, Texas would be the 8th largest economy in the world, ahead of Australia, Italy, Mexico, Russia and Spain,” wrote Ryan Lafontaine, a TxDOT media relations specialist. “That sort of success can be attributed to many factors, but perhaps none more vital than the 588 miles of Interstate 35 stretching from the Rio Grande to the Red River.”

“The purpose of the I-35 initiative is to develop a coordinated strategic plan among the seven TxDOT districts to

address one of the most significant corridors from the state, national and international standpoint,” said Johnson. “TxDOT remains more focused than ever on developing funding and constructing projects that will enhance the safety and efficiency of the I-35 corridor.

“The corridor directly supports many of the key economic sectors in the state,” he added. “It includes a supply chain network valued at more than $300 billion in trade, 1.6 million jobs associated with more than 52,000 establishments in the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing sectors.”

He added that the corridor supports 72 higher education institutes and nearly 400,000 jobs in the national security sector.

Corridor By the Numbers

The I-35 supports the state’s growing population and employment, key economic sectors, the Bi-National Automotive Manufacturing Cluster and growing cross-border truck trade freight tonnage. This is supported by the fact the corridor represents 17 percent of Texas interstate mileage, 24 percent of Texas daily interstate miles driven, 7 percent of all daily vehicle miles driven in Texas, 24 percent of Texas daily interstate truck miles driven, 11 percent of all daily truck vehi-

see CONTRACTORS page 12

A key element of the I-35

Corridor Plan is to have

or more lanes from the Red River to Rio Grande.

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from page 8

cle miles driven in Texas and 256 mi. (43 percent) is less than six lanes.

Congestion is a given in the 1-35 corridor as the population within it rose from 9.8 million in 2002 to 14.6 million in 2022. The number of jobs also increased by 49.5 percent in the same period, going from 4.5 million to 6.7 million. The jobs require an effective highway to handle the 9.4 billion lbs. of landed weight at six cargo airports; 1.6 million jobs at 52,800 businesses ($356 billion of the GDP) in the manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing sector; and 390,000 jobs at military bases worth $42 billion of the GDP. In addition, 72 (39 percent) of the state’s colleges and universities are in the corridor.

“Sixty-two percent of trade value moving by trucks between Texas and Mexico,” states the report, “crossed through the Laredo and Eagle Pass points of entry in 2022.”

This translated to a significant increase in the value of goods moved by trucks — $165 billion in 2016 to $248 billion in 2022. The state plans to build bridges to handle this trade at the Puerto Verde Global Trade, Eagle Pass — Piedras Negras II Rail Bridge, the International Bridge 4/5 and an expansion of the Camino Real International Bridge.

Increased traffic volumes will pose serious challenges, including “growing daily traffic volumes, high annual average daily tuck volumes, growing cross-border truck traffic, ‘top 100’ congested roadway segments [and] safety hotspots.”

A 64 percent increase in projected daily vehicle miles traveled is expected, going from 49.6 million to 81.3 million miles in 2050.

Daily vehicle miles travelled increased by 17 percent from 42 million in 2015 to 50 million in 2022; and daily truck vehicle miles travelled increased by 25 percent from eight million to 10 million. The report notes, that due to the new construction, annual congestion costs in the “Top 100” segments had decreased by 1.3 percent from $897 million in 2019 to $886 million in 2022.  CEG

(All photos courtesy of TxDOT.)

CONTRACTORS

Along I-35, 19 of the top 100 most congested roadway segments in the state are along this corridor. Texas is continuing to make considerable investments for contractors to repair, rebuild and upgrade roads and bridges across 588 mi on I-35.

To build upon project delivery success, the DOT has issued an additional $837 million in new projects that are currently under construction.

Samsung Agrees to Expand Its Presence Austin, Taylor

The U.S. Department of Commerce and Samsung Electronics (Samsung) have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen the resilience of the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, advance U.S. technology leadership and fuel U.S. global competitiveness. Samsung — the only leading-edge semiconductor company that is a leader in both advanced memory and advanced logic technologies — is expected to invest more than $40 billion dollars in the region in the coming years and the proposed investment would support the creation of more than 20,000 jobs.

The proposed investment would turn Samsung’s existing presence in Texas into a comprehensive ecosystem for the development and production of leading-edge chips in the United States, including two new leading-edge logic fabs, an R&D fab and an advanced packaging facility in Taylor, as well as an expansion to their existing Austin facility. It also demonstrates Samsung’s ongoing commitment to the United States, where it has been manufacturing chips since 1996. By continuing to develop the technologies of the future in the United States, Samsung is taking steps that would work towards strengthening U.S. economic and national security and increasing the resilience of both the U.S. and global semiconductor supply chains. Because of investments like Samsung’s, the United States is projected to be on track to produce roughly 20 percent of the world’s leading-edge logic chips by 2030.

“I signed the CHIPS and Science Act to restore U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and ensure America’s consumers, businesses and military maintain access to the chips that underpin our modern technology,” said President Biden. “This announcement will unleash over $40 billion in investment from Samsung and cement central Texas’s role as a semiconductor ecosystem, creating at least 21,500 jobs and leveraging up to $40 million in CHIPS funding to train and develop the local workforce.”

The proposed investment would be split across multiple projects at two separate locations in Central Texas: Taylor, Texas: Construct a comprehensive advanced manufacturing ecosystem, ranging from leading-edge logic to advanced packaging to R&D, transforming the small municipality of Taylor into an expansive hub of leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing. This ecosystem would include two leading-edge logic foundry fabs focused on mass production of 4nm and 2nm process technologies, an

R&D fab dedicated to development and research on technology generations ahead of nodes currently in production and an advanced packaging facility producing 3D High Bandwidth Memory and 2.5D packaging, both of which have critical artificial intelligence applications. The semiconductors that are designed and manufactured in this ecosystem would serve a wide variety of end markets — from communications, automotive and defense industries to high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. Austin, Texas: Expand a facility that has been an economic engine for Central Texas for nearly 30 years. This proposed investment would expand the existing facilities to support the production of leading fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) process technologies for critical U.S. industries, including aerospace, defense and automotive. This proposed investment also includes commitments to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Samsung has a proven record of workforce engagement in Texas, including robust partnerships with local education institutions — such as Austin Community College, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas State Technical College, Temple College, Manor High School and Taylor High School — to train its future semiconductor workforce. The proposed CHIPS investment also includes up to $40 million in dedicated workforce funding. Additionally, to attract and maintain the skilled workforce necessary for its projects, Samsung is exploring options in collaboration with the Department to build supply and defray the cost of high-quality and accessible child

care for its employees.

Samsung’s waste management efforts at its Austin site have received the Zero Waste to Landfill Gold Level certification for recycling or reusing 96 percent of waste and its wastewater pretreatment practices have received longstanding recognition from the city of Austin. The Taylor site would use leading-edge sustainability strategies to promote carbon-free electricity use, conserve water resources and avoid or reduce other impacts to the environment.

In addition to the proposed direct funding of up to $6.4 billion, the company has indicated that it plans to claim the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Investment Tax Credit, which is expected to cover up to 25 percent of qualified capital expenditures.

As explained in its first Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Department may offer applicants a PMT on a non-binding basis after satisfactory completion of the merit review of a full application. The PMT outlines key terms for a CHIPS incentives award, including the amount and form of the award. The award amounts are subject to due diligence and negotiation of a longform term sheet and award documents and are conditional on the achievement of certain milestones. After the PMT is signed, the Department begins a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed projects and continues negotiating or refining certain terms with the applicant. The terms contained in the long-form term sheet and the final award documents may differ from the terms of the PMT being announced.

“Thanks to President Biden’s CHIPS Act, Samsung is expected to invest more than $40 billion to build a cluster of semi-

conductor factories here in the U.S. that will employ thousands of workers in good-paying jobs, support a robust supplier ecosystem and fuel innovation through R&D,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Proposed CHIPS investments like the ones we are announcing will be a catalyst for continued private sector investments to help secure the long-term stability we need to put America at the beginning of our semiconductor supply chain and to safeguard a strong resilient ecosystem here at home. The chips that Samsung will be making in Texas are important components to our most advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence to high-performance computing and 5G communications. With President Biden’s leadership and Samsung’s commitment to the U.S., this proposed funding advances America’s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing.”

President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to usher in a new era of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, bringing with it a revitalized domestic supply chain, good-paying jobs and investments in the industries of the future. The proposed CHIPS investment in Samsung would propel Central Texas into a leading-edge ecosystem, creating more than 17,000 construction jobs and more than 4,500 good-paying manufacturing jobs within the next five years, while stimulating regional commercial growth, leveraging the robust two-year and four-year academic footprint in the state to produce the skilled workers needed to fill the critical roles created by the proposed investment. For more information, visit www.chips.gov to learn more. 

Samsung photo

The agreement would lead to two new leading-edge logic fabs, an R&D fab and an advanced packaging facility in Taylor, as well as an expansion to its existing Austin facility.

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2019 Komatsu D39PX-24

Cab, a/c, LGP 28" shoes, PAT 128" blade, Enclosed ROPS K191511M

$102,500 2,900 Hrs.

2017 Takeuchi TL12V2

rubber tracks, ride control TL17017 $54,000 3,338 hrs.

2017 Komatsu PC650LC-11 a/c,14’ stick, 36” shoes KM17501 $269,000 8,320 hrs.

2017 Komatsu D85EX-18 a/c, Sigma blade, 26” shoes KM17444

$199,000 4,399 hrs.

2017 Takeuchi TL8CRW cab, rubber tracks, HD bucket w/ teeth TL17037 $43,000 2,146 hrs.

2016 Komatsu PC360LC-11 a/c, aux hydraulics, 10'6" stick, 34" shoes, camera KM16046

$108,000 7,668 hrs.

2019 PC240LC-11 a/c, 31.5" shoes, camera K191571X

$99,000 7,434 hrs.

2016 Komatsu GD655-6 Pushblock, 14' MB KM16099R

2012 Komatsu HB215LC-1 a/c, 9'7" long arm, 32" shoes, hybrid, bucket KM12780U

$64,000 3,818 hrs.

4,791 hrs. 2014 Komatsu HM400-3

2018 SullairHAF

150 PSI, pintle hitch SU18011U $169,500 1,381 hrs.

2015 NPK GH18 Refurbished, PC490LC mounting bracket NP15027 $59,000

Officials Celebrate Milestone at Austin-Bergstrom Airport

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) celebrated the next major, transformative Journey With AUS expansion project with a ground breaking celebration on April 22. The West Infill and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Checkpoint 3 Expansion ceremonial ground breaking was held at the airport. This marks another pivotal moment in AUS’s commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and accommodating the population growth and increased demand for air service in Austin and Central Texas.

This expansion project focuses on increasing space in the Barbara Jordan Terminal and completing the second phase

of the new Outbound Baggage Handling System. This initiative will create new areas dedicated to TSA, passenger processing and other amenities, ultimately elevating the overall travel experience for passengers. The project will add 75,000 sq. ft. across four levels, encompassing crucial areas such as baggage handling, apron space, concourse capacity and a new mezzanine level. Additionally, enhancements to mechanical, electrical and IT systems are part of the project to ensure seamless operations and maximum efficiency.

This project, which is partially funded by $15.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will open to the traveling public in 2026. Like all projects within the airport’s Journey With AUS program, funding does not come from local Austin taxpayer dollars, but from traditional airport improvement funding mechanisms, such as airport cash reserves, current and future airport revenues, future revenue bond proceeds and Federal Aviation Administration grants.

“As Austin grows, so does our airport,” said Robert Goode, city of Austin assistant city manager. “Near-term projects like this one will provide much-needed relief on busy days as soon as possible, while we continue to work alongside our airline partners to envision the future of an expanded, modern AUS that will meet the needs of both airlines and travelers alike.”

The West Infill project will deliver new features and amenities to the terminal, including:

• Six to eight additional security lanes at TSA Checkpoint 3, streamlining the screening process and reducing wait times for travelers;

• Completion of the new Outbound Baggage Handling system, which will increase capacity for checked luggage screening, ensuring efficient and timely processing of luggage;

• Expanded ticketing counters and kiosks to accommodate the growing number of passengers passing through the airport;

• Pursuit of an Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) 3-star rating, reflecting AUS’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility;

• New offices for AUS and TSA staff, providing improved working environments for airport personnel.

“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey of expansion and improvement at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport,” said Ghizlane Badawi, chief executive officer of the Austin Airport and director of the city of Austin Department of Aviation. “As the demand for air travel continues to soar, we remain steadfast in our commitment to enhancing passenger experiences while maintaining current airport operations. We are moving forward with purpose and urgency to ensure that Austin-Bergstrom remains a vital hub for travelers, fostering connectivity and convenience for all who pass through our terminal.”

The ground breaking follows enabling construction and coordination for the project that began in fall 2023. One of the most significant changes for travelers during the construction of the West Infill and TSA Checkpoint 3 Expansion has been the closure of the original Checkpoint 3. Checkpoint 3, originally a two-lane checkpoint, closed to travelers in early February. Airport officials worked with TSA to add two lanes to Checkpoint 2 West ensuring no loss of

or

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Gov. Abbott Unveils New Uvalde Mental Health Campus

Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced a $34 million project to build a behavioral health campus in Uvalde dedicated to providing on-site care to children and adults experiencing mental health crises in 32 counties in the surrounding area. The new behavioral health campus is expected to open in summer 2025, with construction slated to begin this summer.

“Our communities — urban and rural — are stronger when Texans are safe and healthy and the state of Texas continues working to expand access to critical mental health resources to ensure Texans in every community get the support they need,” said Abbott. “Last year, I signed a law to provide funding for the construction of a new, modernized behavioral health campus to support the entire Uvalde community and neighboring counties. This new behavioral health campus will provide Texans experiencing a mental health crisis with access to mental health professionals and around-the-clock treatment to address their needs. I thank my partners in the Texas Legislature and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for their continued work to increase critical access to both crisis and preventative mental health care services across our great state. Together, we will build a brighter future for all Texans.”

“Providing mental health services to rural areas is a priority to Texas and we’re grateful to Governor Abbott and the Legislature for supporting this campus,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.

“The regional facility will be a crisis and outpatient center serving those who are most in need,” said Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers Chief Executive Officer Tod Citron. “We are thrilled to be bringing these critically-needed behavioral health care services to Uvalde for our rural catchment area and that of two other local mental health authorities.”

The facility will feature a 16-bed crisis unit for adults, including 10 crisis residential beds and six extended observation unit (EOU) beds. A dedicated youth wing will feature a 16-bed crisis unit for children and adolescents, including 12 crisis residential beds and four EOU beds.

The regional behavioral health care campus will focus on providing crisis stabilization to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and act as a designated 24/7 diversion center, accepting walk-ins and drop-offs from law enforcement. A second building will consist of various outpatient programs.

Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers will operate the campus through a contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is overseeing construction. The city of Uvalde is donating seven acres at U.S. 90 and King Fisher Lane to host the campus, which will consist of two buildings totaling approximately 50,000 sq. ft.

During the 88th Legislative Session, Gov. Abbott signed House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 30 into law, approving $33.6 million to construct the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus and provide an additional $5 million for the facility’s first year of operation to support critical services to those in need.

For more information, visit MentalHealthTX.org. 

Next Issue Closes May 21

TEXAS STATE SUPPLEMENT

Galveston LNG Bunker Port to Build Texas City Facility

The terminal is being developed with a capacity of up to 600,000 gal. per day accompanied by two 3-million-gal. storage tanks.

Galveston LNG Bunker Port LLC, a joint-venture between Pilot LNG and Seapath Group, a subsidiary of the Libra Group, filed applications with the United States Army Corps of Engineers seeking authorization to site, construct and operate the proposed GLBP small scale natural gas liquefaction facility on Shoal Point in Texas City, Texas, in the heart of the Galveston Bay/Greater Houston port complex.

The GLBP project will be the region’s first dedicated LNG bunker terminal to provide clean LNG as marine fuel, according to the company's release.

Galveston LNG Bunker Port has filed key regulatory applications with relevant government agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Clean Water Act and Rivers & Harbors Act, Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) for the Texas Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Water Quality Certification and United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) for Waterway Suitability Assessment (“WSA”).

The USACE application for the proposed project includes two natural gas liquefaction trains capable of producing approximately 600,000 gal. per day of LNG; two 3-milliongal. full containment LNG storage tanks; natural gas liquids and refrigerant storage; feed gas pre-treatment facilities; a bunker vessel loading berth and associated marine and loading facilities.

Pilot LNG and Seapath Group signed a project development agreement in September 2023 that provides a framework for the development, technical design, per-

mitting and marketing of the proposed liquefaction project, which is estimated to come online in late 2026. The global maritime industry is increasingly adopting LNG as a marine fuel to significantly reduce emissions and meet tightening regulations, including IMO 2020, which came into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Ongoing development of the project is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The final investment decision to proceed with construction is contingent upon completing required commercial agreements, acquiring all necessary permits and approvals, and securing financing commitments.

The Galveston LNG Bunker Port project (“GLBP”) is being developed by Pilot LNG with the support and financial backing of its partner of Seapath Group, a Libra Group subsidiary. Located on Shoal Point in Galveston County, part of the greater Houston-Galveston port complex, GLBP will supply clean-burning LNG to meet the growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel. Operations of GLBP will commence in late 2026.

The terminal is being developed with a capacity of up to 600,000 gal. per day accompanied by two 3-million-gal. storage tanks. GLBP is ideally situated to supply the growing Galveston Bay Port Complex fuel and bunker markets. This includes LNG marine fuel deliveries directly to customers in the port complex and surrounding areas, such as the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area.

Galveston LNG photo

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