NORTHEAST– The Houston Intercontinental Chamber has lined up several blockbuster events for the next few months. Last Thursday the Transportation Summit was one of these, as hundreds of city and county leaders gathered at the Marriott Hotel Airport, to hear three experts talk about transportation trends in their respective fields.
The experts were Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, speaking on his experience in rail, roads, and shipping; METRO CEO George Greanias, speaking on commuter transportation and how it interacts with other types of transportation; and Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport Systems, speaking on the global aspects of air transport, and how it relates to local systems.
Each speaker not only talked on the technical aspects of their transportation knowledge, but also on how the national and local economy relate to, and benefit from, an advanced and integrated transportation system.
The chamber president, Reggie Gray, welcomed guests and members, and spoke about the Chamber’s 25th anniversary year, and the Starlight Business Awards banquet to be held on Nov. 10th. He reported briefly on the California Expo attended by Greenspoint leaders, contacting potential international businesses to locate here. To emphasize the international aspect of our chamber, he said we now have a working relationship between the Dubai Airport Freezone and HICC and NHEDC. Also, he invited everyone to the next HICC event, which is a Healthcare Summit on Oct. 6th, taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Houston Northwest Medical Center. The featured speaker will be David Cordani, CEO of CIGNA Corporation.
The Transportation Summit included a review by Judge Emmett of the County’s role in transportation. With 2 million people living outside Beltway 8, moving them is a major responsibility.
Current road projects include extending the Hardy Toll Road into the center of Houston, and completing more segments of the Grand Parkway (Hwy 99).
Rail projects include developing the Hempstead line, possibly as far as Austin, and the Galveston Line along Hwy. 3. He emphasized that it must tie into the METRO system to be most efficient. Also being studied is high speed rail from Houston to DFW in Dallas.
Emmett emphasized that all of these projects are necessary, but the main problem will be how to pay for them, and we must act now to prepare.
METRO’s Greanias spoke on the large service area his agency is responsible for, 1,300 square miles, with an employment population of 4.5 million people by 2040. In addition to 2 new light rail lines, his budget includes many street and road projects in local jurisdictions.
Diaz spoke about Airport projects, including the plans to improve Ellington Field as well as the two passenger airports.
Diaz said that most of the growth in airport business has been global travel and shipping. In the last year, for instance, there was 0% growth in domestic traffic, but 5% growth in international traffic. This trend is expected to continue, with more airlines, such as Southwest, looking at international flights for revenue production. To prepare for larger planes, Intercontinental airport will have to enlarge to receive the A380 Airbus, which cannot now land at IAH. However, the new Boeing 787 and 747-800 can be accomodated now.
Diaz emphasized that all of this growth must be adequately funded to happen. From the audience, Greenspoint’s Jack Drake reinforced the idea that the public must become advocates to the legislature for more adequate transportation and public transit funds.