The Texas Department of Transportation has convened the Panama Canal Stakeholder Working Group (PCSWG) to help prepare the state for the anticipated impact of the expansion of the Panama Canal.

The 15-member working group plans to hold a meeting at the Port of Beaumont beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28. A list of the committee members is attached.  Committee List

The meeting is open to the public and testimony has been invited from several local maritime industries and groups with an interest in the Panama Canal. TxDOT asked me to extend this invitation to Mayor Ames to attend the meeting, or a portion of it, if her schedule permits.

The PCSWG meetings are being coordinated by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which will also compile the group's final report.

Completion of the $5.25 billion Panama Canal Expansion Project is now expected in early 2015. The expansion is expected to influence global trade patterns. The changes may impact Texas deepwater ports as well as landside intermodal rail, roadway and other infrastructure needs. The Port of Beaumont expects to see an increase in tonnage as a result of the expansion, particularly in export grain and other bulk commodities.

The meeting will end about 2:30 p.m.