TxDOT Research Library - TxDOT Research Project

Show:

Tools for Port TRZs and TRZs for Multimodal Applications

Project Summary

The State Legislature has created one innovative transportation funding mechanism called the Transportation Reinvestment Zone (TRZ) which allows local governments to set aside local match contributions for the transportation projects most critical to their communities. TRZs of Texas are an increasingly important funding source for the expansion and improvement of economically critical links in the US Interstate and Texas State Highway Systems. Since the original law enabling the creation of TRZs was enacted by the State Legislature, the mechanism has attracted interest from a number of counties and municipalities, several of which have created their own TRZs. TRZs rely on tax increments to raise transportation project funds. There are comparatively few loan or grant programs that are dedicated specifically to the marine mode, which leads to the need for new and creative approaches to funding port-related infrastructure. There is no source of direct state investment in deep or willow draft ports in Texas. Since TRZs cover large swaths of land, it is important to understand potential land development closely so as to develop more robust assessments of land development and value trends as well as property tax increment revenue flows.

More recently, TRZ legislation was expanded to consider Port Authority TRZs as another method to fund infrastructure in these multimodal facilities. Under the legislation, “Port Authority” or “navigation district” is defined as created or operating per Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. While the processes for establishing a Port Authority TRZ are fundamentally the same as conventional TRZs, there are differences in the ways these funds may be utilized. TRZ’s should be further recognized as multimodal funding tools that enable the revitalization of infrastructure and new development to accommodate the increasing demand on US Interstate and Texas State Highway Systems, rail, and ports.

A vital element of the development of such zones is an awareness of land development to allow better tax increment revenue prediction models, including the inherent characteristics of port and navigation support infrastructure, as well as multimodal connections that the ports offer. Multimodal improvements will enhance connectivity in the US and Texas transportation corridors of ports to rail, and the US Interstate and Texas State Highway Systems. This project will: Document the processes for establishing these port and navigation TRZs, Identify those agencies that have already made steps in that direction; Develop a more systematic standardization of knowledge of the types of projects that are TRZ eligible in the context of port authorities and the Operations, management, and construction of transportation infrastructure links leading to US and Texas State Highway Systems; Analyze the possible interactions of TRZ funding in the context of port/US and Texas State Highway Systems funding/finance and how that may vary across port types; Develop an understanding of land development in port jurisdictions; and Develop tools to facilitate the implementation process of port TRZs in relation to the US and Texas State Highway Systems.

Project Number

0-6890

Status

Completed

link icon Copy link to this project.