HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Port of Houston Authority (Port Authority) and Freight Shuttle International (FSI) announced Friday that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding a Joint Project to Evaluate Freight Shuttle Deployment Options in Port of Houston Area. The signing preceded a Demonstration and Media Briefing of the Autonomous Freight Shuttle System, held in Bryan, TX on Friday Sept. 9, which was co-sponsored by Governor Greg Abbott, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and FSI.
“Throughout its 102 year history, the Port of Houston has pursued innovation and technological advances to meet demand and protect the environment. The Freight Shuttle has the potential to reduce freight congestion, transportation costs, and air emissions and we support these goals,” said Janiece Longoria, Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority.
“Container volumes continue to grow,” added Executive Director Roger Guenther. “We’ve continually innovated our terminals to accommodate that demand through expanded capacity and increased cargo velocity. The potential that the Freight Shuttle provides to complement the existing road and rail transportation system and contribute to economic growth and creation of jobs is truly exciting.”
FSI acknowledged the value of the partnership with the Port Authority for the success of this project. “Innovation requires challenging current ways of thinking,” said Gordon Dorsey, Vice President, FSI Commercial Development. “FSI has come up with a practical and elegant solution to freight transportation, but it also requires partnerships to come together to bring ideas into reality.”
FSI’s Chairman and President, Dr. Steve Roop stated, “We’ve been developing the freight shuttle concept for over a decade, but now it is a real, tangible system which people can see, and that makes a difference in attracting partners to support future development, refinement and deployment. This agreement with the Port of Houston is an encouraging sign.”
Photos, b-roll and background on the FSS are available at http://tti.tamu.edu/freight-shuttle-event
About the Port of Houston Authority
For more than 100 years, the Port of Houston Authority has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the nation. It supports the creation of nearly 1.175 million jobs in Texas and 2.7 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling almost $265 billion in Texas – 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product – and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the Port Authority website at: www.portofhouston.com.
About Freight Shuttle International
Freight Shuttle International, LLC is a private company licensed by the Texas A&M University System to commercialize the automated Freight Shuttle System that was conceived and designed at Texas A&M Transportation Institute. FSI has developed an operating prototype of the Freight Shuttle System at their test facility in Bryan, TX. The Freight Shuttle System transports containers or 53ft Trailers by means of electric linear induction motors on a dedicated, elevated guideway designed to be constructed within existing highway right-of-way. The efficient and environmentally sound Freight Shuttle System supports both privately funded and private-public partnership funded projects. For more information, visit the Freight Shuttle International website at: www.freightshuttle.com
