Houston halts Bayport construction pending court ruling

Houston halts Bayport construction pending court ruling    The Port of Houston Authority said it agreed Friday to halt construction of the Bayport container and cruise terminal project, pending a ruling by a federal judge.
   U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore will start “a fast-track process” in April that will end May 4 with a decision by the federal court on opponents’ claims, the port authority said.
   The plaintiffs contend that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ delineation of jurisdictional wetlands was improper, among other allegations. The judge had declined to issue a preliminary injunction as requested by the plaintiffs, the port authority said.
   The lawsuit did not name the Port of Houston Authority as a defendant, but the authority has filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of the Corps.