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Negotiations for a fifth cruise terminal are moving forward with the full support of the Galveston Wharves Board, Port Director/CEO Rodger Rees said.
Heading into trustees' Sept. 22 meeting, there was a proposal to pause discussions with any cruise line about a new terminal until a comprehensive mobility study is completed to understand the impacts of cruise growth on traffic in the port, adjacent neighborhoods and downtown.
Instead, the board voted unanimously to continue the talks, without delay.
Rees said that was the right decision, for several reasons. The mobility study is expected to be completed "sometime in 2027."
"We've already been in negotiations with Royal Caribbean Group for about two years. From the beginning, staff has advised the board on our progress in closed meetings because discussions involve financial, real estate and legal matters," Rees said.
He added a pause in discussions would have delayed planning for the Battleship Texas museum and Pier 19 improvements because all projects are interconnected.
"Traffic flow, parking, utilities, marine infrastructure and driveways are just a few examples of what we'll consider as we plan development between the cruise terminal at Pier 14 and the Pier 19 area," Rees said.
Tenant engagement will "continue to be essential," he added. "We have and will continue to meet regularly with Pier 19 tenants to give them updates and get input on activities impacting them."
Rees expects the mobility study's first phase, which includes traffic counts at more than 40 intersections, to be completed in early 2027, and the results will be shared. The port and city are continuing to negotiate the scope and cost share for the second phase.
The port chief said Galveston has already made significant progress on several interconnected mobility projects in and around the port, including six projects totaling $8.5m, the 25th Street walkover and completion of the internal roadway.
"As we implement our board-approved strategic master plan, we're looking at the area between piers 10 and 19 holistically as an entire cruise and commercial district, not in pieces," Rees said. "This way we can gauge comprehensive pedestrian and vehicle needs and design an integrated mobility plan to safely move vehicles and pedestrians and to connect this area of the port to downtown."
