Port of Galveston delays master-plan deadline as new Pelican Island talks, cruise growth and rail interest emerge

Port of Galveston officials told a joint meeting of the city council and the port trustees that the port will likely extend the deadline for an updated master plan so consultants can incorporate recent developments, including confidential discussions about Pelican Island and expanded cruise- and cargo-related activity.

"We're in the middle of a lot of things," Roger Reese, Port of Galveston director, said. "We're in the middle of three different nondisclosure agreements — two with cruise lines — and a third cruise line wants to discuss expansion. And then the cargo business is what we've asked them to really focus on." Reese said that rail companies have also approached the port about expanding operations on Galveston.

The master plan adopted in 2019 guided the port through several projects; Reese and Port Chairman Vic Pearson said consultants are now researching market demand for cruise passengers and cargo trade routes and have produced preliminary projections suggesting higher potential cruise-market reach than previously estimated.

"We used to say 30 million people within eight hours," Reese said of a market-area figure the consultant provided. "They're now saying 40. They went out and did a lot of research and literally looked at almost county by county within…