Galveston council, port boards back targeted multimodal mobility study to ease cruise and downtown congestion
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Summary
City council and the Port/Wars board agreed there’s consensus for a multimodal mobility study focused on getting cruise passengers and cargo in and out of the waterfront area; members recommended a tight boundary, consultant help to write an RFP, and staged work so the port and city can both use results.
Mayors and port officials on Nov. 13 agreed to move toward a joint, multimodal mobility study aimed at easing traffic, parking and pedestrian access between the port and downtown Galveston.
The workshop opened with a presentation from port leadership stressing rapid growth in cruise business and cargo activity. "We're an island with over 7,000,000 tourists coming in," the port chair said, arguing that the study must address not only vehicle counts but pedestrian circulation, wayfinding and connections to downtown.
Council members and port trustees debated scale. Some urged an island‑wide plan; others recommended a narrower, "last‑mile" focus around the triangle from Broadway to Pier 10 and terminals near 16 and 10. Several council members said a smaller scope will produce more actionable results quickly and suggested two tracks: a near‑term port‑area study and a later island‑wide corridor study.
Speakers repeatedly called for hiring a consultant to define the scope and draft a request for proposals. Councilman Bob said the city's job is to "define the problem" and let a consultant propose solutions; others pushed for stakeholder engagement with downtown merchants, UTMB and hotels.
City staff and the port proposed using the city's real estate committee to vet a draft RFP and return with a recommendation. The mayor summarized council direction: the study should be multimodal; focus on both pedestrian and vehicular flow; and identify manageable study boundaries (options discussed included 10th–33rd streets and waterfront to Church Street).
Next steps: staff will work with Port and Park Board staff to draft RFP language and return with options for boundaries, funding and stakeholder engagement.