Port of Galveston seeking public input on master plan updates

Port Director and CEO of the Port of Galveston, Rodger Rees, wrote the following in regard to requesting public input on the Port’s master plan updates.

The Port of Galveston has achieved remarkable growth by following the Strategic Master Plan adopted by the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees in 2019. We’re working the plan, and the plan is working.

That plan included two new cruise terminals, an internal roadway, expansion of the West Port Cargo Complex, and industrial development on Pelican Island. Since adopting the plan, the port has realized several major elements.

As a result, we’ve improved decaying infrastructure and become a major revenue and jobs generator for the region.

Port gross revenues have almost doubled from $43.5 million in 2018 to $79.3 million in 2024. We’ve leveraged our operating revenues, along with grants, public/private partnerships and bonds, to make major infrastructure investments in our cargo and cruise businesses.

After delivering major elements of the plan well ahead of schedule, the board decided earlier this year to update the plan. They retained international consultants Bermello Ajamil and Partners (BA), the authors of the original plan, to do extensive research and market forecasts to make recommendations for the next 20 years.

BA presented its findings to the Wharves Board at its July 22 meeting. Now we’d like to gather public input on their report. We’ll host a public open house 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Cruise Terminal 28 so that consultants can share their findings, answer questions and collect public comments.

What’s in the report

For cargo, the plan shows opportunities for the port to increase cargo from 3.4 million tons in 2024 to 6 million tons over the next 10 years by doubling acreage in the West Port Cargo Complex, adding on-dock rail access, consolidating existing rail yards, and potentially adding warehousing to attract new general cargos such as lumber.

For the port’s cruise sector, the report forecasts more growth opportunities for Galveston, which is the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. With the addition of Cruise Terminal 10 in 2022, cruise passenger movements have almost doubled from 2 million movements in 2022 to more than 3.7 million forecast this year.

The report shows that Galveston is well positioned for future cruise growth. New information shows that the population within an eight-hour drive to Galveston has grown to 46 million. It also shows cruise lines are making major investments in destinations in the Western Caribbean region and other ports of call.

BA forecasts Galveston’s cruise market capture to triple by 2045. That means we could grow from 3.4 million passenger embarkations and debarkations in 2024 to 9 million or more in 2045. To achieve that growth, the port would build additional cruise terminals, onsite parking garages, internal roadways and other supporting infrastructure.

This growth would also generate opportunities for commercial and public developments, including parks, greenspace, retail, hotels, office space and multi-family rental on port property facing Harborside Drive.

It was exciting to see the concepts for the Pier 10-16 area with the Battleship Texas between cruise terminals 10 and 16. To complement the waterfront development, designers show a public park, hotel, greenspace and retail connected by pedestrian walkways to the battleship attraction.

The current master plan has served us well. We’re looking forward to gathering public input to finalize the update and continue our journey to develop our port to its full potential for the benefit of our community and the region.