Galveston gets $3.75m grant for new cruise corridor roadway

The Texas Department of Transportation awarded the Rider 38 Grant as part of the 2019-2020 Port Access Program.

$5m project

Construction of the $5m project is planned to begin in August 2021 and estimated to be complete in late 2022. It is one section of an internal roadway that will run through port property from 14th Street to 53rd Street. The balance of funds, $1.25m, will come from the port’s operating revenue.

'This is a priority project identified in the port’s 20-Year Strategic Master Plan to support our business growth,' Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees said. 'We are grateful to TxDot for awarding us this grant and acknowledging the importance of the Port Access Program.'

For the past three sessions, the Texas Legislature’s General Appropriations Act has included budget riders that authorize $100m for projects to improve access to state maritime ports. These funds come from the Texas Mobility Fund or other eligible sources. Projects that receive funding are selected by the Port Authority Advisory Committee and approved by the Texas Transportation Commission.

This is the second Rider Grant the Galveston Wharves has received. In 2018, the port was awarded more than $1m from Rider 48 to repave, widen and install drainage on Old Port Industrial Road between 29th and 33rd streets and to repave and install drainage on 33rd Street between OPIR and Harborside Drive.

2019 record cruise year

The Port of Galveston handled more than 1m cruise passenger movements in 2019.