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Galveston’s Rees Wants Strategic Plan Review

[ January 21, 2025   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees said the Gulf port needs an update to its 20-Year Strategic Master Plan, which was adopted in 2019.
“The comprehensive plan has been our roadmap for major capital projects to grow our business while managing potential community impacts,” Rees said in a Jan. 16 release.
Much has changed in the last five years, including a burgeoning cruise business, rising construction costs and community interests he said. Added to that are the port becoming the new home for the USS Texas and the recent Stoss Report, which proposes major public improvements in port-owned waterfront commercial areas.
The update would weigh how dramatic global changes in the cruise and cargo industries could impact port business in the coming years.
“We want to understand what’s coming in the next five to 10 years so we can be ready,” he said. “We’re a port with room to grow as the only major cruise port serving the central U.S. We’re also poised to capture more cargo business as we expand our cargo area and improve waterfront infrastructure.”
Rees wants to see business and traffic analyses, as well as community input on a fifth cruise terminal between terminals 10 and 16. The port also faces the development of public amenities in the port’s commercial area around Pier 21, in preparation for becoming the port location for the USS Texas.
Much remains to be done from the strategic plan approved in 2019, including more dock and wharf improvements, development of more than 350 acres on Pelican Island, drainage issues, and a public boardwalk, he said.
A master plan update would include an evaluation of those projects, along with new opportunities and updated cost estimates. “Armed with this information, we’ll be prepared to continue to maximize our port assets and remain a strong community asset.”

Major Projects Completed

Rees also highlighted several major capital projects that are completed or nearing completion. These including:
Cruise Terminal 10 – the port’s third cruise terminal, a US$125 million project at Pier 10, opened in late 2022 to expand Royal Caribbean sailings.
Cruise Terminal 16 – The US$156 million cruise terminal and parking garage will open at Pier 16 this November to homeport MSC and Norwegian cruise ships.
West Port Cargo Complex – The port has invested nearly US$100 million in cargo infrastructure improvements to expand its cargo business. Construction on this major project includes enclosing two slips to expand dock and laydown space to handle more cargo.
Internal Roadway – Beginning of the last two phases of this multiphase project to help alleviate port-related traffic on Harborside Drive.
Harborside Walkover – The port has begun engineering and secured state funding to restore and reopen the pedestrian skywalk at 25th Street to give cruise passengers and visitors safe access between downtown and cruise terminals 25 and 28.

Tags: Galveston Wharves