Negotiations for a fifth cruise terminal at Port of Galveston are moving forward after the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees unanimously voted for them to continue at its Sept. 22 meeting. 

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, noted in a press release that he believes the Board made the right decision, despite there being talk of waiting until a comprehensive mobility study is completed before continuing negotiations. 

According to Rees, these complex public/private partnerships to develop multi-million-dollar projects take significant time to negotiate.  

“We’ve already been in negotiations with Royal Caribbean Group for about two years. From the beginning, staff has advised the board on our progress in closed meetings because discussions involve financial, real estate and legal matters,” noted Rees. 

Additionally, a pause in discussions would have delayed planning for other interconnected projects, including the Battleship Texas museum and Pier 19 improvements, he said. 

Traffic flow, parking, utilities, marine infrastructure and driveways are just a few examples of what needs to be taken into account. 

Rees also underlined the importance of engagement with Pier 19 tenants, which port staff keeps updated through its open lines of communication. 

He said that Phase 1 of the mobility study, which includes traffic counts at more than 40 intersections, is expected to be completed in early 2027, noting that the port and city continue to negotiate the scope and cost share on the second phase of the study. 

Separately, the port has already made progress on several interconnected mobility projects in and around the port, including six projects totaling $8.5 million, the 25th Street walkover and completion of the internal roadway, which Rees said complement the mobility study. 

“As we implement our board-approved strategic master plan, we’re looking at the area between piers 10 and 19 holistically as an entire cruise and commercial district, not in pieces,” added Rees. 

“This way we can gauge comprehensive pedestrian and vehicle needs and design an integrated mobility plan to safely move vehicles and pedestrians and to connect this area of the port to downtown.”