Project Profile

Galveston Park & Ride Feasibility Study

Galveston, Texas

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Project Summary: The objective of the Galveston Park & Ride Feasibility Study was to determine the feasibility of developing a park-and-ride program to provide additional transit services for commute trips between Galveston Island and the Mainland, as well as the operating parameters for successful implementation.

Project Highlights

The possibility of establishing reverse commute service to Galveston Island was evaluated as a response to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment mandates imposed on Galveston employers. Galveston’s major employers, The University of Texas Medical Board and American National Insurance Company, were subject to mandates calling for the exploration of alternatives to building more parking for employees. These mandates are a result of the area’s designation as a severe nonattainment area for ozone under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Implementation

Based on the results of the feasibility study, TGC recommended that the City of Galveston, in cooperation with the major employers on Galveston Island, pursue an implementation phase for a park-and-ride program. Recommendations from the implementation phase included the following:

* Finalize strategy to develop a dedicated park-and-ride facility located on Galveston Island to serve the various park-and-ride services. The City should actively pursue private sector involvement in the project. Once developed, the City should submit the project to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for funding consideration.
* The City should coordinate with The Gulf Coast Center to identify service modifications to attract park-and-ride patronage.
* The City should strongly encourage major employers on Galveston Island to address park-and-ride and other mobility issues facing Galveston Island and its major employers.