The Galveston Intermodal Transportation Committee on Wednesday discussed the Livable Communities Initiative Phase II; and the commuter rail project.
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“We are putting together the final alternative analysis report,” said John Carrara of The Goodman Corporation, explaining that the report will be presented to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council. “For their consideration to select commuter rail in the Houston-Galveston Corridor as what they call the locally preferred alternative. Then that sets it up to go into the next phase on the federal level.”

Lesley Sommer was concerned about competition for a decreasing amount of federal funds for transportation projects.

“Are we in direct competition with the other light rail system in Houston?” Sommer asked.

“Well, it’s in competition with every other rail new start in the United States,” Carrara answered, but added that Houston is not a threat. “METRO is in favor of this project.”

Carrara also updated the committee on plans for the downtown transit center.
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“Powers Brown Architects from Houston started working immediately and have developed several schematic design plans,” Carrara said, explaining that the plans will first be reviewed by the Historic Landmark Commission, which is the “first of many steps to move forward.”