The Federal Transit Administration has awarded $2 million to the City of Galveston under the FTA Bus Livability Competitive Grant Program, for additional enhancements for Seawall Boulevard.
The city had requested $4 million in 2011, but was awarded only half the amount at that time. The city applied for the remainder of the request this year and it was granted.
“Senator Hutchinson was very instrumental in speaking directly to Secretary Lahood about the importance of this grant and the Seawall for Galveston’s future,” said transportation consultant Barry Goodman. "Seawall Boulevard has been identified as one of the most important improvement corridors for the future economic development of the Island.” Listen
City Manager Michael Kovacs said the funding comes at a good time for the Seawall. Listen
“We are very pleased to be receiving the federal funds for the Seawall enhancements,” Kovacs said. “It’s a good use of FTA funds for the improvement of pedestrian areas and our transit connections to and from the Seawall.”
Kovacs said the city expects as much as $100,000 per year from paid parking on the Seawall, which is currently a project being overseen by the Texas General Land Office and has yet to generate any revenue for the city.
“This actually gives us $2 million of federal funds, and that’s like getting a couple, couple and a half, years of Seawall parking fees,” he said. “And then when we add that to the $2 million we’ve already received for Seawall enhancements and now we’ve got $4 million to use on the Seawall.”
Galveston Mayor Lewis Rosen said that the city council will be briefed on the grant and the Seawall Enhancement Plan in workshop on August 9.
“We’re going to have the presentation and it will be spelled out,” he said. “Everything that is proposed for the Seawall enhancement.”