The Galveston County Transit District Board of Directors met on Wednesday at Sanders Vincent Center in Texas City.

James Hollis of the Gulf Coast Center’s Connect Transit and transportation consultant Barry Goodman updated the elected and appointed officials from most of the cities in Galveston County on Transit Performance and New Transit Services, including park and ride programs at Victory Lakes and Mall of the Mainland Park and Rides, Island Transit and the League City Taxi Voucher Program.  Listen

Hollis reported that Connect Transit will begin cab service in League City, Friendswood and Pearland in November, when federal funding for door to door response service ends in those cities due to population changes in the 2010 Census.

Goodman and Texas City City Secretary Nick Finan presented an update on pedestrian projects in Texas City, Dickinson and Kemah, as well as New Freedom ADA access funding for Texas City and La Marque.  Listen

John Helsley of Texas Mexico & Pacific Railroad reported on Pelican Island developments planned in conjunction with the Port of Galveston and a proposed railroad bridge to Pelican Island from Texas City or Galveston Island. Listen

Teri Kaplan of the Texas Department of Transportation reported changes in the Transportation Enhancement Call for Projects.

“Up until recently the program rules have been the same,” she said.  “But we have had some changes in the program rules since November and I wanted to highlight them for you.”

She said complete information on the rules is available on the TxDOT website: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/business/governments/te.htm

In a discussion of future funding challenges for Galveston County transit programs, Goodman talked about cooperation with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.  Listen

“There has been a strong interest by Galveston City Council and the City of League City and others in seamless connectivity between Galveston and Houston,” Goodman said.  “We have recently talked to Houston METRO about how we could interface with METRO at either the Victory Lakes Park & Ride or the Clear Lake Center.”