The Galveston Intermodal Transportation Committee on Wednesday voted to elect Lesley Sommer as its new chair.  Jim Casey, who previously chaired the group, asked that a new chair be selected because he will be traveling in the future.  Casey will remain as a member of the committee.

Transportation consultant John Carrara of The Goodman Corporation updated the group on the status of the Downtown Intermodal Transportation Terminal, design of streetscape improvements under the Livable Communities Streetscape Improvements, repairs to the trolley system and a progress report on the trolley feasibility study and comprehensive Island Transit planning study.  Listen

Carrara reported that the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves approved the guaranteed maximum price of  $6.1 million to Turner Construction under the construction manager at-risk agreement and a lump sum payment of $6.449 million to the City of Galveston in conjunction with the project.

He updated the committee on a request by MegaBus to use the downtown terminal for its service between Houston and Galveston.

“It was previously operated by Kerrville Bus Company,” Carrara said.  “Kerrville was bought out by Coach USA, which was bought out by a company called Stagecoach Services, which is an English company.”

He said MegaBus sells tickets through the Internet.

“The highest fare between Galveston and Houston is $14 and, depending how far in advance you purchase your ticket, the fare could be as low as one dollar,” he said.   

The ITC welcomed Council Member Cornelia Harris Banks as the city council’s ex-officio representative.

“I am extremely interested in this,” Banks said.  “There are so many wonderful things that are going on in transportation.”