The Port Bolivar Bridge Project

Due to the rapid growth of the Greater Houston area (which includes Galveston County), the commute time required to board the ferry has rapidly increased (during the summer the wait can be up to two hours), which slows emergency response times (there are few emergency services, and no hospitals, on the peninsula, thus requiring trips to Galveston).

Maintenance costs for the ferry crossing have risen to approximately $12 million per year, a 200 percent increase in the last eight years alone. The ferry is unusable in the event a tropical storm or hurricane approaches the area, thus forcing evacuating traffic onto the other two egresses from the island (Interstate 45 and a two-lane toll bridge on the west end of the island), and projected ship traffic in Galveston Bay (including the Houston Ship Channel) is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Due to the increasing importance of having a dependable transportation route, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is developing solutions to improve safety and address the mobility concerns in the Bolivar Peninsula Area. The Bolivar Bridge project will offer a new transportation alternative for the Galveston Bay area.

Since 1934, the State of Texas has provided ferry service between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. Increased traffic on the ferry is resulting in lengthy delays and causing not only an inconvenience to residents and visitors, but also safety concerns during times of emergency and air quality issues.

Due to these community issues and the ever increasing operation and maintenance costs of the current ferry system, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is seeking a more effective, long-term solution. TxDOT is proposing to replace the existing ferry system with a permanent bridge to better serve the mobility needs of Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island.
 
Finding A Solution
The process for developing a solution began several years ago. A feasibility study completed in 2001 determined an immediate need for improvements to the ferry system and recommended a bridge as a long-term solution.

TxDOT, in association with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is now embarking on the next step in the process — preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which entails further analysis and evaluation of viable alternatives compared to the impacts of not building a bridge. The project area includes Bolivar Peninsula, the northern and eastern portions of Galveston Island, and Pelican Island.

The EIS will include the location, number of lanes, roadway configurations, and operational characteristics of bridge alternatives. The process will also include a discussion of the effects on socioeconomics, travel patterns, hazardous materials, cultural resources, traffic, noise, air quality, biological resources, water resources, floodplains, and wetlands. Tolling will be considered as a funding option for this project. 

The Community Gets Involved

The study team asked the participation and input from the residents of the area and encouraged them to attend the Public Scoping Meetings. The team discussed the project’s purpose and need, objectives, process, and schedule, and solicited public input on two different nights at two different locations. An open-house format enabled attendees to engage in open discussions with TxDOT representatives and team members. According to the Public Comment Response Database, residents mostly voiced their support for the bridge.  There were however those that opposed the project because of environmental concerns, traffic fluidity or their opinion that it was an unnecessary expense.

Progress
A third ferry landing is being built at the present time, but this is considered an interim solution only; the long-term goal is a permanent fixed crossing.

TxDOT has identified the following alternatives or solutions to the mobility issues currently affecting the area:

• "No Build" (no improvements) – rejected as ferry system is at capacity
• Expansion of ferry system – rejected as the system cannot be relied upon during evacuation or bad weather
• Tunnel Crossing – rejected due to high cost and vehicle/cargo restrictions
• The final solution was to build a bridge between the communities. Four tentative corridors were identified:
• Route 1-1, using the existing Texas Highway 87 corridor
• Route 1-2, using the Galveston Seawall as a corridor
• Route 1-3, using nearby Pelican Island (immediately north of Galveston Island) as a corridor
• Route 2 (including alternatives 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3), using the Texas City Dike as a corridor

The preferred corridor is Route 1-3, the Pelican Island alternative.

The plan is to complete all environmental studies and obtain final approval by Winter 2008.

Learn more about the project here.

New Resort Developments Are Reshaping Bolivar Peninsula

Developments in the area have increased the need for a bridge connecting Bolivar Peninsula with Galveston Island. As a short-term solution a private yacht ferry service will be available for the residents in these developments.

Avocet is a master-planned community designed for form and function. Lush landscaping and welcoming Polynesian architecture blend perfectly amid stunning Gulf views and the natural beauty of Bolivar. Residents will enjoy all the comforts of civilization while feeling far from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Biscayne is located on the southwestern tip of the Bolivar Peninsula where the beach and dune areas are growing rather than eroding from normal tidal flow. With only one main street and two rows of homes, the developers have created a unique blend of home sites by placing the second row lots on their own private lake in secluded cul de sacs.