Lyft is now the OFFICIAL TNC of the Port of Galveston!
The Port of Galveston has recently announced a partnership with Lyft which designates them as the official TNC of the Port of Galveston.
Just in case you do not have Facebook, this was the announcement:
“Galveston, TX (September 25, 2020) – The Galveston Wharves and Transportation Network Company (TNC) Lyft recently signed an agreement to formalize its operation at the port. The contract specifies the terms and conditions for operating at the port for one year.
“We are excited to announce that we are partnering with Lyft. This is the first time the port has entered into an agreement with a ride sharing service,” said CEO and Port Director Rodger Rees. “Now we have an additional ground transportation option to offer cruise passengers.”
According to the agreement, Lyft drivers will be provided with an area inside one of the port’s parking lots that will serve as a staging area while drivers wait for passengers to hail a ride using the phone app. Providing a separate staging area will help to alleviate traffic congestion in front of the cruise terminals.
Additionally, there will be a new TNC curbside pick-up area easily visible and located in front of each cruise terminal for an improved cruise passenger experience. Lyft will pay a $2.00 access fee when picking up and dropping off passengers within the port’s property. “This agreement enhances the ground transportation operations at the port and it creates a new revenue stream that helps off-set infrastructure and operational improvement projects,” said Mobility Director, Julio De Leon. Lyft adds to the existing ground transportation partnerships that the port has established with cab companies, private shuttles, limo services and other passenger transportation companies.
“Lyft’s mission is to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation and that’s why we’re eager to work collaboratively with communities to improve transportation options for residents. Lyft is proud to work with the Galveston Wharves in a new partnership that will help cruise passengers access reliable ground transportation, and offer an additional earning opportunity for local drivers. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Galveston Wharves in our ongoing effort to provide access to convenient and affordable transportation for Texans,” said Lyft Regional Director Max Loosen. The port also is investing in new signage to direct cruise passengers to designated pick-up/drop-off curbside areas outside of each of the cruise terminals.
About Galveston Wharves at Port of Galveston: Perfectly situated at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Wharves has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 30 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses. As the fourth busiest U.S. cruise port, it welcomed over 1 million cruise passengers in 2019. Also one of the busiest in Texas, the port moved 4 million tons of cargo in 2019 and has an estimated annual state economic impact of $2.1 billion.”
Our Take:
While this is exciting, we have to remind ourselves that Galveston right now is pretty much dead between Labor Day and Mardi Gras and the Cruise industry is really the only income drivers down there see. Now with COVID-19, the Cruise industry has pretty much been at a standstill. It honestly wouldn’t be far fetched to say that this partnership was finally passed through because a lot of the shuttle companies that dominated the port pre-COVID will have to shut down because they relied so heavily on cruises. This partnership ensures there will be drivers whenever cruise ship passengers come back.