GALVESTON, TX (Sept. 2, 2022) – The Port of Galveston is partnering with popular navigation app Waze to decrease traffic congestion and make better-informed planning decisions with real-time traffic and roadway data.
The free, two-way data share agreement will give port officials real-time data collected directly from Waze users. The port will provide Waze with real-time construction and road closure data, which will help Waze users plan the most efficient routes
“We are always looking for opportunities to improve traffic flow in and around the port, especially our cruise terminals, which host more than 1 million passengers a year,” said Rodger Rees, port director and CEO. “The partnership with Waze gives us a great tool to enhance our traffic plans and our clean air initiatives to benefit port users and island residents.”
Waze users will have access to current road construction, hazard and closure information. The port will be able to give cruise passengers and ground transportation providers the best routes to specific terminals to minimize traffic congestion.
As a Waze partner, the port will be able to edit Waze maps to add roads and other relevant information. This is especially important as the port completes phases of its new internal roadway and opens its third cruise terminal at Pier 10 in November, Rees said.
Waze also supports the port’s vision to be a Smart Cruise Port by using technology to enhance the debarkation and embarkation processes for cruise passengers. Reducing travel and idling times also contributes to the port’s environmental goals as a Green Marine-certified port.
In 2022, the port expects 330 cruise ship sailings, with more passengers and ships forecast next year. Cargo transports, ship supplies and other port-related activities also generate traffic in and around the port.
Port Mobility Director Julio De Leon said, “We are thrilled to partner with Waze to gain a deeper understanding of real-time conditions. The context Waze gives us in terms of what’s happening and why traffic conditions are being affected in near real-time is invaluable to our traffic planning program as we prepare for growth in our cruise and cargo sectors.”
About the Galveston Wharves at the Port of Galveston
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses.
The port is the fourth most popular cruise homeport in the U.S. The port also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Ship Channel, which is ranked among the top 50 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues.
About Waze
Waze is where people and technology meet to solve transportation challenges. It's a platform that empowers communities to contribute road data, edit Waze maps, and carpool to improve the way we move about the world. Thanks to Wazers everywhere, Waze is able to partner with municipalities and transit authorities to reduce traffic and congestion—leveraging current infrastructure while impacting city planning.
A world with better transportation doesn't have to be in the distant future. By harnessing the power of community to reverse negative trends in transportation, Waze can create a world where traffic is history. For more information, or to download the Waze app, please visit www.waze.com.