New ferry on Galveston-Port Bolivar route will honor chairman of Texas transportation panel

Texas transportation officials have approved a $79 million contract for a new Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry that will be named for former Texas Transportation Commission chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr., according to reporting on the decision.

The Texas Transportation Commission’s vote moves forward a major replacement project on one of the state’s most closely watched coastal routes. The new vessel is expected to begin service in 2029 and is designed to carry about 500 passengers and 70 vehicles per trip.

Plans for the ferry also call for a salon deck and an observation deck. The project is intended to improve the state-operated crossing between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula, which serves residents, visitors and evacuation traffic along the Texas coast.

A key coastal route

The Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry is more than a tourist convenience. It is a critical transportation link for people traveling between the island and the peninsula, and it plays an important role when traffic needs to move quickly during coastal emergencies.

The new vessel is meant to replace an older ferry in the fleet, making the contract part of a broader effort to maintain and modernize service on a route that has long been central to life on the upper Texas coast.

Why the ferry will carry Bugg’s name

Texas Department of Transportation officials said the naming is meant to honor Bugg’s transportation legacy after his death in August 2025. Bugg previously chaired the Texas Transportation Commission and was described by TxDOT as a champion for transportation advancement.

Acting Chairman Alvin New called the naming a small gesture to recognize Bugg’s contributions. The tribute ties the capital investment directly to a figure who helped shape transportation policy in Texas.

What is known about the project

The confirmed details point to a single new vessel with a sizable passenger and vehicle capacity. The ferry’s salon deck and observation deck suggest a design meant to handle both utility and public-facing service on the route.

The expected 2029 start date leaves time for the next phases of the project, including construction and any additional contract execution details that may emerge later.

What remains unclear

Some questions about the broader replacement plan remain unresolved. It is not yet clear whether the $79 million award covers only one vessel or forms part of a larger fleet replacement package.

It also is not yet clear which existing ferry, if any, the new vessel will directly replace. Additional contract paperwork, agency disclosures or future updates could answer those questions as the project advances.

For now, the commission’s approval gives the route a significant upgrade and attaches the name of a prominent Texas transportation leader to a ferry expected to serve the crossing for years to come.