With beach weather coming ever closer, memories of sand and surf have to compete with parking problems. And drivers often hit that parking-lot feeling when traffic on the Gulf Freeway slows to a crawl long before the Galveston Causeway. There are many little things that can help revitalize Galveston's tourist economy - an easier commute to the beach just one of them.

Houston and Galveston used to be connected by rail, and revitalizing the Houston-Galveston passenger rail line has been a dream of many a local politician or urban planner for what feels like decades. The Galveston-Houston Electric Railway connected the two downtown cores during its run from 1911 to 1936. With a 75-minute commute, it was often quicker than today. So while the Gulf Freeway replaced the rail line that was once such a source of pride, the desire for a direct link that can bypass traffic has inspired tens of thousands of dollars spent on feasibility studies for a new rail line. And yet it seems like we are not much closer to any sort of commuter rail in the greater Houston area.

But news that the Galveston Intermodal Transportation Committee voted to allow MegaBus to use city right of way at the Island Transit bus stop at 20th and Market is a reminder that rail isn't the only option for mass transit. The increasingly popular MegaBus, with its comfortable seats, online tickets and single-digit prices, has linked Houston with locales across the state.

The curbside and parking lot pickups also help introduce bus travel to folks who don't exactly enjoy spending time at the downtown Greyhound station. But the lack of a dedicated bus terminal cuts both ways, with little help for travelers dropped off in the middle of a new city. Galveston's new terminal can help get tourists where they need to go, whether a bike rental shop, pedicab to the beach or taxi to a cruise ship. And the MegaBus route is an awfully convenient way for a commuter to live on the island but work in Houston.

The option of regular mass transit to Galveston also ameliorates concerns about drinking and driving for day-tourists who want to have a beer or two at East Beach.

The Houston megapolis is undeniably a city for cars and that also means a city for time, gas and money wasted in traffic. While folks continue to push for commuter rail, commuter buses are starting to fill the role of getting people where they need to go. And for Galveston, that means getting folks from the mainland to the island.