Editor’ note: In his May 31 column “An open invitation to island’s leaders,” Heber Taylor asked the members of Galveston City Council to write their thoughts on their vision of Galveston in 20 years. None responded, but we received this submission from a former member.

By 2029, commuter rail will connect Galveston Island to southeast Houston (where Metro’s southeast line terminates), with stops in League City and Clear Lake. This connection to what will soon be the nation’s third largest city will be a “game changer” in Galveston’s economic vitality.

The south-side of the seawall will present an unobstructed view of the Gulf for biking, jogging and strolling. Vehicles will park in three-story, attractive parking garages for a voter-approved reasonable fee on the north side of Seawall Boulevard, between Sixth and 61st streets. Retail businesses and secure crosswalks will accompany each garage so families can safely traverse the boulevard without impairing traffic flow.

The University of Texas Medical Branch will offer 545 beds, with a new surgical tower adjoining John Sealy Hospital and feeder facilities in League City.

Galveston Independent School District will be smaller but better, thanks to competition from academies, private schools and charter schools, which will become numerous in the coming years due to citizens’ impatience with the state’s failure to fully fund public education.

The city of Galveston will lower its tax rate and become one of the best deals in local government. That’s because council members will have come together to identify efficiencies and equitable funding sources and adopted a policy that the city manager must consider livability for residents and operability for local businesses as the first order of business when drafting the annual city budget.

The ports of Houston and Galveston will jointly operate a crane terminal on Pelican Island. The Pelican Island Bridge will be replaced. The navigation-district board will be retired, it’s duties assumed by another body.

Downtown Galveston will thrive with first-class retail and service businesses, restaurants and lofts and condominiums. Galveston will lead in the cruise-ship industry; laws regulating coastal cruises will change, allowing Galveston to become a port of call as well as a sailing port. Pier 21 and other port property will feature mixed-use development.

The city of Galveston will be Wi-Fi, allowing connection to the Internet anywhere — on the beach, on The Strand, in the coffeehouse.

The city population will be 68,000 by 2025. Transportation, housing, employment and educational options will lure young families to Galveston.

Public-housing numbers will diminish because of the city of Galveston’s help to financially empower its citizens. Galvestonians needing assistance will reside in existing homes in working-class neighborhoods. The system will discourage generational reliance on public housing.

Casino gaming will be legal in Texas. Galveston will decide — once and for all — in a local option vote (as Texas historically allows) whether it wants to welcome casinos to the island.

Numerous island public works and transportation improvements will become reality: water, drainage and sewer service improvements in the city and extensions to the West End; raising of FM 3005 and Harborside Drive; flyovers at 61st Street.

Galveston will be admired as the city that picked itself up after Hurricane Ike in 2008 and reinvented itself; it will be recognized as an example of efficiency in local response and local responsibility.

I envision even more. Read my Web site at www.JoeForGalveston.com.

Joe Jaworski is a declared candidate in next year’s election for mayor of Galveston.