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Houston Metro

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
Overview
LocaleHouston, Texas, U.S.
Transit typeBus, light rail, paratransit, express lanes
Number of lines83 local bus routes
31 commuter bus routes
3 light rail lines
1 community connector
1 bus rapid transit line
Number of stations44 (light rail)
12 (bus rapid transit)
27 (park and rides)
21 (transit centers)
Daily ridership240,200 (weekdays, Q1 2024)[2]
Annual ridership77,189,800 (2023)[3]
Headquarters1900 Main St. Lee P. Brown Administration Building
Downtown Houston, Texas
Websiteridemetro.org
Operation
Began operationJanuary 1, 1979 (45 years ago)
Number of vehicles1,233 (bus)
76 (light rail)[4]

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service (under the name METROLift) in the city as well as most of Harris County. It also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County, and to Conroe in Montgomery County. The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 77,189,800, or about 240,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

History

[edit]
Louisiana Place (now Total Plaza), the previous Metro headquarters

The Texas State Legislature authorized the creation of local transit authorities in 1973. In 1978, Houston-area voters created Metro and approved a one-cent sales tax to support its operations. Metro opened for business in January 1979, taking over the bus service owned by the City of Houston known as HouTran. HouTran was plagued by outdated equipment, infrequent service and a route structure which failed to account for Houston's rapid population growth.[5]

Metro's service area encompasses 1,285 square miles (3,330 km2)[1] and also serves portions of an eight-county region with its vanpool service; the agency employs about 3,800 people.[5]

Executive leadership

[edit]

Tom Lambert is the current President and CEO of the agency. Lambert was formally appointed in February 2014, although he had been operating as the agency's interim CEO since the beginning of 2013.[6] Lambert, a Houston native with a political science degree from Southwest Texas State University and master's in public administration from the University of Houston, joined Metro as a security investigator in 1979. He was named agency police chief in 1982, ultimately overseeing close to 100 officers, then moved into higher ranks of management.[7]

The Metro Board has nine members – five are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Houston City Council, two are appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court, and two are appointed by the 14 mayors of Metro's smaller city members.

Metro Bus

[edit]
New Hybrid Bus in Houston Metro livery by Motor Coach Industries D4500CTH
METRO bus for routes with low ridership.
METRO bus in 2022

Metro's local bus service usually runs on city streets, typically stopping at every other corner along its entire route. The bus system is the most used in Texas and the Southwest region.[citation needed] Metro also operates express bus routes on the Houston region's freeway high-occupancy vehicle lanes, which stop at park-and-ride lots.

Prior to the construction of Metrorail, Metro consisted of the largest all-bus fleet in the United States, only because Houston was the largest major city devoid of any rail transit since 1990.[citation needed]

Circa 1991 bus services for handicapped people were implemented.[8]

In 2015, the bus system was redesigned, eliminating low-ridership routes in favor of a high-frequency, high-demand bus network. This change was accomplished without any increase in operating costs.[9]

Service types

[edit]
Metro Quickline
  • Local: Most Metro buses typically operate on city streets, with the majority of routes serving several of Houston's major employment centers. The routes are grid-like "crosstown" routes that travel from one part of the city to another, typically without entering downtown. Many routes were truncated to METRORail stations to eliminate duplicate service.
  • Express: A local limited stop service that serves key destinations but travel nonstop on freeway segments. They were formerly categorized as Limited prior to the 2015 restructuring of bus routes.
  • Park and Ride (Commuter): Metro operates express service between major destinations and outlying areas via high-occupancy vehicle lanes on regional freeways. Buses on these routes stop at park-and-ride lots, which also serve as transit centers.
  • Bus Rapid Transit: A pilot program introduced on June 1, 2009, to provide faster service with upgraded buses and fewer, more modern stops to busy corridors, beginning with a supplement of Route 2 (Bellaire), 402 Quickline Bellaire BRT. The second route in this system was a replacement of Route 33 (Post Oak), 433 Silver Line Post Oak BRT, which unlike Route 402, utilizes an exclusive busway for a majority of the route. The next planned line is the University Line, which is planned to start construction in 2025 and open in 2029. However in June 2024, Metro announced that they had abandoned plans for the University Line.[10]

Routes

[edit]

Metro's bus routes are numbered based on their service type and arranged in a grid. On August 24, 2015, Metro revamped their entire bus network with new routes and frequent service.[11] Under the new network, all local routes run 7 days a week with the exception of two express routes.

Metro provided the free Greenlink shuttle services in Downtown Houston, but discontinued the service in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

Metro's express and commuter buses consist of 45-foot (14 m) MCI and New Flyer "Viking" buses, which have reclining seats, small individual lights, as well as small air conditioning vents for each seat. Viking buses went out of service in May 2015.[citation needed] In 2023, the bus system had a ridership of 61,171,600, or about 189,500 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

List of routes

[edit]
  • 2-99: Local routes
  • 102-162: Express routes
  • 202-298: Park and Ride routes
  • 309-399: Shuttle and curb2curb routes
  • 402, 433: Bus rapid transit (BRT) routes
  • Red indicated 15 minute-or-better frequencies
  • Blue indicated 15-30 minute frequencies
  • Green indicates 30-60 minute frequencies
  • Yellow indicates express bus routes
  • Gray indicates Park & Ride express routes or shuttles with no defined frequency
  • Coral indicates BRT (bus rapid transit) routes

Multiple colors indicate that portions of the route have different frequencies from one another.

Route # Route Name Terminal 1 Terminal 2 via Length Ridership (FY 2023)[13] Notes
2 Bellaire Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Juniper Point
Mission Bend Transit Center
Bellaire Blvd (Holcombe Blvd) 14.3 miles (23.0 km) 1,937,131 [14]
3 Langley-Little York Fairbanks/Northwest Crossing
Hollister Street & Little York Road
Northside Village
Burnett Transit Center
W Little York Rd 27.2 miles (43.8 km) 518,411
4 Beechnut Greater Eastwood
Eastwood Transit Center
Juniper Point
Mission Bend Transit Center
Beechnut St, N Braeswood Blvd 22.3 miles (35.9 km) 2,105,502
5 Southmore Midtown
Wheeler Transit Center
Allendale
Flagstone Terrace and South Richey Street
Southmore Blvd, Griggs Rd, Long Dr 14.8 miles (23.8 km) 325,940
6 Jensen/Greens Downtown
Downtown Transit Center
Greater Greenspoint
Greenspoint Transit Center
Jensen Dr, Greens Rd 25.6 miles (41.2 km) 968,350
7 West Airport Willow Meadows
West Loop Transit Center
Greater Fondren Southwest
Fondren Meadow Drive & Gessner Road
Airport Blvd 6.3 miles (10.1 km) 211,315
8 West Bellfort South Main
Fannin South Transit Center
Greater Fondren Southwest
West Bellfort Park and Ride
Bellfort Avenue (West) 10.3 miles (16.6 km) 856,180
9 Gulfton/Holman Greater Eastwood
Eastwood Transit Center
Sharpstown
Bonhomme Road & Clarewood Drive
Holman St, US 59, Gulfton St 15.5 miles (24.9 km) 622,242
10 Willowbend Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Greater Fondren Southwest
Sandpiper Drive & Willowbend Boulevard
Holcombe Blvd, Stella Link Rd, Willowbend Blvd 9.1 miles (14.6 km) 162,358
11 Almeda/Lyons Central Southwest
Hiram Clarke Transit Center
Northshore
Dividend Street & Currency Street
Almeda Rd, Lyons Av 21.6 miles (34.8 km) 648,627
14 Hiram Clarke Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Central Southwest
Hiram Clarke Transit Center
Main St, Hiram Clarke Rd 9.5 miles (15.3 km) 453,014
20 Canal/Memorial Bellaire
Chimney Rock Road & Bellaire Boulevard
Magnolia Park
Magnolia Park Transit Center
S Rice Av, Memorial Dr (East), Canal St 18.7 miles (30.1 km) 596,206
23 Clay/West 43rd Northline
Northline Transit Center
Spring Branch Central
Pitner Road & Roma Street
Crosstimbers, West 43rd St, Clay Road 9.1 miles (14.6 km) 132,918
25 Richmond Greater Eastwood
Eastwood Transit Center
Westchase
Meadowglen Lane & Hayes Road
Wheeler Ave, Richmond Ave 17.8 miles (28.6 km) 1,863,966
Juniper Point
Mission Bend Transit Center
20.9 miles (33.6 km)
26 Long Point/Cavalcade Houston Gardens
Kashmere Transit Center
Memorial City
Memorial City Way & Barryknoll Lane
Cavalcade St (East 20th St), West 18th St, Long Point Rd 17.4 miles (28.0 km) 992,040
27 Shepherd Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park and Ride
Greenbriar Dr (SB), Durham Dr (SB), Shepherd Dr 13 miles (21 km) 749,540
28 OST - Wayside South Central Houston
Ben Taub Hospital
Greater Fifth Ward
5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center
Old Spanish Trail, Wayside Drive 13.8 miles (22.2 km) 767,706
29 Cullen/Hirsch Houston Gardens
Kashmere Transit Center
Crestmont Park
MLK Jr. Boulevard & Madden Lane
Hirsch Rd, Cullen Blvd 17.8 miles (28.6 km) 837,038
30 Clinton/Ella Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park and Ride
Clinton Park
Mississippi Street & Clinton Drive
Wheatley St (Ella Blvd), E 11th St, Clinton Dr 20.8 miles (33.5 km) 211,761
32 Renwick Mid West
Winsome Lane & Fountain View Drive
Willow Meadows
West Loop Transit Center
Renwick Dr September 2024
35 San Felipe Mid West
Winsome Lane & Fountain View Drive
Downtown
Pierce Street & Travis Street
W Gray St, San Felipe St September 2024
36 Kempwood Houston Gardens
Kashmere Transit Center
Westbranch
Westway Park Boulevard & Capital Park Drive
Kempwood Dr (East 34th St), Crosstimbers St 19.3 miles (31.1 km) 876,432
38 Manchester-Lawndale Magnolia Park
Magnolia Park Transit Center
Harrisburg/Manchester
Manchester Docks
Lawndale St 6.2 miles (10.0 km) 38,761
39 Katy Freeway Spring Branch Central
Northwest Transit Center
Memorial City
Britoak Lane & Yorkchester Drive
Katy Freeway Service Road 10.8 miles (17.4 km) 77,533
40 Telephone/Heights Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park and Ride
Meadowbrook/Allendale
Monroe Park & Ride
Yale St, Heights Blvd, Polk St, Telephone Rd 25.9 miles (41.7 km) 1,101,364 Interlined with 41 from Waugh Dr to Eastwood TC
41 Kirby/Polk Greater Eastwood
Eastwood Transit Center
Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Polk St, W Dallas St, Kirby Dr 13 miles (21 km) 349,276 Interlined with 40 from Waugh Dr to Eastwood TC
44 Acres Homes Downtown
Pierce Street & Main Street
Cypress Crossing
Lone Star College-University Park
N Main St, Montgomery Rd, Tomball Pkwy (SH 249) 23.1 miles (37.2 km) 696,945
45 Tidwell Brookhollow West
West Little York Park and Ride
East Houston
Mesa Transit Center
Tidwell Rd 19.1 miles (30.7 km) 1,130,037
46 Gessner Greater Fondren Southwest
Fondren Meadow Drive & Gessner Road
Gessner Rd 16.3 miles (26.2 km) 2,023,344
47 Hillcroft Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Westbury
Greencraig Drive & Hillcroft Avenue
Woodway Dr, Voss Rd (Hillcroft Ave) 12.8 miles (20.6 km) 974,974
48 Market Downtown
Franklin Street & Milam Street
Pleasantville
Pleasantville Drive & Market Street
Market St 8.6 miles (13.8 km) 137,547 Pleasantville routing alters during AM or PM
49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Ridgemont
Court Road & South Post Oak Road
Chimney Rock Rd, Bering Dr, S Post Oak Rd 17.3 miles (27.8 km) 734,836
50 Broadway Greater Eastwood
Eastwood Transit Center
Hobby Transit Center Broadway St, Polk St 9.6 miles (15.4 km) 614,533
51 Hardy - Kelley Downtown
Downtown Transit Center
Kashmere Gardens
Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital
Hardy/Elysian Sts, Kelley St 7.8 miles (12.6 km) 206,868 Interlined with 52 from Downtown TC to Kashmere TC
52 Hardy - Ley East Houston
Mesa Transit Center
Hardy/Elysian Sts, Ley Rd, Hirsch Rd 19.3 miles (31.1 km) 619,353 Interlined with 51 from Downtown TC to Kashmere TC
54 Scott Downtown
Downtown Transit Center
Central Southwest
Hiram Clarke Transit Center
Scott St, Almeda Genoa Rd 14.2 miles (22.9 km) 1,594,105
56 Airline/Montrose Northline
Northline Transit Center
Greenspoint
Greenspoint Transit Center
Airline Drive 11.4 miles (18.3 km) 1,625,684
Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Airline Dr, Studewood St (Montrose Bl) 21.6 miles (34.8 km)
58 Hammerly Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Westbranch
Westway Park Boulevard & Capital Park Drive
Hammerly Blvd 10.8 miles (17.4 km) 135,260
59 Aldine Mail Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park and Ride
Eastex
Aldine Mail Route & US Route 59
Aldine Mail Route Road 11.7 miles (18.8 km) 123,608
60 Cambridge Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Astrodome Area
El Camino Street & Holly Hall Street
Cambridge St, Holly Hall St 4.4 miles (7.1 km) 421,490
South Union
Southeast Transit Center
Cambridge St, Holly Hall St, Tierwester St 6.8 miles (10.9 km)
63 Fondren Mid West
Old Farm Road & Westheimer Road
Fondren Gardens
Missouri City Park & Ride
Fondren Rd 9.6 miles (15.4 km) 1,178,347
64 Lincoln City Acres Homes
Acres Homes Transit Center
Garden City Park
McCrarey Drive & Montgomery Road
Wheatley St, De Priest St, Dewalt St 8.8 miles (14.2 km) 22,704
65 Bissonnet Midtown
Wheeler Transit Center
Crescent Park Village
Beckford Drive & Newbrook Layover
Bissonnet St 15.5 miles (24.9 km) 1,542,828
66 Quitman Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Greater Fifth Ward
5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center
White Oak Dr (Quitman St) 12.6 miles (20.3 km) 113,049 Was 66 Studewood before the 2015 route change
67 Dairy Ashford Alief
Dairy View Lane & Bissonnet Street
Addicks Park Ten
Addicks Park & Ride
Dairy Ashford Rd (Park Row Drive) 9.9 miles (15.9 km) 131,318
68 Braeswood Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
Alief
Elmsworth Drive & South Course Drive (other times)
Braeswood Blvd 11.8 miles (19.0 km) 541,466
Alief
El Franco Lee Clinic (weekday daytime)
13.8 miles (22.2 km) Was 68 Brays Bayou but renamed in the 2015 New Bus Network
70 Memorial Spring Branch Central
Northwest Transit Center
Spring Branch West
Business Center Drive & Westview Circle Drive
Memorial Dr (Central) 11.7 miles (18.8 km) 69,539
72 Westview Spring Branch Central
Northwest Transit Center
Spring Branch West
Business Center Drive & Westview Circle Drive
Westview Dr 10.1 miles (16.3 km) 98,144
73 Bellfort South Main
Fannin South Transit Center
Hobby Transit Center Bellfort Avenue (East) 9.4 miles (15.1 km) 1,342,006
75 Eldridge Addicks Park Ten
Addicks Park & Ride
Eldridge/West Oaks
West Oaks Mall
Eldridge Pkwy 13.9 miles (22.4 km) 167,350
76 Evergreen Magnolia Park
Magnolia Park Transit Center
Allendale
Howard Drive & Sweetbriar Street
Evergreen Dr, Winkler Dr 10.7 miles (17.2 km) 297,645
77 Homestead Greater Fifth Ward
5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center
Homestead
Hartwick Road & Homestead Road
Homestead Rd 10.9 miles (17.5 km) 129,882
78 Wayside Greater Fifth Ward
5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center
East Houston
Brock Park Drive & Tidwell Road
Wayside Dr 9.7 miles (15.6 km) 127,124
79 Irvington Northside Village
Burnett Transit Center
Eastex-Jensen
Aldine Westfield Road & Pine Tree Drive
Irvington Blvd 10.7 miles (17.2 km) 118,108 Was 79 W. Little York before the merge with 3 Langley
80 MLK/Lockwood Houston Gardens
Kashmere Transit Center
Crestmont Park
MLK Jr. Boulevard & Park Village Drive
Lockwood Dr, MLK Jr. Blvd 16.2 miles (26.1 km) 1,103,832
Eastex-Jensen
Tidwell Transit Center
21.2 miles (34.1 km) Was 80 Dowling/Lyons before the 2015 change
82 Westheimer Downtown
Congress Street & Smith Street
Eldridge/West Oaks
West Oaks Mall
Westheimer Rd 18.2 miles (29.3 km) 3,540,453
83 Lee Road-JFK Eastex-Jensen
Tidwell Transit Center
IAH/Airport Area
World Houston Parkway & International Plaza
US 59 Service Rd, Lee Rd (SB) 12.4 miles (20.0 km) 89,787
84 Buffalo Speedway Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
South Main
Lakes at 610 Drive & West Bellfort Street
I-610 Service Rd, Buffalo Spdwy, University Blvd 12.9 miles (20.8 km) 386,427
85 Antoine/Washington Downtown
Pierce Street & Main Street
Antoine West
West Road & Antoine Drive
Washington Ave, Antoine Dr 17.1 miles (27.5 km) 1,628,555
Greenspoint
Greenspoint Transit Center
Washington Ave, Antoine Dr, Gears Rd 25.1 miles (40.4 km)
86 FM 1960/Imperial Valley Greenspoint
Greenspoint Transit Center
Willowbrook
Tomball Parkway & Willow Chase Boulevard
Imperial Valley Dr, FM 1960 (West) 16.5 miles (26.6 km) 762,678
87 Sunnyside Old Braeswood
Texas Medical Center Transit Center
South Main
Fannin South Transit Center
Holcombe Blvd, Yellowstone Blvd, Crestmont St, Reed Rd 14.7 miles (23.7 km) 260,155 Was 87 Yellowstone Circulator prior to the 2015 route change
88 Sagemont Greater Hobby Area
Neuhaus St & Telephone Rd
Southbelt/Ellington
San Jacinto College South
Airport Blvd, Almeda Genoa Rd, Beamer Rd 14.5 miles (23.3 km) 328,213
89 Dacoma Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Lazy Brook
Sherwood Lane & North Becca Lane
Dacoma St, Magnum Rd, North Post Oak Rd 3.5 miles (5.6 km) 48,152
96 Veterans Memorial Northline
Northline Transit Center
Steubner Forest
Veterans Memorial Drive & Farm To Market Road 1960
Veterans Memorial Dr 15.5 miles (24.9 km) 367,340
97 Settegast Houston Gardens
Kashmere Transit Center
East Houston
Mesa Transit Center
I-610 Service Rd, Wallisville Rd, Oates Rd, E Houston Rd 14.9 miles (24.0 km) 140,712
98 Briargate Central Southwest
Hiram Clarke Transit Center
Fondren Gardens
Missouri City Park & Ride
Fuqua St, Fondren Rd 7.4 miles (11.9 km) 80,882
99 Ella - FM 1960 Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park & Ride
Woodcreek
Lone Star College-North Harris
Ella Blvd, FM 1960 (East) 21.1 miles (34.0 km) 645,686
102 Bush IAH Express Downtown
Pierce Street & Travis Street
Bush IAH Airport Terminal C North Fwy, Beltway 8, JFK Blvd 26.0 miles (41.8 km) 952,372
108 Veterans Memorial Express Downtown
Pierce Street & Travis Street
Acres Homes
North Shepherd Park and Ride
North Fwy 10.1 miles (16.3 km) 103,000
137 Northshore Express Downtown
Gray Street & Brazos Street
Greater Fifth Ward
5th Ward/Denver Harbor TC
East Fwy 4.9 miles (7.9 km) 753,213 Alternate weekend trips
Northshore
Maxey Road Park & Ride
East Fwy, Uvalde Rd, Woodforest Bl 17.1 miles (27.5 km)
151 Westpark Express Downtown
Smith Street & Preston Street
Juniper Point
Mission Bend Transit Center
US 59, Westpark Dr, Harwin Dr 18.5 miles (29.8 km) 109,914
152 Harwin South Express Midtown
Wheeler Transit Center
Alief
Elmsworth Drive & South Course Drive
US 59, Harwin Dr, Corporate Dr 15.5 miles (24.9 km) 494,040 Interlined with 153 from Wheeler TC to Ranchester Dr
153 Harwin North Express Eldridge/West Oaks
Valedictorian Drive & Briar Forest Drive
US 59, Harwin Dr, Briar Forest Dr, Enclave Pkwy 20.7 miles (33.3 km) 710,901 Interlined with 152 from Wheeler TC to Ranchester Dr
160 Memorial City Express Downtown
Downtown Transit Center
Memorial City
Memorial City Way & Barryknoll Lane
Katy Fwy 13.9 miles (22.4 km) 92,163 Interlined with 161 and 162 from Downtown TC to Memorial City
161 Wilcrest Express Greater Fondren Southwest
West Bellfort Park & Ride
Katy Fwy, Wilcrest Dr, Walnut Bend Ln 26.1 miles (42.0 km) 845,406 Interlined with 160 and 162 from Downtown TC to Memorial City
162 Memorial Express Addicks Park Ten
Addicks Park & Ride
Katy Fwy, Memorial Dr (West) 22.5 miles (36.2 km) 204,508 Interlined with 160 and 161 from Downtown TC to Memorial City
202 Kuykendahl P&R Greenspoint
Kuykendahl Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson
North Freeway HOV 189,367 [15]
204 Spring P&R Spring
Spring Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson
North Freeway HOV 173,301 [16]
209 Kuykendahl/Spring P&R Spring
Spring Park and Ride
Greenspoint
Kuykendahl Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson
North Freeway HOV 2,041 [17]
Midday service for 202 and 204
212 Seton Lake P&R Seton Lake Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson
SH 249, North Freeway HOV 6,171 [18]
216 W L York / Northwest Station P&R Jersey Village
Northwest Station
Brookhollow West
West Little York Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Smith and Louisiana Streets
Northwest Freeway HOV, Katy Freeway 204,600 [19]
217 Cypress P&R Cypress
Cypress Park and Ride
300,401 [20]
219 W.L York/NW Station/Cypress Cypress
Cypress Park and Ride
Jersey Village
Northwest Station
Brookhollow West
West Little York Park and Ride
2,926 [21]
Midday service for 216 and 217
221 Kingsland P&R Kingsland Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along Smith and Louisiana
Katy Freeway HOV 52,941
222 Grand Parkway P&R Grand Parkway Park and Ride 474,412
228 Addicks P&R Addicks
Addicks Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Smith and Louisiana
Katy Freeway HOV 262,132
229 Addicks/Kingsland/Grand Parkway P&R Grand Parkway Park and Ride
Kingsland Park and Ride
Addicks
Addicks Park and Ride
2,985 Midday service for 221, 222 and 228
236 Maxey P&R Baytown
Baytown Park and Ride
Downtown
Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Pierce
East Freeway 52,819
237 Baytown P&R 3,258
244 Monroe / El Dorado P&R El Dorado Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress
Gulf Freeway HOV 112,057
247 Fuqua / Bay Area P&R Bay Area Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress
Bay Area Boulevard, Gulf Freeway HOV 161,459
249 Bay Area / El Dorado / Fuqua / Monroe P&R Bay Area Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress
Bay Area Boulevard, Gulf Freeway HOV 2,696 Midday service for 244 and 247
256 Eastex / Kingwood P&R Kingwood Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson
Eastex Freeway HOV 131,192
257 Townsen P&R Townsen Park and Ride 91,742
259 Eastex/Townsen/Kingwood P&R Kingwood Park and Ride 81,574 Midway service for 256 and 257
265 West Bellfort West Bellfort Park and Ride Downtown
Stops along Louisiana, Smith, Franklin and Congress
Southwest Freeway HOV
269 269,316 Midday service for 265
270 Missouri City - Fondren P&R Missouri City
Missouri City/SH 6 Park and Ride
Old Braeswood
TMC Transit Center
Fort Bend Tollway Frontage Road, Fondren, S. Main, Pressler 96,912
271 Missouri City - SH6 P&R 47,023
291 Conroe P&R Conroe
Conroe Park and Ride
VA Hospital North Freeway HOV, Downtown, Main Street, Pressler, Bertner, OST 19,367
292 Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R West Bellfort Park and Ride Old Braeswood
TMC Transit Center
Southwest Freeway HOV, Main Street 76,201
297 Gulf Freeway / TMC P&R South Point Park and Ride East @ Cambridge Gulf Freeway HOV, South Freeway, OST 163,845
298 Katy Freeway / TMC P&R Kingsland Park and Ride Old Braeswood
TMC Transit Center
Katy Freeway HOV, Studemont 283,348
309 Gulfton Circulator Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center Glenmont, Hillcroft, Bellaire, S. Rice 8.8 miles (14.2 km) 109,299 Runs in a loop
310 116,843 Runs in a loop
314 Hiram Clarke curb2curb 42,866 [22]
344 Acres Homes curb2curb 86,132 [23]
360 Peerless Shuttle South Union
Southeast Transit Center
South Park
Jutland Road & Bellfort Street
6 miles (9.7 km) 95,166
363 Missouri City curb2curb 105,654 [24]
377 Kashmere Late Night curb2curb 3,355 [25]
399 Kuykendahl Shuttle Greenspoint
Greenspoint Transit Center
Greenspoint
Kuykendahl Park & Ride
Ella Blvd, Kuykendahl Rd 4.7 miles (7.6 km) 45,903
402 Quickline Bellaire BRT Old Braeswood
TMC Transit Center
Sharpstown
Clarewood Drive & Ranchester Drive
Bellaire Blvd 9 miles (14 km) 118,281
433 Silver Line Post Oak BRT Spring Branch East
Northwest Transit Center
Gulfton
Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center
Post Oak Blvd 4.7 miles (7.6 km) 298,759 Originally 33 Post Oak

Discontinued

[edit]
Route Name Reason for discontinuation Route Color
1 Hospital Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Red
3 West Gray Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
5 Kashmere Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue
7 Tanglewood Green
8 South Main Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue
9 North Main Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
11 Nance Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
12 Allen House
13 Plaza del Oro Circulator
13 Westridge Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map; absorbed into route 84 in the New Bus Network release Blue
15 Fulton Green
16 Memorial
17 Gulfton
18 Kirby Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
19 Wilcrest Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
21 Northshore Limited
22 Almeda
24 Kempwood
24 Northline Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue/Green Segment
26 Outer Loop Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue
27 Inner Loop Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue
28 Southmore
31 Memorial Limited
32 Harwin Limited
32 Renwick / San Felipe Split into 32 Renwick and 35 San Felipe Blue
33 Post Oak Replaced by Silver Line (route 433) Red
34 Montrose Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
35 Fairview Originally 35 Leeland, later 35 Fairview/Leeland; discontinued in 2004 Green
36 Lawndale Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue/Green Segment
37 El Sol Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
39 Long Point
39 Parker Circulator
40 Pecore Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system
41 Garden Villas Express
41 Gulf Meadows Circulator
42 Holman Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system
43 South Belt Limited
43 Pinemont Plaza
43 Kirkwood Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map, but never existed (it was deferred so it may exist) Green
48 Navigation Was 48 Navigation/West Dallas until 2011; eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
50 Harrisburg Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Red/Blue Segment
50 Heights Section renumbered as a portion of route 40 in the New Bus Network Blue/Red
51 Buffalo Speedway
53 Briar Forest Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue
54 Aldine/Hollyvale Circulator
55 Greenspoint/Kingwood Limited Ran from May 30, 2004 to October 30, 2004
55 E Tidwell Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map but never existed; combined with 45 Tidwell Blue
57 JFK Limited
59 Southwest Freeway P&R
60 Hardy Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
60 South MacGregor Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
63 San Felipe Limited Fondren Road section split off to 163 Fondren Limited (now current 63 Fondren) in the 1990s; remainder discontinued in 1997
64 Gulfton Limited Merged into 17 Gulfton
66 Irvington Merged into route 78; now covered by 79 Irvington
66 Yale Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
70 University Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system
71 Cottage Grove Discontinued in 2024 due to low ridership; replaced with zTrip on-demand taxi service Green
74 Carver Road Circulator
75 Taft
75 Energy Corridor Replaced by 75 Eldridge in 2011 Red
77 Liberty Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue/Green
78 Alabama Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
81 Westheimer-Sharpstown Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Blue/Red Segment
84 Fountain View Became a branch of 82 Westheimer
84 T.C. Jester Limited
88 Broadway Limited
88 Hobby Airport Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
89 Yale Merged into route 64, now route 66
89 South Park Circulator Green
91 North Shepherd / Texas Medical Center Renumbered to 291
92 Westwood / Texas Medical Center Renumbered to 292
93 Greens Road Renumbered to 102 in the 1990s due to shuttle expansions
93 Northwest/Greenway Plaza Shuttle Discontinued in 2004
94
95 Uptown Post Oak Renumbered to 295
96 Uptown St. James
98 Texas Special Blue
99 Texas Special Red
101 Airport Express
107 FM 1960
112 FM 149
112 Bush IAH Downtown Direct
119 Wilcrest Commuter Renumbered from route 19 in the 1990s; renumbered back to route 19 in 1997
131 Memorial Limited Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
132 Harwin Limited Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system Green
143 South Belt Express
163 Fondren Limited Replaced part of Route 63 San Felipe/Fondren Limited; replaced by current 63 Fondren in 2015 due to new route system Blue/Green
164 Hillcroft
201 North Shepherd
203 North Shepherd/Seton Lake Split into 201 North Shepherd and 212 Seton Lake
205 Kingwood
206 Eastex
210 West Belt Discontinued in 2004
214 Northwest Station Merged into route 216
215 West Little York Commuter
227 Katy Freeway P&R Merged into route 298
245 Edgebrook P&R
246 Bay Area Merged into route 247
248 El Dorado Merged into route 244
255 Kingwood Merged into route 256
261 West Loop P&R
262 Westwood Merged into route 265
263 Alief Merged into route 265
273 Gessner P&R Merged into route 274
274 Westchase/Gessner P&R Originally 274 Westchase P&R; eliminated in 2015 due to new route system
283 Kuykendahl Discontinued in 2020
284 Kingwood/Townsen-Greenway Plaza/Uptown Discontinued in 2004
285 Kingsland/Addicks-Uptown/Greenway Plaza Discontinued in 2004, replaced by 298
286 Little York/Pinemont/Uptown P&R Discontinued due to low ridership
289 San Jacinto P&R
295 Uptown Post Oak Addicks/Galleria Commuter
311 Bayou Event Shuttle Discontinued due to low ridership
312 Grocers Shuttle Absorbed into 5 Southmore in 2020
313 Allen Parkway Special
320 TMC Red Shuttle No longer operated by METRO
321 TMC White Shuttle No longer operated by METRO
322 TMC Blue Shuttle No longer operated by METRO
323 TMC North Circulator Merged with 325 to form the 326 in 2004
324 TMC South Circulator Merged with 324 to form the 326 in 2004
325 Smith Lands Circulator
326 TMC Campus Trolley Replaced 323 and 324
352 Swingle Shuttle
364 MCTX Flex Route
402 P & HC Shuttle
403 S & K Shuttle
404 Northwest Shuttle
404 Beechnut Flyer Eliminated in 2001 due to low ridership
412 Greenlink Circulator Green Route Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic
413 Greenlink Circulator Orange Route Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic
418 Harris County Jury Shuttle Discontinued in 2023 due to low ridership
420 Post Oak Special Gold
421 Post Oak Special Green
426/427 TMC Swiftline
464 Bell Station Trolley Discontinued in 2004
465 Main Street Square Trolley
466 St. Joseph/Preston Trolley
500 Airport Direct Cancelled in 2011 due to low ridership

Transit centers

[edit]

Bold = Terminates at the Transit Center
Italics = A branch terminates at the transit center
/ / = METRORail connections

Transit Center Parking[26] Routes
Acres Homes None
  • 3 Langley-Little York
  • 30 Clinton/Ella
  • 44 Acres Homes
  • 64 Lincoln City
Bellaire None
  • 2 Bellaire
  • 20 Canal/Memorial
  • 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak
  • 65 Bissonnet
  • 309/310 Gulfton Circulators
  • 402 Bellaire Quickline
Burnett None
  • 3 Langley-Little York
  • 51 Hardy-Kelley
  • 52 Hardy-Ley
  • 79 Irvington
Downtown None
  • 6 Jensen/Greens
  • 51 Hardy-Kelley
  • 52 Hardy-Ley
  • 54 Scott
  • 160 Memorial City Express
  • 161 Wilcrest Express
  • 162 Memorial Express
Eastwood 65 spaces
  • 4 Beechnut
  • 9 Gulfton/Holman
  • 25 Richmond
  • 40 Telephone/Heights
  • 41 Kirby/Polk
  • 50 Broadway
  • 80 MLK/Lockwood
  • 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R
  • 249 Bay Area / El Dorado / Fuqua / Monroe P&R
Fannin South 1437 spaces
  • 8 West Bellfort
  • 11 Almeda/Lyons
  • 73 Bellfort
  • 87 Sunnyside
Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor 24 spaces
  • 11 Almeda/Lyons
  • 28 OST-Wayside
  • 48 Market
  • 66 Quitman
  • 77 Homestead
  • 78 Wayside
  • 80 MLK/Lockwood
  • 137 Northshore Express
Greenspoint None
  • 6 Jensen/Greens
  • 56 Airline/Montrose
  • 85 Antoine/Washington
  • 86 FM 1960/Imperial Valley
  • 99 Ella-FM 1960
  • 102 Bush IAH Express
  • 399 Kuykendahl Shuttle
Hempstead None
  • 26 Long Point/Cavalcade
  • 58 Hammerly
  • 71 Cottage Grove
  • 85 Antoine/Washington
  • 89 Dacoma Shuttle
Hiram Clarke 83 spaces
  • 11 Almeda/Lyons
  • 14 Hiram Clarke
  • 54 Scott
  • 98 Briargate
Hobby William P. Hobby Airport None
  • 40 Telephone/Heights
  • 50 Broadway
  • 73 Bellfort
  • 88 Sagemont
Kashmere 17 spaces
  • 3 Langley-Little York
  • 26 Long Point/Cavalcade
  • 29 Cullen/Hirsch
  • 36 Kempwood
  • 51 Hardy-Kelley
  • 52 Hardy-Ley
  • 80 MLK/Lockwood
  • 97 Settegast
Magnolia Park 78 spaces
  • 20 Canal/Memorial
  • 28 OST-Wayside
  • 38 Manchester-Lawndale
  • 50 Broadway
  • 76 Evergreen
Mesa 100 spaces
  • 45 Tidwell
  • 52 Hardy-Ley
  • 78 Wayside
  • 97 Settegast
Mission Bend 862 spaces
  • 2 Bellaire
  • 4 Beechnut
  • 25 Richmond
  • 75 Eldridge
  • 151 Westpark Express
Northline None
  • 23 Clay-West 43rd
  • 36 Kempwood
  • 45 Tidwell
  • 56 Airline Montrose
  • 79 Irvington
  • 96 Veterans Memorial
Northwest 195 spaces
  • 39 Katy Freeway
  • 47 Hillcroft
  • 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak
  • 58 Hammerly
  • 66 Quitman
  • 70 Memorial
  • 72 Westview
  • 84 Buffalo Speedway
  • 85 Antoine/Washington
  • 89 Dacoma Shuttle
  • 160 Memorial City Express
  • 161 Wilcrest Express
  • 162 Memorial Express
  • 216 W L York / Northwest Station P&R
  • 217 Cypress P&R
  • 219 W.L York/NW Station/Cypress
  • 298 Katy Freeway / TMC P&R
  • 433 Silver Line
Palm Center None
  • 5 Southmore
  • 87 Sunnyside
Southeast 21 spaces
  • 5 Southmore
  • 28 OST-Wayside
  • 29 Cullen/Hirsch
  • 54 Scott
  • 60 Cambridge
  • 360 Peerless Shuttle
Tidwell 809 spaces
  • 6 Jensen/Greens
  • 80 MLK/Lockwood
  • 83 Lee Road-JFK
Texas Medical Center None
  • 2 Bellaire
  • 4 Beechnut
  • 10 Willowbend
  • 14 Hiram Clarke
  • 27 Shepherd
  • 28 OST–Wayside
  • 41 Kirby/Polk
  • 56 Airline/Montrose
  • 60 Cambridge
  • 68 Braeswood
  • 84 Buffalo Speedway
  • 87 Sunnyside
  • 270 Missouri City - Fondren P&R
  • 291/292/297/298 Texas Medical Center Corridor
    • 291 Conroe Park & Ride
    • 292 Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R
    • 297 South Point/Monroe Park & Ride
    • 298 Addicks/Northwest Transit Center –Texas Medical Center Park & Ride
  • 402 Quickline Bellaire
West Loop 772 spaces
  • 7 West Airport
  • 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak
  • 68 Braeswood
Westpark/Lower Uptown 242 spaces

(175 covered)

  • 20 Canal/Memorial
  • 292 Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R
  • 309/310 Gulfton Circulators
  • 433 Silver Line
Wheeler None
  • 5 Southmore
  • 25 Richmond
  • 65 Bissonnet
  • 152 Harwin South Express
  • 153 Harwin North Express

Park and Ride lots

[edit]

Metro operates 28 different park and ride locations.[26]

Park & Ride Parking[26] Routes
Addicks 2438 spaces
  • 67 Dairy Ashford
  • 75 Eldridge
  • 162 Memorial Express
  • 228 Addicks P&R
  • 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks
  • 298 Katy Freeway/TMC P&R
Bay Area 1155 spaces
  • 247 Fuqua/Bay Area P&R
  • 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R
Baytown 16 spaces
  • 237 Baytown P&R
Conroe 294 spaces

(covered)

  • 291 Conroe P&R
Cypress 1500 spaces

(covered)

  • 217 Cypress P&R
  • 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R
Eastex 877 spaces
  • 83 Lee Road-JFK
  • 256 Eastex/Kingwood P&R
  • 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R
El Dorado 1227 spaces
  • 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R
  • 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R
Fuqua 938 spaces
  • 88 Sagemont
  • 247 Fuqua/Bay Area P&R
  • 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R
Gessner 415 spaces
  • 151 Westpark Express
Grand Parkway 1714 spaces

(covered)

  • 222 Grand Parkway P&R
  • 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks
Hillcroft 922 spaces
  • 151 Westpark Express
  • 152 Harwin South Express
  • 153 Harwin North Express
  • 309/310 Gulfton Circulator
Kingsland 2377 spaces
  • 221 Kingsland P&R
  • 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks
  • 298 Katy Freeway/TMC P&R
Kingwood 1034 spaces
  • 256 Eastex/Kingwood P&R
  • 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R
Kuykendahl 2171 spaces
  • 202 Kuykendahl P&R
  • 209 Kuykendahl/Spring P&R
  • 399 Kuykendahl Shuttle
Maxey Road 1129 spaces
  • 137 Northshore Express
  • 236 Maxey P&R
  • 237 Baytown P&R
Missouri City 779 spaces
  • 63 Fondren
  • 98 Briargate
  • 270 Missouri City - Fondren P&R
Missouri City/SH 6 200 spaces
  • 271 Missouri City - SH6 P&R
Monroe 904 spaces
  • 40 Telephone/Heights
  • 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R
  • 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R
  • 297 Gulf Freeway/TMC P&R
North Shepherd 603 spaces
  • 3 Langley/Little York
  • 27 Shepherd
  • 30 Clinton/Ella
  • 40 Telephone/Heights
  • 59 Aldine Mail
  • 64 Lincoln City
  • 96 Veterans Memorial
  • 99 Ella-FM 1960
  • 108 Veterans Memorial Express
Northwest Station 2361 spaces
  • 216 W L York/NW Station P&R
  • 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R
Seton Lake 1286 spaces
  • 44 Acres Homes
  • 212 Seton Lake P&R
South Point 496 spaces
  • 297 Gulf Freeway/TMC P&R
Spring 1263 spaces
  • 86 FM 1960/Imperial Valley
  • 99 Ella-FM 1960
  • 204 Spring P&R
  • 209 Kuykendahl/Spring P&R
Townsen 996 spaces
  • 257 Townsen P&R
  • 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R
West Bellfort 2024 spaces
  • 8 West Bellfort
  • 161 Wilcrest Express
  • 265 West Bellfort P&R
  • 269 West Bellfort P&R
  • 292 Southwest Freeway/TMC P&R
West Little York 1102 spaces
  • 45 Tidwell
  • 46 Gessner
  • 216 W L York/NW Station P&R
  • 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R
Westchase 1468 spaces
  • 151 Westpark Express
Westwood 826 spaces
  • 292 Southwest Freeway/TMC P&R

Advertising policy

[edit]

Metro has had a policy since its founding in which it refuses to place advertisements on buses, claiming that such a move would create an unsightly appearance on the buses. Metro had originally attempted to generate extra revenue by only advertising in its bus shelters, but a city ordinance blocked the decision. After a failed attempt to get permission to partially use advertisements on buses, Metro has since decided to continue enforcing its policy.[27]

Due to the lack of funding for METRORail expansion, the policy has been proposed to be expanded to light rail vehicles in order to generate additional revenue.[28] Metro began advertising the Houston Zoo on the side of three light rail vehicles in 2010.[29] In late September 2010, due to the decreased budget, Metro began to seriously consider advertising on their buses.

Rates

[edit]

In the fall of 2006, Metro revealed plans to rework its fare system. The new system involves pre-paid fare cards (contactless smart cards), called Q Cards, that can be recharged on local buses and Metro TVMs. 3-hour passes are electronically added to the card each time it is used. Frequent users get "Rider Rewards" that offer five free rides for every 50 paid trips.

Senior citizens 65–69 will continue to receive a discounted rate as will disabled patrons. Senior citizens over 70 may ride for free. Children under 5 also ride for free when accompanied by an adult (limit 3). This was intended to keep the base fare low and phase out the previous fare system consisting of transfers (was reinstated from July 2015 to March 2016), as well as day (reinstated on October 7, 2013), weekly, monthly and annual passes, which occurred in early 2008. On November 2, 2008, local fares increased to $1.25 from $1. Currently another fare increase is being mulled as a means to pay for constructing the expansion of the light rail.[28]

Service Type Regular Discounted
Local $1.25 $0.60
Zone 1 $2 $1
Zone 2 $3.25 $1.60
Zone 3 $3.75 $1.85
Zone 4 $4.50 $2.25
Zone 5 $8 $4
24-Hour Pass (began October 7, 2013)[30] $3 $1.50

HOV system

[edit]

Metro has been known for pioneering the use of express buses in HOV lanes. This was part of the reversible HOV lane concept that began in 1979 with the completion of the North Freeway (I-45) Contraflow Lane. This concept used the inside freeway lane of the "opposite" direction separated by traffic pylons and is closed to all vehicles except buses and vanpools. Although a head-on collision involving a car and a bus occurred in 1980, the concept became permanent, but with the HOV lanes separated from the rest of traffic with Jersey barriers.

The HOV lanes run between Downtown Houston (inbound A.M. and outbound P.M.) and the suburbs and are found on portions of the Katy Freeway, Gulf Freeway, North Freeway, Southwest Freeway, Eastex Freeway and Northwest Freeway.

Since Metro Express buses use them during rush hour, most routes lead to the Park and Ride lots and use "secret" HOV lane exits (often elevated T-intersections) that lead to the lots (also used by vehicles) without having to exit the freeway to street intersections. The HOV system will soon get an overhaul in the event of major freeway construction to take place in Houston and may have HOV lanes in both directions with the concept of HOT (Toll) lanes introduced.

In 2011, Metro began conversion of the HOV lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Commuters with only one person in a vehicle will be able to pay a toll to use the lanes when the conversion is complete.

METROLift

[edit]
A typical Metro Lift vehicle

Metro Lift provides transportation needs for people with a disability, who cannot board, or ride from a regular Metro bus. The Metro Lift vehicles are shared-ride, meaning that they take multiple customers and groups. Metro tells its customers to use standard Metro bus services whenever possible. Metro Lift uses special vehicles that are distinct from fixed-route Metro buses.[31] The Authority's METROLift paratransit service will have provided 1.9 million trips to 16,178 eligible riders in FY2017, using both METRO-owned lift-equipped vans and contractor-owned and operated accessible minivans.[32]

METRORail

[edit]

Metro's light rail service is known as METRORail.

Metro offers a trip planner on its web site that provides information for public transit in the region it serves. It is multi-modal, combining schedule information for buses and rail. Riders enter their intended origin and destination, along with optional time, date, the trip planner displays, itineraries showing the stops, departure and arrival times, times to get from the origin to the destination and other information.

Today, the average daily weekday ridership is 59,753 and 18.3 million annually. On November 9, 2007, Metro surpassed its 40 million boardings mark, something it did not expect to happen until 2020. Notable records in ridership have occurred on the following dates:[33]

  • February 1, 2004: 64,005 passengers rode Metro during Super Bowl XXXVIII
  • February 23, 2004: 54,193 passenger boardings were recorded, the highest weekday at the time
  • February 27, 2007: 56,388 passengers were recorded the day of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
  • February 4, 2017: 109,417 passengers were recorded during festivities preceding Super Bowl LI.[34]
  • November 3, 2017: 125,000 passengers were recorded the day of the parade for the Houston Astros, champions of the 2017 World Series.[34]

METRORail lines

[edit]
The Red Line along Main Street

Metro currently operates three light rail lines: the Red Line, Purple Line and Green Line. The Red Line, the Authority's first light rail line, began operation on January 1, 2004. Now extended to 12.8 miles, the line begins at the Northline Transit Center, serving HCC Northeast and Northline Commons mall, and then continues south through Houston's Central Business District, Midtown, the Museum District, Rice University, the Texas Medical Center and the NRG Park Complex to the Fannin South Transit Center [32] It is the second major light rail service in Texas following the DART system. The arrival of Metro light rail comes approximately sixty years after the previous streetcar system was shut down, which left Houston as the largest city in the United States without a rail system since 1990, when Los Angeles' Blue Line opened.

Metro opened two additional light rail lines in 2015, the Purple (Southeast) and Green (East End) Lines. Destinations served by these new lines include Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, PNC Stadium, and the Theater District. These new lines added another 9.9 miles of light rail. In total, Metro operates 22.7 miles of light rail service. Metro will reach approximately 18.6 million light rail boardings in FY17.[32]

Two other lines were to be completed by 2012, but funding issues dropped the number to the northern extension of the Red Line and two of the original four new lines.[35][36] The extension of the Red Line was opened on December 21, 2013[37] and the East End/Green Line opened on May 23, 2015.[38] Due to federal investigations and the lack of funds, the plans may degenerate further.[39] Three of the five lines were previously going to be bus-rapid transit, but due to high ridership possibilities, the decision was made to make them all light rail.

Expansion

[edit]

METRO Solutions

[edit]

METRO Solutions was a regional transit plan approved by voters in November 2003 by a 52–48 vote.[40][41] The plan proposed:

  • 64.8 miles (104 km) of Light Rail Transit
  • 8 miles (13 km) of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT)
  • 9 New Transit Centers
  • 9 New Park & Rides Lots
  • 250 miles of two-way HOV lanes

In June 2005, METRO announced a revised plan for expansion of the METRORail system. The plan included one new light rail corridor and three bus rapid transit corridors. The bus rapid transit lines would have later been converted into light rail when ridership warranted the conversion.

On October 18, 2007, the plan was revised to allow for the possibility of more federal funding. METRO decided to have all the lines consist of light rail from the start after some public backlash to the agency turning back from its original plans of light rail corridors.[42]

By 2017, only 15 miles of light rail were completed with no commuter rail lines established.[41] 8 new transit centers, 7 new park & ride lots, and only one new two-way HOV corridor were completed as well.

METRONext

[edit]

The public with a 68% vote approved the METRONext plan in November 2019.[43] The plan calls for:[44][45]

  • 110 miles of Regional Express Network, including two-way HOV lanes
  • 21 new or improved Park & Ride lots and Transit Centers
  • 16 miles of light rail expansion
  • 75 miles of a bus rapid transit network METRORapid
  • 290 miles of BOOST and Signature bus service

The referendum authorized the agency to issue up to $3.5 billion in bonds to pay for the projects while the remaining $4 billion will come from federal grants and local funds.[44]

Metro Police

[edit]
Metro Police automobile

Metro operates its own police department. With over 185 Texas peace officers and 88 non-sworn, civilian employees, the department's main goal is to ensure safety and security on the transit system. The department was established in 1982 and is accredited with the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA), one of only five public transit police departments in North America to be so.[46]

State law grants Metro Police jurisdiction in the counties in which Metro is located, provides services, or is supported by a general sales and use tax.[47] As peace officers, state law also grants Metro Police the power to arrest without warrant for any felony, breach of the peace, disorderly conduct or intoxication offense that is committed in their presence or view while in Texas.[48] They may also make an arrest pursuant to a warrant anywhere in Texas.[49]

Headquarters

[edit]
Lee P. Brown Administration Building, the headquarters, in Downtown Houston

The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston.[50] The $41 million 14 story glass and steel building has over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of space. The facility includes the Downtown Transit Center, a Metro Ride store, a Houston Police Department storefront and toilets for transiting passengers.[51] The building was designed by Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville.[52] As of August 2010, two floors of the building are not occupied and are not used in any way.[53]

The building was scheduled to open in early 2004, coinciding with the beginning of the METRORail. The groundbreaking was held in 2002. Patti Muck, a spokesperson for METRO, said that the agency would save $273 million, assuming that the agency occupied the building for a 30-year span instead of renting for the same length of time.[51] The Federal Transit Administration,[52] a part of the federal government of the United States, paid 80% of the construction costs,[51] while Metro paid the other 20%.[52]

The “Houston in Harmony” mural[54] l in honor of Mayor Lee P Brown was commissioned by the Honey Brown Hope Foundation and its founder, Tammie Lang Campbell, in 1999. It was moved March 23, 2005, to the Lee P. Brown Metropolitan Transit Authority Administration Building, where it is on permanent display.

Previously the Metro headquarters were in the Louisiana Place (now the Total Plaza[55]), also in Downtown Houston.[56][57] The agency occupied 10 floors in the building and did not receive any federal funds to cover the $3.8 million annual rent.[51] The Metro Board Room was located on the 16th floor.[58] Total Petrochemicals USA, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, moved into the space that was previously occupied by METRO; the agency scheduled its move into the Brown building to occur in January 2005.[59] Metro's lease of 193,000 square feet (17,900 m2) of space expired in April 2005.[52]

Ridership and demographics

[edit]

A Regional Fixed Route Transit Rider survey sponsored by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in partnership with METRO, was completed in 2017. Over 22,000 riders were surveyed—the most expansive ever conducted on a regional basis—and included eight regional fixed-route transit agencies which operate in H-GAC's eight-county region.[60] The survey found that 58 percent of riders use transit to get to work, 20 percent use it for shopping or personal business, and about 10 percent of riders use a bus or train to get to school. 88 percent of riders reported that they rode transit at least three days per week with almost 50 percent of riders riding at least five days per week. The survey's findings concluded that 88 percent of all the trips were directly contributing to the region's economy.[61]

Member cities

[edit]

Metro provides transportation services to fifteen member cities, as well as some unincorporated portions of Harris County.[62] Metro's service area pays a 1¢ sales tax to fund the agency's operations.[63]

In addition to the city of Houston, Metro serves fourteen cities in the Greater Houston area, collectively termed the "Multi-Cities":[62]

Metro also operates a park-and-ride shuttle between Houston and Conroe. However, Conroe is not a formal member; instead, the shuttle is funded on a yearly basis through an interlocal agreement.[64]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "About METRO". METRO. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Chronology of Metro's attempts to develop a rail system Archived October 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine FRI March 29, 1991 Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page 24, 2 STAR Edition
  6. ^ Ryan, Molly (February 24, 2014). "Houston Metro officially names new CEO". Houston Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  7. ^ Turner, Allan (February 1, 2014). "Metro CEO lauded for low-key management style". Houston Chronicle. Hearst. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  8. ^ Engel, Currie (July 23, 2020). "On the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Houston looks forward". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 31, 2020. [...]1978[...]It took Houston another 13 years to get accessible buses,[...]
  9. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (February 18, 2015). "Houston just dramatically improved its mass transit system without spending a dime". Vox. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "METRO abandons next phase of Bus Rapid Train Plan". Click2Houston. June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "NewBusNetwork". www.ridemetro.org. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Begley, Dug (April 6, 2020). "Pandemic forces shutdown of downtown shuttle, maybe for good". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "Executive Summary - September 2023". Houston METRO. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "2 Bellaire". METRO.
  15. ^ "202 Kuykendahl". METRO.
  16. ^ "204 Spring". METRO.
  17. ^ "209 Spring / Kuykendahl". METRO.
  18. ^ "212 Seton Lake". METRO.
  19. ^ "216 West Little York / Northwest Station". METRO.
  20. ^ "217 Cypress". METRO.
  21. ^ "219 Cypress / Northwest Station / West Little York". METRO.
  22. ^ "314 Hiram Clarke". METRO.
  23. ^ "344 Acres Homes". METRO.
  24. ^ "363 Missouri City". METRO.
  25. ^ "377 Kashmere Late Night". METRO.
  26. ^ a b c "Accessing METRO by Car". METRO. Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  27. ^ Connelly, Richard. "Metro: No Ads On Buses, Despite (Or Because Of) Tough Economic Times Archived 2010-07-23 at the Wayback Machine." Houston Press. Tuesday July 20, 2010. Retrieved on August 10, 2010.
  28. ^ a b Fare increases an option as Metro looks at rail funding – Houston Chronicle. Chron.com (July 21, 2010). Retrieved on 2013-08-15.
  29. ^ Metro breaks tradition with Zoo ads featured on trains | khou.com Houston Archived October 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Khou.com (August 6, 2010). Retrieved on 2013-08-15.
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Further reading

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