Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

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Founded	January 1, 1979
Headquarters	1900 Main St. Lee P. Brown Administration Building Downtown Houston, Texas
Locale	Houston (Texas, USA)
Service area	Harris County
Service type	Bus Service, Light Rail, Paratransit Services, Express Lanes
Routes	75 local bus routes 32 commuter bus routes 3 light rail lines
Stops	9,960
Destinations	Downtown Houston Uptown Houston Memorial City Greenspoint Westchase Energy Corridor Texas Medical Center Johnson Space Center University of Houston Texas Southern University Rice University University of Houston–Downtown University of St. Thomas Houston Baptist University Houston Community College Lone Star College San Jacinto College Bush Intercontinental Airport Hobby Airport NRG Park Greenspoint Mall Houston Galleria West Oaks Mall Sharpstown Mall Gulfgate Mall Memorial City Mall Willowbrook Mall Northline Mall Baybrook Mall Northwest Mall Almeda Mall
Hubs	21 transit centers 28 park and rides
Stations	39 (light rail) 12 (bus rapid transit)
Fleet	1,250+ (bus) 37 (light rail) 140+ (paratransit)
Annual ridership	80,540,307
Fuel type	Diesel, CNG, Diesel-electric hybrid
Operator	METRO
Website	http://www.ridemetro.org

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (often referred to as METRO) is a major public transportation agency based in Houston (Texas, USA). It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, and paratransit service (under the name METROLift) in the city as well as most of Harris County. METRO also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County. The METRO headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston.

History

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 HouTran was plagued by outdated equipment, infrequent service, and a route structure which failed to account for Houston's rapid population growth.

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

Executive leadership

Tom Lambert is the current President and CEO of the agency. Shirley DeLibero served as President and CEO of METRO from 1999 until 2004. DeLibero was recruited to METRO by then-mayor Lee Brown, and was previously executive director of New Jersey Transit. Her tenure was marked by the introduction of the METRORail light rail transit system and passing of the 2003 light rail expansion plan referendum.

DeLibero retired in the spring of 2004 and was replaced by Frank Wilson, a 30-year transit executive who had been president of AECOM Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based engineering consulting firm; Wilson had also previously been general manager of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) in Northern California and was the Commissioner of Transportation for the State of New Jersey. Wilson arrived as the mayoral administration of Bill White replaced that of the term-limited Brown. In May 2010, Wilson signed a deal to terminate his employment as METRO president and chief executive officer.

George Greanias, a former city councilman and city controller, was named chief executive by the majority of the METRO board appointed by Mayor Annise Parker, even though he had no transit experience. Parker made the need for new leadership at METRO a key platform of her campaign, saying the leadership had damaged the agency's relationship with the community.

METRO Bus

Main article: List of Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County bus routes

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New Hybrid Bus in Houston METRO livery by Motor Coach Industries D4500CTH

A METRO bus driving through the University of Houston campus on Cullen Boulevard

Bellaire Transit Center in the City of Bellaire

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METRO bus for routes with low ridership.

METRO has a very expansive, and heavily used bus system. Local bus service usually runs on city streets, stopping at every other corner along its entire route. METRO's bus service is the most used bus system in Texas and the Southwest. METRO's bus service also includes the HOV/Park and Ride system. Park and Ride stations are placed alongside the freeways and used heavily during peak times.

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.

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.

Service types

• Local
  Most METRO buses typically operate on city streets, with the majority of routes serving downtown Houston (with some exceptions). There are also local "crosstown" routes that travel from one part of the city to another without entering downtown (many of these run along north-south arterial streets, such as Gessner Road). Limited routes are typically local, not in the sense of limited stop service on major streets, but more likely run as a regular stop route and simply have no stops along a major freeway. Circulatory routes start and end at a determined location and travel in a circle. Shuttle routes follow the same concept as limited routes, only to have special stops at points of interest. In 2008 METRO downgraded all its Express routes (100's) except for one (170) to Limited. Former bus routes that served downtown prior to the opening of METRORail were rerouted to terminate at METRORail stations to eliminate duplicate service and long trips; some routes were rerouted while the modified one kept the original number. Downtown routes such as the 11 Almeda/Lyons count as two routes (i.e. 11 Almeda and 11 Lyons).
• Limited
  Before several routes downgraded from Express to Local Limited, they were categorized as Express as they do not make stops along the freeway portion of the route for at least between downtown and the outlying areas. The only remaining true express route was the 170 Missouri City Express until it was also put under the Park & Ride (Commuter) Service.
• Park and Ride (Commuter)
  METRO provides a well known Park and Ride service that serves riders who work downtown and live in outlying residential neighborhoods in the city of Houston, as well as several suburbs, where Park and Ride lots are located. A Park and Ride lot functions much like a transit center, and some Park and Ride lots are served by regular local routes in addition to the dedicated Park and Ride routes. During rush hour, each Park and Ride lot has its own route to reduce overcrowding, leading to multiple routes serving the same freeway. In the Midday, this type of service is combined to a single route serving multiple park and ride lots and designated with a 9 at the end of the route number (example: 219, 259, 229). Most of these routes travel in the HOV lane of a freeway during commute hours; METRO was a national pioneer in this type of service.
• Quickline
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  METRO Quickline
  
  This service began on June 1, 2009. Quickline is METRO's bus rapid transit service, also known as Signature Service. The Bellaire corridor is the first for the pilot program with the route called the 402 (or QL2) to supplement service along the most heavily used bus route in the system, 2 Bellaire. The Quickline system features upgraded buses, fewer stops, and more modern and comfortable bus stops.

Note: The Express and Park and Ride were once under the Commuter Routes umbrella until they gained their own distinctive non-stop service designations in 2004. As of 2010, aside from routes #170, 212, and 261, the routes are organized in corridors, but are now all listed as Park & Ride (Commuter) Service.

Routes

METRO's bus routes are numbered according to a system:

• Local bus routes – 1-98
• Limited bus routes – 102-162
• Park and Ride routes – 151, 170, 171, 202-298
• Shuttle and Circulatory routes – 360, 412, 413
• Quickline routes – 402
• METRORail routes – 700s

METRO provides the free Greenlink shuttle services in Downtown Houston, represented by routes 412 and 413.

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.

Fleet

• 1979 Grumman Flxible 870
• 1979 Eagle Model 05
• 1980 Crown Ikarus Articulated
• 1981 GMC RTS-04
• 1982 Flxible Metro
• 1982 GMC RTS-04
• 1983 GMC RTS-04
• 1983 Flxible Metro 'A'
• 1984 Eagle Model 10
• 1985 Flxible Metro 'A'
• 1985 Eagle Model 10
• 1985 Skillcraft Transmaster
• 1986 Neoplan USA AN430A
• 1989 Ikarus USA 416.02
• 1990 Ikarus USA 416.02
• 1991 Ikarus USA 416.02
• 1991 Ikarus USA 416.03 LNG
• 1992 American Ikarus 416.02
• 1992 American Ikarus 416.02 LNG
• 1992 American Ikarus 416.04
• 1992 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1992 Collins Civic (MetroLift)
• 1993 American Ikarus 416.03 LNG
• 1993 Neoplan USA AN345/3
• 1993 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1994 Neoplan USA AN345/3
• 1995 Metrotrans Classic II (MetroLift)
• 1996 New Flyer D40LF
• 1996 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1997 New Flyer D40LF
• 1997 New Flyer L40LF
• 1997 New Flyer D30LF
• 1997 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1998 NABI Ikarus
• 1998 New Flyer D40LF
• 1998 New Flyer D45S Viking
• 1998 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1999 Neoplan USA AN460A
• 1999 New Flyer D45S Viking
• 2000 New Flyer D40LF
• 2000 Ford/Goshen E-Series/Pacer II (MetroLift)
• 2001 MCI D4500
• 2002 MCI D4500
• 2006 Ford/Champion E-Series/Challenger (MetroLift)
• 2007 New Flyer DE40LFR
• 2007 MCI D4500CT
• 2008 MCI D4500CTH
• 2009 Orion NG HEV
• 2009 Orion NG HEV
• 2010 Orion NG HEV
• 2010 MCI D4500CTH
• 2011 Orion EPA10 HEV
• 2011 Chevrolet/Champion Chevrolet Express Cutaway/Challenger (MetroLift)
• 2012 Gillig BRT (Greenlink)
• 2013 Chevy Arboc
• 2013 Ford/Goshen Coach GCII (MetroLift)
• 2013 Novabus LFS Artic
• 2014 NABI 40-LFW
• 2014 Ford/Goshen Coach GCII (MetroLift)
• 2014 MCI D4500CTH
• 2015 NABI 40-LFW Gen III CNG

Current Fleet

• 2000 New Flyer D40LF
• 2001 MCI D4500
• 2002 MCI D4500
• 2007 New Flyer DE40LFR
• 2007 MCI D4500CT
• 2008 Orion NG HEV
• 2008 MCI D4500CTH
• 2009 Orion NG HEV
• 2010 Orion NG HEV
• 2010 Chevrolet/Champion Chevrolet Express Cutaway/Challenger (MetroLift)
• 2011 Orion EPA10 HEV
• 2011 Chevrolet/Champion Chevrolet Express Cutaway/Challenger (MetroLift)
• 2012 Gillig BRT (MetroLift)
• 2013 Novabus LFS Artic
• 2013 Chevy Arboc
• 2013 Ford/Goshen Coach GCII (MetroLift)
• 2014 NABI 40-LFW
• 2014 Ford/Goshen Coach GCII (MetroLift)
• 2014 MCI D4500CTH
• 2015 NABI 40-LFW Gen III CNG

Transit centers

• Greenspoint
• Acres Home
• Mesa
• Tidwell
• Burnett Plaza
• Northline
• Wheeler
• Magnolia
• Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor
• Southeast
• Hobby
• Northwest
• Bellaire
• Hiram Clarke
• Texas Medical Center
• Kashmere
• Eastwood
• Downtown
• Hempstead

Park and Ride lots

METRO operates 28 different Park and Ride locations. The buses used for these are built like Greyhound buses and are very comfortable for the rider. The Park and Ride locations are:

Katy Corridor

• Kingsland Park and Ride
• Addicks Park and Ride
• Grand Parkway Park and Ride – currently, this Park and Ride is in the Cinemark parking lot at the Grand Parkway/Interstate 10 intersection. A permanent facility will be built soon, as the lot is already at capacity after a few months.

Southwest Corridor

• Westwood Park and Ride
• West Bellfort Park and Ride
• Hillcroft Transit Center is heavily used as a Park and Ride but is considered a transit center

Northwest Corridor

• West Little York Park and Ride
• Northwest Station Park and Ride
• Cypress Park and Ride
• Northwest Transit Center is heavily used as a Park and Ride but is considered a transit center and will receive additional parking due to the closure of the Pinemont Park and Ride due to the US 290 expansion.

Northeast Corridor

• Eastex Park and Ride
• Townsen Park and Ride
• Kingwood Park and Ride

North Corridor

• North Shepherd Park and Ride
• Kuykendahl Park and Ride
• Spring Park and Ride

South Corridor

• Fannin South Park and Ride – also served by the Red Line.

Gulf Corridor

• Monroe Park and Ride
• Fuqua Park and Ride
• South Point Park and Ride – reopened July 2010 with more parking and improved drainage.
• Bay Area Park and Ride
• Eastwood Transit Center is heavily used as a Park and Ride but is considered a transit center.

East Corridor

• Maxey Park and Ride
• Baytown Park and Ride

Westpark Corridor

• Gessner Park and Ride
• Westchase Park and Ride
• Mission Bend Park and Ride
• Hillcroft Park and Ride - Previously a transit center of the same name.

US 90 Corridor

• Missouri City Park and Ride
• Highway 6 Park and Ride

SH 249 Corridor

• Seton Lake Park and Ride

West Loop Corridor

• West Loop Park and Ride

Texas Medical Center Corridor

• TMC Transit Center is heavily used as a Park and Ride but is considered a transit center.

Park and Ride expansion

There are plans for future park and ride stations throughout the Houston Metropolitan Area. These locations are said to be:

• Pearland Park and Ride (2015 definite) – this will serve the booming south Houston suburbs of Pearland and Manvel. METRO announced in July 2010 that this Park and Ride would be built at State Highway 288 and County Road 59. However, residents in the area of the intersection are opposed to this location because it places a Park & Ride in their neighborhood, something that has them raising various concerns because of why they moved to their location. After two hearings and the concerns of the residents raised, METRO decided in August 2010 that it will find a new location. In December 2010, it was announced that METRO purchased 15.26 acres of land near Highway 288 and FM 518 for a Park & Ride facility scheduled to begin operations in the fall of 2013.
• El Dorado Park & Ride (2015 definite)
• Atascosita Park and Ride (2017 estimate)
• Fairfield Park and Ride (2018 estimate)
• Cinco Ranch Park and Ride (2016 estimate)
• Dickinson Park and Ride (2018 estimate)

Advertising policy

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.

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. METRO began advertising the Houston Zoo on the side of three light rail vehicles in 2010. In late September 2010, due to the decreased budget, METRO began to seriously consider advertising on their buses.

Fares

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. Transfers will be 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. (Similar smart cards are being used on transit systems nationwide, including those in Atlanta (GA), Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville (FL), Los Angeles, Miami (FL), Milwaukee (WI), New York City, Philadelphia (PA), San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Tucson, and Washington, DC.)

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 (which returned from July 2015 on a trial basis, ended in December), as well as day (reinstated on 7 Oct. 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.

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
Day Pass (began 7 Oct. 2013)	$3	$1.50

HOV system

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 concrete 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 as well) 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.

METRO Lift

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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.

METRORail

Main article: METRORail

METRO's light rail service is known as METRORail. As stated above, Frank Wilson was formerly president before resigning in May 2010, in large part due to criminal allegations of shredding public documents. Longtime local politician George Greanias was appointed interim president, as appointed by Mayor Annise Parker.

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, and other information, and the trip planner displays itineraries showing the stops, departure and arrival times, and times to get from the origin to the destination.

Today, the average daily weekday ridership is 34,600. Notable records in ridership have occurred on the following dates:

• 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

On November 9, 2007, METRO surpassed its 40 million boardings mark, something it did not expect to happen until 2020.

METRORail lines

The Red Line along Main Street

METRO currently operates three light rail lines: the Red Line, Purple Line, and Green Line. 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. The extension of the Red Line was opened on 21 December 2013 and the East End/Green Line will open on 23 May 2015. Due to federal investigations and the lack of funds, the plans may degenerate further. 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.

METRO's first light rail line is the 12.8-mile (20.6 km) light rail line located in Houston, Texas, United States. 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 the Blue Line opened in Los Angeles).

Expansion

Additional rail will be laid as approved by a 52% yes to 48% no margin in the November 2003 election. Critics have alleged the existence of a conflict of interest in the planned expansion. Major contractors including Siemens AG, which constructs the train vehicles, contributed substantial amounts of money to the Political Action Committee promoting the expansion referendum. Supporters of an expanded rail system in Houston have leveled similar charges against opponents of the referendum, noting that suburban development interests largely bankrolled the PAC opposing the referendum.

In June 2005, METRO announced a revised plan for expansion of the METRORail system. The plan included four new corridors, consisting of both light rail and bus rapid transit. 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 go ahead and have all the lines consist of light rail from the start.

The planned expansions are within the city of Houston and will eventually reach the two major Houston airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. METRO is planning service to suburbs in Houston, as well as other parts of Houston. Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Analysis studies are currently underway on four extensions.

METRO is also planning a commuter rail system in conjunction with the light rail system, pending feasibility of the plan. In addition, METRO wants to link up with a planned Commuter Rail line traveling from Fort Bend County to just south of Reliant Stadium, which would use an existing Union Pacific railroad, as well as an additional line branching out along the U.S. Highway 290 corridor to Hempstead, TX, and possibly further. A recent entrance by the Gulf Coast Freight Rail District may make the 290 corridor and the Galveston corridor possible by 2012, again pending feasibility. While heavy rail would not be a possibility to serve Fort Bend County, recent approval has been given to study an extension of the Red Line to Fort Bend from the Fannin South Station. Furthermore, Representative Gene Greene has issued a statement regarding a preliminary acquisition of funds for Houston projects, amongst them one million dollars to move forward and extend the Red Line south to Missouri City.

The passed voter referendum included:

• Additional 64.8 miles (104.3 km) of light rail
• Commuter rail service (28 miles)
• Increased access to activity centers
• Rail service to both airports
• More than 50 new rail stations
• 50% increase in bus service

The following lines and services were planned to be up and running by 2012, but various circumstances have changed the overall timing. According a statement by Annise Parker, Houston's mayor, both the University Line and the Uptown Line would be delayed until a future date when funding could be secured. According to construction details from the GO METRORail website, construction was moving slowly. Further delays to the construction were also a possibility pending the FTA investigation METRO (which began in April 2010) for possible "Buy America" violations by building new prototype cars in Spain. Another obstacle surfaced in August 2010 when METRO officially announced that it had fallen short $49 million on its budget, but insisted that the current dates for completion (Red Line Extension by 2013 and East End/Green Line by 2015) would not be affected. However, such was not the case, after the decision handed down by the FTA on September 8, 2010, that stated that METRO was in violation of "Buy America" rules - after talking with the board, on September 9, 2010, all progress for the three light rail lines under construction was to be slowed and a new (generic) date of 2014 was set.

The current plans to date are as follows:

• The Red Line Extension from UH–Downtown to the Northline Transit Center that will run 5.3 miles (9 km).
• The East End/Green Line extends east 3.3 miles (5 km) from Downtown Houston to the Magnolia Transit Center.
• The Southeast/Purple Line extends 6.1 miles (10 km) from downtown at Smith Street (near the Main Street line) and terminates at Palm Center around MLK and Griggs Street.
• The University/Blue Line (according to Go METRORail) will extend 11.3 miles (18 km) from the Hillcroft Transit Center to the Eastwood Transit Center, and follow the Richmond/Wheeler and Westpark corridors with transfers to the Red Line at Wheeler Station and the Uptown/Gold Line at Bellaire/South Rice. According to what METRO reported to the local station, KRIV 26, this line has received a federal Record of Decision, what it calls the final step necessary to build this line.
• The Uptown/Gold Line (according to Go METRORail) will run from Bellaire/South Rice Station on Westpark through Uptown to the Northwest Transit Center for a total distance of 4.4 miles (7 km). This route possibly may be extended another 1.1 miles (2 km) to Northwest Mall. Also, another map shows that this line will be extended to the Hillcroft Transit Center, and furthermore it appears a duplicate line will make its way from the Northwest Transit Center to the Eastwood Transit Center. METRO was promised by the Uptown Management District that $70 million of infrastructure improvements would be implemented in order to allow METRO to build this line; however, this has not come to pass, and therefore METRO appears to keep the construction of the line in limbo for the present.

Countering the bad news regarding METRO's light rail expansion, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed bills allotting $150 million to the Red Line Extension and Southeast/Green Line light rail projects for fiscal year 2011. Added to the previous $150 million allotted fiscal year 2010, the total amount given to these projects is $300 million. However, according to the FTA, this will not be available to METRO unless they rebid the contract to build the new light rail cars. In light of this, METRO decided to build light rail only according to the funds they have while waiting to see if they will receive federal funds. Thus in late September 2010 METRO only came up with a figure of $143 million in funds available for construction.

METRO Solutions

METRO Solutions is a large transportation and infrastructure plan that will be complete by 2020. METRO Solutions includes the following from METRO's website:

• Nearly of Light Rail Transit – 10 miles (16 km) known as University Line from Hillcroft to the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and, in the future, the Eastwood Transit Center; 5.3 miles (9 km) covering the extension of the existing Red Line north to the Northline Transit Center; and the Southeast, East End, and Uptown lines.
• 28 Miles of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT) – along US-290 from Cypress Park & Ride to Intermodal Facility and along US-90A from Missouri City to Fannin South Park & Ride/Rail Station; and along Texas 3 to Galveston. As explained above, though, commuter rail appears to be out of the question for now regarding the US-90A route. In August 2010, Representative Al Green decided to push the matter of the US-90A route at a luncheon meeting. METRO's findings were brought up during the presentation with estimates of 12,000 people riding commuter rail when commenced and 23,000 by 2030. Also, another study brought up indicated that the population of Houston would increase by 3.5 million, or double (and then some) the current population. Green also gave words of thanks to those showing support since the measure to create commuter rail was passed in 2003. METRO and the FTA also intend to file an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act in 2011, outlining the purpose and need, alternatives, and various impacts of the project.
• 40 Miles of Signature Bus Service/Suburban Bus Rapid Transit – Southeast Transit Center to Texas Medical Center, Uptown to US 90A CRT line, Gessner and State Highway 249/Tidwell.
• 10 New Transit Facilities – Northern Intermodal Facility serving different transit modes (Commuter Rail, Light Rail and BRT), five Transit Centers and four Park and Ride lots.
• HOV/HOT Conversion – modify one-way, reversible High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to two-way High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.

METRO Police

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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 Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), one of only five public transit police departments in North America to be so.

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. 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. They may also make an arrest pursuant to a warrant anywhere in Texas.

Headquarters

See also: Total Plaza

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

The METRO headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. 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. The building was designed by Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville. As of August 2010, two floors of the building are not occupied and are not used in any way.

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. The Federal Transit Administration, a part of the federal government of the United States, paid 80% of the construction costs, while METRO paid the other 20%.

The “Houston in Harmony” mural 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), also in Downtown Houston. The agency occupied 10 floors in the building and did not receive any federal funds to cover the $3.8 million annual rent. The METRO Board Room was located on the 16th floor. Total Petrochemicals USA, a subsidiary of Total S.A., moved into the space that was previously occupied by METRO; the agency scheduled its move into the Brown building to occur in January 2005. METRO's lease of 193,000 square feet (17,900 m²) of space expired in April 2005.

Ridership and driver demographics

A 1995 survey concluded that 76% of people riding on local METRO bus lines took the buses because they had no other means of transportation. A 1993 survey concluded that of the people who had stopped riding local bus routes of METRO, 46% had acquired or repaired automobiles. 37% of the respondents said that METRO could not possibly do anything to convince them to ride the buses again. As of 1997 11 percent of METRO drivers were Hispanic. Around that time many residents who lacked a strong command of English feared taking METRO routes, believing that the METRO drivers would not be likely to understand them.

Member cities

The METRO member cities include:
Core city

• Houston

Other cities

• Bellaire
• Bunker Hill Village
• El Lago
• Hedwig Village
• Hilshire Village
• Humble
• Hunters Creek Village
• Katy
• Missouri City
• Piney Point Village
• Spring Valley Village
• Southside Place
• Taylor Lake Village
• West University Place

In addition the agency serves many unincorporated areas.

See also

• List of tram and light-rail transit systems

External links

• METRO Official Page
• Houston Metro Rail Development - Unofficial forum in support of rail expansion

Other sites of interest

• Run Over by Metro Houston Press