Houston Metro ridership in decline, despite bus service revamp

HOUSTON — When Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority revamped its bus system in August 2015, officials said it would boost ridership by 20% in two years. However, transit use in the city has been declining, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Now likely unable to reach their predicted ridership growth, which would have been unprecedented in the history of Houston mass transit, Metro officials concede more refinement is needed to gain riders on buses and trains, the report said.

Metro officials blame the declining ridership on fewer oil and gas industry jobs in the area and the transition of many jobs away from downtown Houston. Though the job cuts have been evident in the region's economic outlook for months, the switch to the new bus system last year might have hidden the negative effect of fewer daily commuters, according to the Houston Chronicle. For the full story, click here.