The METRONext plan includes 75 miles of METRORapid BRT service, 16 additional miles of light rail, and 290 miles of BOOST or optimized bus service along heavily traveled routes.
by Alex Roman, Managing Editor
August 14, 2019
The METRONext plan includes 16 additional miles of light rail, including a connection to Hobby Airport.
Houston METRO
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The METRONext plan includes 16 additional miles of light rail, including a connection to Hobby Airport.
Houston METRO
Houston METRO’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve the METRONext Moving Forward plan, which calls for a referendum to be placed on the Nov. 5, ballot for voters to consider $3.5 billion in bonding authority for METRO.
The balance of the $7.5 billion plan would be funded through local dollars and federal funding grants, with no new tax increases for implementing the plan.
The METRONext plan includes 75 miles of METRORapid service BRT service, includng a connection to Bush Intercontinental Airport; 16 additional miles of light rail, including a connection to Hobby Airport; expanded two-way HOV/HOT lanes; 290 miles of BOOST or optimized bus service along heavily traveled routes; and signature bus service on Westheimer with limited stops.
The plan also calls for investments in 21 new or improved Park & Rides and transit centers, as well as accessibility and usability improvements for seniors and the disabled.
In all, METRONext includes about 40 transit projects. For more, view the video below.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.