MENU
SEARCHAbout 77% of its bus fleet is currently equipped with the hardware to provide real-time bus information. The agency is working to bring the remainder of the fleet online.
Houston METRO partnered with Google to offer real-time bus information as well as detour alerts.
“We are focused on improving the customer experience,” said METRO Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia. “Not only will our customers know when their bus will arrive, but if there’s a detour in place on their route, that information will pop up and they can factor this in their plans, too.”
If for any reason a bus loses connectivity — as the GPS information is transmitted via cellular communications — trips posted will revert to the bus’ scheduled times.
About 77% of METRO’s bus fleet is currently equipped with the hardware to provide real-time bus information. The agency is working to bring the remainder of the fleet online.
The agency also offers other rider tools such as the METRO T.R.I.P. app, which helps customers on-the-go plan their trip using scheduled and real-time information, among other features.
“METRO is the first major transit agency, that we’re aware of, to develop its own stand-alone transit app,” said METRO President/CEO Tom Lambert. “We are trying to make it easier for our customers to navigate our system by bringing these types of tools to their fingertips.”
METRO first teamed up with Google in 2008 by sharing its schedules, which were loaded into Google Maps, for quick, easy trip planning. Of the two trip planners METRO offers on its website, about 50% use Google Maps.
The agency’s trip planner will continue to be available to customers but will be phased out in the future.
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.
Read More →
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
Read More →
The agency ranked top five among mid-sized U.S. transit systems, defined as agencies with 15 million to 50 million annual trips.
Read More →
The subway system saw increases across all key metrics, with 62% of subway riders reporting they feel satisfied with the system overall.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
A new citywide campaign highlights free fares, improved service, and major upgrades to Albuquerque’s bus system.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
Read More →
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
Read More →
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
Read More →
