Below statement from Director Eccles public comment at Houston METRO 2025 Draft Budget Public Hearing 9/12/2024
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On behalf of LINK Houston, thank you for this opportunity to comment on METRO’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Overall, we believe that many of the initiatives it contains represent a step in the right direction towards our shared goal of continuing to increase ridership.
Below, we have highlighted a few topics for more specific feedback.
- Service increase: we are encouraged to see this budget includes an overall increase in bus service levels. Increased frequency and reduced wait times are the #1 priority of METRO riders, according to those surveyed for LINK Houston’s Equity in Transit 2024 report. This increase, along with 234 new buses, can help METRO increase frequency throughout the system and expand the number of routes that run every 15 minutes or less. We look forward to learning more about how METRO plans to allocate this additional service as soon as possible.
- Gulfton BRT: we are encouraged to see the continued development of the Gulfton BRT project, which will make service faster and more reliable in one of Houston’s most transit-dependent neighborhoods.
- Inner Katy Project: this budget includes new language suggesting changes to the Inner Katy Bus Rapid Transit project. Previously, METRO had proposed to build an elevated bus lane between the Northwest Transit Center and Downtown with three stations at Memorial Park, Shepherd/Durham, and Studemont. Now, this budget suggests the project is being modified to remove the stations and to share the lane with other high occupancy vehicles. The Inner Katy corridor critically needs fast and reliable transit – both for riders travelling along the corridor and for those on intersecting routes like the 27, 56, and 85. We urge METRO to begin meaningful public engagement around these changes so riders can understand why they are being made and how it will affect their potential trips, so METRO can receive input from their customers.
- BOOST: we are encouraged to see the continued development of the BOOST program, which will improve conditions for riders of METRO’s busiest local bus routes. We are especially encouraged by funding for Traffic Signal Priority, which will allow buses to spend less time waiting at traffic signals and provide riders with a faster and more reliable trip. This budget also mentions a fourth BOOST corridor, which has not yet been announced. We urge METRO to select a corridor that serves areas of high need, as identified by our Transit Equity Demand Index. METRO should also begin meaningful public engagement for this next corridor as soon as possible.
- Safety and Security: this budget includes substantial increases in funding for security programs, including a 262% increase in “budget and contracts.” More specificity is needed to understand how these funds will be spent. Safety was mentioned as a key priority by those surveyed for our 2024 Houston Bus Rider Survey – however, riders mentioned a broad range of environments to secure and a broad range of potential solutions. We urge METRO to pursue a comprehensive approach to rider safety. LINK Houston’s Equity in Transit 2024 report provides some potential ideas, including deploying ambassadors to provide a dual customer service and public safety function. Most importantly, METRO should meaningfully engage with riders on any potential solutions.
Overall, more specificity is needed to understand these projects beyond what can be captured in a paragraph or line item. This budget process should be the beginning of meaningful public engagement about how these projects will serve METRO riders.
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LINK Houston is a non-profit organization that advocates for a robust and equitable transportation network so that all people can reach opportunity. For more information, please visit www.link2024.wpenginepowered.com.
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For further media inquiries please Contact:
Nick Arcos
Director of Communications
Mobile: (713) 906-8345
Nick@linkhouston.org
