Gripe: Houston's Public Transit System Lags Behind City’s Growth
Consider yourself fortunate if you don’t have to use it. Houston's public transit system is being criticized for lagging behind the city's rapid growth, with a budget of $1.6 billion for 2024 compared to that of a larger metro system like Los Angeles. The Metro system's ridership has increased by 23 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 4.6 million. The accessibility of the bus system is also a concern, with limited information on how to purchase tickets, and a lack of presence of personnel. Safety is a concern as there were 363 assaults reported on Metro vehicles and properties last year, a significant increase from the 291 reported from the prior year. Without significant investment in infrastructure, accessibility, and user experience, the transit system will continue to fall short of meeting the needs of Houston's growing population.
Opublikowany : 2 tygodnie temu za pomocą Uvie Bikomo, Summer 2024 w
Editor’s note: This story was a sidebar in Houstonia’s Summer 2024 cover package, “Welcome to Boomtown.”
If you have never had to make use of public transit in Houston, consider yourself fortunate. The struggle is real for those who rely on it day in and day out, something I experienced firsthand while trying to navigate its labyrinthine web. As someone who moved back to Houston without a vehicle almost a year ago, finding reliable, affordable transportation felt like an oxymoronic dream. Why is it so difficult to get around the city without a car? Texas as a whole has always prioritized building more highways over investing in public transit infrastructure. The Metro system’s budget for 2024 is $1.6 billion, quite minuscule when compared to that of the metro system of a large city like Los Angeles, which has a 2024 budget of $9 billion.
As the Houston area’s population continues to surge and its boundaries expand, the strain only becomes more stark. A report by Metro also found that, in February, ridership on local buses increased by 23 percent compared to last year, to 4.6 million. Houstonians taking these rides could benefit from a more efficient system.
Then there’s the issue of accessibility. Having prior knowledge of how to access the bus system is practically a prerequisite for using it efficiently. Unlike in some major cities where transit information is readily available, Houston’s system is shrouded in obscurity: lack of information on how to purchase tickets, little to no presence of personnel, and a schedule app that feels more like a cryptic puzzle than a user-friendly guide. Safety is also a concern. According to the Houston Chronicle, 363 assaults were reported on Metro vehicles and properties last year—a marked increase from the 291 reported from the previous year.
Although public transit is already difficult to access for people inside the loop, for those of us living in the sprawling outskirts of the city, these challenges are magnified tenfold. Case in point: the nearest Metro Park and Ride station is a 20-minute drive from my suburb of Pearland. Right after moving back to the city last summer, I quickly saw the consequences of a subpar transportation system reliant on cars. A 30-minute drive to Houstonia's office in Midtown would take hours by bus or train, and when you’re without a vehicle it becomes a choice between a tedious journey or racking up bills from rideshare services. The reality is that not everyone has access to a vehicle or can afford the rising costs of car ownership.
Houston’s transit system has the potential to be a vital aid for the city’s continued growth. But without significant investment in infrastructure, accessibility, and user experience, it will continue to fall short of meeting the needs of its exploding population.