Houston Metro, U.S. Army expanding microtransit programs

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) and the U.S. Army are expanding their microtransit programs. 

Houston Metro expands Community Connector service 

Houston Metro, in partnership with the city of Houston and Evolve Houston, expanded its Community Connector service to The Heights. According to the agency, the on-demand, clean energy microtransit service allows riders to reach Houston Metro’s fixed-route services or essential destinations where access to public transportation is limited or difficult. 

“This service enables [Houston] Metro to connect people to places they need to travel safely and efficiently. I am confident the demand for the Community Connector service will continue to grow,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “My administration has prioritized safe streets and transportation. Collaboration works, and we are optimistic about the future of mobility through thoughtful  planning and strong partnerships.” 

The agency notes the expansion is part of the METRONow plan, which aims to improve mobility for all and provide safe, clean, reliable and accessible transit options to the region. 

“This new service is already transforming transit and people's lives by providing direct access to buses and trains and ultimately meets essential needs like attending wellness appointments or getting to the grocery store," said Houston Metro Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. 

Houston Metro says The Heights service will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Customers can request a ride within the designated zone by using the Ride Circuit app. The Community Connector currently serves downtown Houston, Second Ward and Third Ward. 

U.S. Army’s Cavazos Connector pilot surpasses one year 

The U.S. Army’s Cavazos Connector pilot recently marked its one-year anniversary. 

The pilot program launched on March 2, 2024, and is the only microtransit system operating on an Army installation in the continental U.S. The Cavazos Connector operates more than a dozen on-demand 15-passenger vans, as well as a central shuttle. 

The program began with two years of secured funding through the Secretary of the Army to provide microtransit services to DOD ID cardholders on the installation. The program is overseen and managed by Army Fielding Support Battalion-Cavazos and operated in partnership with Hill Country Transit District. 

“We broke from the normal thought process of a shuttle on a military installation in working with Hill Country Transit and their subject-matter experts,” said AFSBn-Cavazos Jerry Stephens. “They had this new concept called microtransit. They have been the key to this success.” 

According to Stephens, the program runs much like civilian rideshare programs but without the charge to ride. The Cavazos Connector provides curb-to-curb microtransit service to soldiers, families, retirees and civilian workers across the installation. There is also a centralized shuttle service that runs between the Copeland Soldier Service Center, Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center and the Marvin Leath Visitor Center, from which riders can catch a regional shuttle to off-post destinations. The pilot’s availability to all DOD ID cardholders and ability to provide travel throughout the installation has attracted ridership beyond expectations. 

“It was instantly successful,” said Derek Czapnik, Hill County Transit District director of operations, nonemergency medical transportation program. “It exceeded expectations the first month and continues to be that way.” 

According to Czapnik, the Cavazos Connector conducted more than 15,000 trips in its inaugural month of operation. Over the transit program’s first year, the vehicles traveled 530,815 miles, had 241,956 riders and maintained an overall 95 percent customer satisfaction rate and a 90 percent on-time rating, averaging 533 riders per day. 

“We serve just over 20 passengers per service hour,” Czapik said. “The national average is five to seven passengers per service hour.” 

Ridership numbers are the biggest milestone for Czapnik. 

“They exceeded all the metrics,” Czapnik said. “This is probably one of the most successful microtransit systems in the nation. It was an instant success and continues to be that way.” 

Stephens says single soldiers and family members in single-vehicle homes are among the highest users of the system, but they also see a large ridership among retirees and the civilian workforce to attend meetings and appointments on the installation. 

“They have been phenomenal; there has been constant communication,” Czapnik said about the partnership between Fort Cavazos and Hill County Transit District. 

Looking ahead, the U.S. Army notes locating funding to ensure the future of the Cavazos Connector is top priority. 

“Right now, we don’t have a promissory note from anybody that says we’re going to get a third year of funding,” Stephens said. “We’re doing a lot of senior-level engagements.” 

The Army has many funding streams, “colors of money,” as Stephens called them, but there is no designated budget item for a microtransit system on an installation right now. 

“The challenge with this shuttle is that it doesn’t fit into any of those colors of money right now,” Stephens said. “It’s such a new approach that there is no funding stream that says this is how you pay for a Cavazos Connector-like shuttle service on an installation.” 

The U.S. Army says there is some level of funding for bus transport or soldier-shuttle services, but those services are restricted on where they can stop and who can ride. According to Stephens, it costs about $4.3 million a year to operate the Cavazos Connector, who notes the cost could be reduced. 

“The reality is if we had dedicated funding, we could actually reduce the cost because we wouldn’t be doing short-term leases on vehicles,” Stephens said. 

“A funding source has been a number one concern,” Czapnik said, adding Hill County Transit District personnel have spoken with the Federal Transportation Administration, but the Cavazos Connector does not lie within the public realm. “I am looking forward to hopefully continuing with the service. I hope it’s here to stay as long as it can.” 

The U.S. Army notes rides can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance. There is no fee to ride the Cavazos Connector, but there are minimal fares to take the regional shuttles and services off the installation. The Cavazos Connector runs from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Rides can be scheduled via The HOP app, which is available in the Apple and Google Play stores, by phone or online.