TX: New Metro Policy Offers Suburbs a Clear Path to Transit
June 5, 2017
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County's (Metro) Board of Directors has approved a policy which would make bus service in communities outside Metro's service area possible.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County's (Metro) Board of Directors has approved a policy which would make bus service in communities outside Metro's service area possible. The new policy offers non-member jurisdictions a clear avenue to access local bus, Park & Ride and alternative-type services, like Metro's Community Connector.
The new policy allows neighboring communities to benefit from Metro bus services by covering Metro's cost of the services requested. None of those services would be subsidized by existing Metro members.
Metro Board Member Jim Robinson stated the new policy was an excellent compromise to address transportation issues faced by a growing region.
"So many of these suburban areas have used up all of their sales tax capacity for crime control districts and other sorts of things. This is really the only realistic way to approach this," Robinson said.
Board Member Sanjay Ramabhadran added, "I think this policy allows those that are not in the service area to experience the value and the benefit of being connected to a regional transit system. Hopefully, in time, it translates into a desire to become a member of the Metro system."
