Houston Metro Counting down to New Bus Network One Year Anniversary

As the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County's (Metro) new bus network debuted so did a number of rider tools to help patrons with trip planning and enhanced customer self-service solutions. 

There were several game-changer tech tools rolled out by Metro, and for many Houston riders Next Bus Arrival Texting was the most empowering.  It allowed customers to plan their trips better and remove the uncertainty of when their next bus was coming by receiving a text message. Metro has received nearly 4 million text requests since it's debut.  Click here to watch how Metro's Next Bus Texting works.

Metro's automated alerts and services expanded with a personal touch. Three social media specialists not only push out real-time service alerts, but they also guide and offer solutions. 

"Most of our riders have smartphones, and we wanted to offer solutions and arm them with information they can use to plan and make decisions about their transportation choices," said Chief Information Officer Denise Wendler. "Because keeping riders safe is a priority for Metro, we also launched, MPD Connect, which connects riders with our police department directly."

MPD Connect allows riders to report suspicious activity and attach photos in a discreet way. The app also allows people to chat to a live Metro police officer during designated hours. Recently, Metro launched the RideMetro app giving quick access to all of Metro's applications in one convenient place. The app connects patrons to eight different functions: Q Mobile Ticketing, Public Comments, MPD Connect, the Trip App, Interactive Service Map, RideMetro.org, schedules and Metro service alerts.