Bus riders in Houston could be in for smoother rides along some of the city's busiest routes.
Houston's METRO has approved $40 million for road repairs along bus routes, drawing objections from transit advocates who favor spending the money on better bus service, according to Click2Houston.
Here's what to know
Pedestrian infrastructure and passenger stops are included alongside roadway repairs in the funding for heavily used routes. The METRO board approved the plan without a single dissenting vote, according to Click2Houston.
Thomas Jaisen, METRO's interim president and CEO, said the funding is a small slice of its roughly $1.7 billion annual budget.
Transit advocacy group LINK Houston, which opposed the decision, said improving passenger service would be a better use of the funding.
More background
For passengers and drivers, the intended benefits are fewer disruptions and smoother trips, Jaisen said.
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Houston's city government is collaborating with METRO on an expansion of road-repair efforts that the agency has funded before, Click2Houston reported.
A completion date hasn't been established.
Other infrastructure work underway by the city and the Texas Department of Transportation will help determine scheduling, with timelines varying by project.
What's being done?
Houston and METRO will jointly choose which streets and transit corridors need improvements first, according to a city statement cited by Click2Houston.
Jaisen said the condition of METRO's buses will help show whether the investment pays off. The agency will also examine passenger and driver feedback and whether buses run on time.
The initial funding approval may not mark the end of the effort, as Jaisen anticipates further infrastructure spending.
METRO's reliance on city streets was part of Jaisen's defense of the decision, along with the agency's authority to fund the work.
"Everybody has a right to their opinion. I would argue that this is an outstanding use of METRO resources. We are authorized under state law to make these types of investments. It is the roadway by which we ride on."
Where can I learn more?
Fare proposals, service cuts, and road projects have drawn attention elsewhere in Texas.
• Austin's CapMetro is weighing its first fare hike in over a decade, potentially adding 75 cents.
• Austin's CapMetro has cut two peak-hour rail trips, leaving Red Line trains every 37 minutes.
• Texas residents want trails, housing, and coffee shops around a planned TEXRail station.
• Texas has unveiled a $138 billion transportation plan, including an overhaul of Montana Avenue.
• Near Houston, drivers face years of overlapping construction during the $186 million FM 518 widening.
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