Long-range transit plans: Houston
From the METRO Solutions website, the following projects are scheduled by approximately 2012:
- Nearly 30 miles of Light Rail Transit – In the North, East End, Southeast, Uptown and University Corridors;
- 28 Miles of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT) – along U.S. 290 from Cypress Park & Ride to Intermodal Facility and along U.S. 90A from Missouri City to Fannin South Park & Ride/Rail Station;
- 40 Miles of Signature Bus Service/Suburban Bus Rapid Transit – Southeast Transit Center to Texas Medical Center, Uptown to U.S. 90A CRT line, Gessner and Texas 249/Tidwell;
- 10 New Transit Facilities – Intermodal Facilities serving different transit modes (Commuter Rail, Light Rail, buses, etc.), Transit Centers and Park & Ride lots; and
- HOV/HOT Conversion – modify one-way, reversible High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to two-way High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.
From the H-GAC 2035 Regional Transportation Plan:
“The 2035 METRO Long Range Plan is an iterative process incorporating the 2025 METRO Solutions Plan and future mobility needs identified in regional planning efforts. METRO’s 2035 Long Range Plan recommends significant expansion of the current transit system and includes a network of integrated high capacity transit facilities on major travel corridors. This plan also identifies significant service expansions beyond the METRO service area. New improvements scheduled for implementation through the year 2035 include high occupancy tolls, a new intermodal terminal, a new park-n-ride facility in Cypress, and several new high capacity transit corridors throughout the region. Additional key elements of the METRO Solutions plan include:
- 89 miles of fixed guideway transit – [light rail]
- 84 miles of [commuter rail]
- 40 miles of Signature Bus”