Why Houston’s transit system is so bad

Editor’s note: This story was a sidebar in HoustoniaThe Summer 2024 cover package, “Welcome to Boomtown.”

If you have never had to use public transportation in Houston, consider yourself lucky. The struggle is real for those who depend on it day in and day out, something I have experienced personally while trying to navigate its labyrinthine web. For someone who returned to Houston without a vehicle almost a year ago, finding reliable, affordable transportation seemed like an oxymoronic dream. Why is it so difficult to get around the city without a car? Texas as a whole has historically prioritized building more highways over investing in mass transit infrastructure. The metro budget for 2024 is $1.6 billion, which is quite minimal compared to the metro in a major city like Los Angeles, which has a budget of $9 billion for 2024.

As the Houston area’s population continues to grow and its borders expand, the pressure only grows. A Metro report also found that in February, local bus ridership increased 23 percent from last year, to 4.6 million. Houstonians who take these routes could benefit from a more efficient system.

Then there is the question of accessibility. Knowing beforehand how to access the bus system is practically a prerequisite for using it effectively. Unlike some large cities where public transportation information is readily available, Houston’s system is shrouded in obscurity: lack of information on how to purchase tickets, little to no staff presence, and a scheduling app that feels more like a cryptic puzzle than a user-friendly one. friendly guide. Safety is also a concern. According to Houston ChronicleThere were 363 reported assaults on Metro vehicles and property last year, a marked increase from the 291 reported the year before.

Although public transportation is already difficult to access for people inside the Loop, for those of us living in the city’s sprawling suburbs, these challenges are magnified tenfold. Case in point: the closest Park and Ride subway station is a 20-minute drive from my suburb of Pearland. Just after returning to the city last summer, I quickly saw the consequences of a poor, car-dependent transportation system. 30 minutes by car from HoustoniaThe Midtown office would take hours by bus or train, and when you’re without a vehicle, it becomes a choice between a tedious trip or racking up bills from ride-sharing services. The reality is that not everyone has access to a vehicle or can afford the increasing costs of owning a vehicle.

Houston’s transit system has the potential to be a vital aid to the city’s continued growth. But without significant investments in infrastructure, accessibility and user experience, it will still fail to meet the needs of an exploding population.