METRO Public Hearings

The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO), held a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 12 Noon to receive public comment on its proposed January 2021 changes to METRO service. The public hearing was held by telephone and video conference call on the Zoom virtual meeting platform.

View archived meeting video and agenda >>

Based on the current guidance from public health officials recommending the limitation of in-person public meetings to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, the public hearing was conducted virtually. The proposed service changes include: Route realignments to routes 56, 66, & 89; schedule changes to routes 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 25, 26, 27, 28, 40, 45, 47, 50, 54, 56, 65, 66, 68, 73, 82, 86, 88, 89, 96, 99, 108, 137, 151, 402, 418, all Park & Ride corridors, and METRORail Red, Green, and Purple Lines; and the discontinuation of routes 412 & 413. METRO will continue to make temporary schedule adjustments in response to social distancing and workforce availability.

Copies of proposed route maps and timetables were made available beginning on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 for public review online, and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore, located in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building, 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

Download brochure PDFs in multiple languages

Service Changes brochure (English / Spanish)
Service Changes brochure (Vietnamese / Chinese)

Book of Service Changes (English PDF)

On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. On April 2, 2020 the Federal Transit Administration announced the CARES Act Section 5307 Apportionment to the Houston UZA in the amount of $258,569,336.

At its April 23, 2020 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) approved the CARES Act Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Funds.

On April 29, 2020 METRO sub-allocated the CARES Act funding as follows:

Harris County: $4,200,000
Fort Bend County: $4,742,243
Gulf Coast Center: $791,867
METRO: $248,835,226
Total: $258,569,336

Further information may be obtained by contacting Albert Lyne, METRO Director of Grant Programs, at 713-739-4697 or al21@ridemetro.org.

Download PDFs in multiple languages

Split Letter CARES Act (English)
CARES Act (Spanish)
CARES Act (Vietnamese)
CARES Act (Chinese)

For individuals with special needs, assistive services or copies of public documents in an alternate format can be provided. Individuals with impairments may call 713-750-4271 a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the public hearing.

Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. Request for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4018, or via email at METROPublicAffairs@RideMETRO.org at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

1. This Public Hearing conforms to requirements described in the Federal Transit Administration’s Circular 9030.1E, published January 16, 2014, page VI-7.
2. METRO does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or in treatment or employment in, its services, programs, and activities.
   
3. METRO is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.