METRO Public Hearings

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO), will hold a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12 p.m. to receive public comment on its proposed June 2021 changes to METRO service. The public hearing w ill be held by telephone and video conference call on the Zoom virtual meeting platform.

The public may join the virtual hearing on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84898063394 or by calling: 346-248-7799 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free), Meeting ID: 848 9806 3394. Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments during the public hearing. Or visit the livestream of the virtual meeting. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived.

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 will only be conducted virtually.

The proposed service changes include:
Route Realignments to Routes 32, 45, & 46; Schedule Changes to Routes 4, 6, 8, 25, 32, 45, 46, 54, 80, 82, 88, 96, 209, 219, 229, 236, 249, 259, 269, 291 & 433. METRO will continue to make temporary schedule adjustments in response to social distancing and workforce availability.

Copies of proposed route maps and available timetables will be available beginning on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 for public review on-line, and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building, located at 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)

 

How to Comment

It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments register as a public speaker with the METRO Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Interested participants can call 713-739-4834 or email boardoffice@RideMETRO.org and provide their name, address and telephone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments. Alternatively, you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers, by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online, or by pressing *9, if joining by telephone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute. After an unregistered speaker’s name or number is recognized, their microphone will be unmuted and they will be asked to provide their comments.

You may also provide comments by:

• Writing to us at METRO,
  ATTN: June 2021 Service Change
  1900 Main Street
  Houston, TX 77002
  
• Faxing comments with a subject line referencing “June 2021 Service Change” to 713-652-7956;
  
• Calling METRO’s Customer Service at 713-635-4000;
  
• Submitting comments on METRO’s website

All comments should be received by METRO by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is holding a virtual public hearing to receive public comments on its State Performance Audit for Fiscal Years 2016 through 2019. The audit will be presented during the public hearing held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021 by phone and video conference call on the Zoom virtual meeting platform.

The public may join the virtual hearing on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85198217272 Meeting ID: 851 9821 7272 or by dialing the phone: 346-248-7799 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free). Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments during the public hearing. Otherwise, you may view a livestream of the virtual hearing. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived on this page.

Two options for viewing doument:

1. Download the State Performance Audit & METRO Management Responses PDF.
2. Visit the METRO RideStore in person to review the printed version (NOTE: This copy is not for pick up.) Located:
   Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building
   1900 Main Street
   Houston, Texas 77002.

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 will only be conducted virtually.

 

Process For Providing Public Comments

It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments register as a public speaker with METRO’s Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to boardoffice@ridemetro.org, and providing their name, address and phone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments.

Alternatively, you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online or by pressing *9 if joining by phone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute.

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.