ADDITIONAL PARKING WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE AT POPULAR METRO PARK & RIDE LOT

Great news for the hundreds of commuters who use the South Point Park & Ride – more parking spaces are on the way.

This is particularly welcome news for Texas Medical Center riders who use the 297 South Point / Monroe route.

METRO’s Board of Directors approved a parking lot expansion project during its board meeting earlier this month. It calls for adding 150 new spots, and converting 240 temporary spaces, which were created in December 2008, to permanent spots. The construction also provides for improved infrastructure, including upgrading drainage and lighting.

“Reinvesting in our extensive bus system is one of our highest priorities and part of our effort to increase ridership and improve customer service,” said John Haley, vice president of infrastructure and service development at METRO. “Increasing customer parking spaces, along with acquiring 100 new buses for our fleet each year, is a customer-friendly way to serve key destinations like the TMC.”

The South Point Park & Ride currently offers 376 permanent parking spots. The build-out is expected to be completed in the spring, and will bring the total number of permanent parking spaces to 766.