METRO VOLUNTEER ADOPTS ALL INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AREA BUS STOPS / SHELTERS TO HELP KEEP COMMUNITY SAFE
November 6, 2008
One Houstonian is rolling up his sleeves and making a big difference, with METRO’s help, in the Independence Heights community.
John Branch wanted to revitalize what he describes as his once drug-ridden community, so he decided to participate in METRO’s successful Adopt-a-Stop/Shelter program.
Through METRO’s Adopt-a-Stop program, METRO police and community volunteers work together to fight vandalism and suspicious or criminal activity. The program works by providing volunteers with trash bags to help clean the bus stops or passenger shelters, reducing the chance for illegal activity. Volunteers can also make improvements to the area such as planting flowers.
“We’ve been having a lot of things going on at the bus shelters, so we’re watching the shelters,” said Branch. “We’re keeping the shelters clean so tax-paying citizens who paid for these shelters can utilize them.”
In March, Branch adopted all 55 METRO bus stops/shelters in Independence Heights, and he also voluntarily cleans the agency’s Northline Transit Center in the area.
“This partnership has been a great crime-fighting tool,” said METRO Police Captain Michael Raney. “Adoptees of the shelters have been very active in reporting crimes at the shelters.”
