METRONow

Safety is METRO's number one priority for our customers, employees and the public. To safeguard such a large area that's over 1,300 square miles, a comprehensive approach to safety and security is needed.

We are:

• Devoting an additional $7M for security resources and are actively coordinating METRO Police Department's efforts with Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff's Office, Harris County Constable's Office, and other law enforcement agencies to approach security as a unified front
• Dedicating METRO Police and security patrols on board buses and trains
• Growing our security presence by adding new officers and METRO Police Department (MPD) substations
• Adding text capability to MPD main phone line
• Utilizing drone technology
• Replacing and upgrading security cameras across the system with the installation of more than 500 safety devices and $2.7M in dedicated budget
• Installing new lighting and security fencing near rail platforms at the Northline and Wheeler Transit Centers

We're working with community partners to address off-system issues that negatively impact the use of public transit, and dedicating $2.4M in fiscal year 2025 to increase daily cleaning frequency across the system.

We have a plan in place to:

• Clean buses and trains daily
• Institute spot checks to remove litter on trains at the end of each line
• Purchase eight street sweeper vehicles to clean areas where METRO buses run
• Refurbish trains and remove vehicle wraps to improve safety and visibility
• Deploy a 24-hour rapid response team to attend to our bus stops, rail platforms, transit centers and Park & Rides to address issues quickly and efficiently
• Incorporate cleaning contracts to reflect a greater emphasis on internal quality control checks in the field
• Dedicate resources for peripheral upkeep, like power washing and painting to help improve the appearance of our facilities
• Provide better and more consistent landscaping across the system

Many factors contribute to improving on-time performance and mobility across the system for a positive customer experience. These measures include:

• Repairing sidewalks, crosswalks, streets and roads
• Upgrading METRO facilities and stops for easy access
• Partnering on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP)
• Coordinating traffic signal efficiency and modernization
• Investing in mobility solutions at railroad crossings
• Implementing service changes three times per year to improve the customer experience

Transit service works when it meets customers schedules. To do so, we're improving frequency on high-demand routes. Additional measures being taken include:

• Bolstering our fleet with 350 new buses
• Replacing 100 METROLift paratransit vehicles
• Restructuring routes and restoring pre-pandemic service as needed
• Expanding METRO curb2curb service
• Reviewing necessary service modifications
• Evaluating locations where Park & Ride facilities are needed

We are excited to add microtransit services to our METRO family of services. Microtransit is on-demand transportation that allows riders to travel at a moment's notice. Microtransit bridges the gap between the "first and last mile" of a customer's journey by connecting them to our fixed-route service or to a destination where access to transit is challenging. METRO is investing $10M in microtransit options for fiscal year 2025.

Through a partnership with the City of Houston, METRO is supporting Evolve Houston in providing free, climate-friendly electric vehicle service in downtown, Second and Third Ward. With an easy-to-use app, customers can request a quick trip to places like grocery stores and pharmacies or connect with a METRO bus route for FREE. It's a community-driven service created to improve quality of life and provide greater access to resources.

Downtown, Second and Third Ward are just our first stops. Stay tuned for enhanced microtransit services throughout the region.

METRO understands the importance of being a good financial steward, and is acutely aware that more can be accomplished if all levels of government work together. METRO is committed to partnering with government agencies and community stakeholders to build infrastructure projects in an efficient and fiscally sound manner.

METRO is proud to partner with Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones on a revitalization effort in Gulfton*.

This comprehensive project will include:

• Upgraded sidewalks and roadways
• Additional bus shelters
• Brighter lighting
• More efficient drainage and ecological improvements to outdoor public spaces through nature-based solutions
• New high-capacity transit

*Pending METRO Board approval

We know that creating a positive customer experience is essential to making public transit a service people choose to use. Our goal is to make interactions with METRO easy, helpful and informative.

In 2025, we'll be:

• Extending the hours of our Customer Contact Center which you can reach by phone or text message
• Investing $39.6M to deliver a new easy-to-pay, fare system
• Consolidating our apps to include mobile ticketing, trip planning, customer comments and more
• Prioritizing helping customers use the system through improved signage, maps at transit stops and prominently displaying information in multiple languages

The Houston region is diverse and requires a tailored focus to deliver transit service that works.

METRO celebrates its vital role in one of the most diverse regions in the U.S. At least 145 languages are spoken here and we’re providing multilingual communications throughout the system in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic.

We actively seek community partnership and media opportunities to bring important information to the public in a variety of languages. This includes our new partnership with Radio Saigon and workforce campaigns with Univision and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.