Houston, Texas/Regional Bus Plan

Regional Bus Plan

Houston, Texas

(November 1999)

(click here for map)

Houston Metro's Regional Bus Plan (RBP) is a package of improvements to its bus system. The $625 million project includes new and extended high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities and ramps, several transit centers and park & ride lots, bus acquisitions, bus service expansion, and supporting facilities. Houston’s Metro has pledged an additional $375.0 million in locally funded bus improvements, bringing the total value of the bus improvement package to $1.0 billion.

In December 1994, FTA and Houston Metro signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for $500 million (80 percent) in section 5309 new starts funds and 20 percent in local resources. TEA-21 Section 3030(a)(30) authorizes the Houston Regional Bus Plan—Phase I for final design and construction. Houston is currently in the implementation phase of the Regional Bus Plan. All bus elements in the FFGA are now expected to be completed by December 2004.

Houston has proposed an amendment to the FFGA which would change the scope of the project. Some bus elements of the project would be changed (additions, deletions, modifications) while Houston Metro may ultimately seek to include the final design and construction of the Downtown to Astrodome LRT project in the scope of the FFGA. None of the proposed scope changes would affect the Federal commitment to the FFGA ($500.0 million), of which $10.74 million remains to be appropriated. Through FY 2000, Houston Metro has received $489.26 million in Section 5309 New Starts funds for the project.