Houston has created faster and more efficient light rail and bus lines that better connect the growing city.
The Challenge
Houston’s population has been rising steadily for years, and it currently stands as the fourth largest city in the USA. At the same time, the sprawling city has notoriously been a haven for cars. Houston now operates the third-busiest light rail line in the USA, proving that committed city leadership can overcome historical and geographic challenges.
The Solution
In 2015, Texas’s largest city overhauled its transportation system, aiming to boost ridership, ease traffic congestion, and expand residents’ mobility options. Two cornerstones of the overhaul are the improved light rail and bus systems. The opening of two new light rail lines brought the total system length to 36.5 km, and the New Bus Network more than doubles the number of people with access to frequent (every 15 minutes or less) bus service to 1.1 million.
The improvements acknowledge that Houstonians’ living and working patterns have changed over time, and that residents require access to all areas of the city – not just the downtown core – at all times of the day and week. The New Bus Network’s routes address this issue by connecting the city in a grid pattern, rather than the radial system it had operated on for decades. The percentage of riders served by frequent service has jumped from 25% to 75%, and every bus route now operates seven days a week.
Social Benefits – Making the system work for citizens, the new bus system will ensure that 58% of trips between 30 key destinations are at least 10 minutes faster than before. Additionally, 94% of riders can board at their usual bus stop.
Economic Benefits – The improved frequency of service can boost economic development opportunities by connecting 1 million people to an equal number of jobs throughout Houston.
Health Benefits – Five hundred and eighty trees were planted along the two new light rail lines, improving air quality and the aesthetic appeal of the area.
About Cities100
Presented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Sustainia and Realdania – Cities100 showcases leading solutions to urban climate challenges in ten sectors, ranging from solid waste management to transportation.
Available online and in print, Cities100 provides stakeholders an accessible format to explore achievable solutions for climate action in cities, and will be a useful tool for relevant groups ranging from impact investors and development organizations, to mayors and city governments. You can access the full Cities100 2015 publication online here.
- Benefits
- Economic
- Health
- Social
- Key Impact
- 90,000 metric tons of CO2 are expected to be reduced due to increased bus ridership