Local buses, rail part of residents' transit vision

Residents in northwest Harris County are looking for transportation connections, and a visioning process under way by Metropolitan Transit Authority could be a way to provide them.

Take FM 1960, for example. The roadway between Texas 249 and Interstate 45 is congested enough that David Kennison said he and his neighbors try to avoid it. There's no place for pedestrians or bicyclists; so walking to reach businesses there isn't practical, he said.

Kennison and his daughter, Megan, think more local buses and sidewalks could connect neighborhoods near the corridor to existing bus service that crisscrosses it. Someone else has suggested a shuttle or trolley.

Others who live and work in the region hope Metro can go even further. Their suggestions would use commuter rail to connect communities as far north as Tomball with downtown Houston, or provide a "quick line" signature bus service along Texas 6 south to the Energy Corridor, which would have fewer stops and save time. Residents here also want quick, convenient routes to other destinations in Houston.

In all, 18 people attended Metro's 15th visioning workshop on June 14 at Lone Star Community College's University Park to help the transit provider examine existing service in the region and map where changes or new service are needed.

The workshops, driven in part by projected growth in multiple employment centers in Greater Houston through 2040, conclude next week with sessions in Humble, Missouri City, Houston and Clear Lake. More than 230 people have participated.

The northwest region outside Beltway 8 has bus service from Park & Ride facilities along U.S. 290, Texas 249 and Interstate 45. Local buses link the FM 1960 area to other transit options in Acres Homes.

Metro's aim is to find "a total transit picture" for Harris County, one that can operate as a seamless system using a range of transit options.

"We're in the business of providing the most useful mode of moving people from corridor to corridor," Metro President and CEO George Greanias said. "The point is we're looking for whatever works."

Barbara Thomason, president of the Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, said rail is at the forefront of community conversations.

"This week was an immersion course in rail," she said, listing the Metro workshop and meetings of the Gulf Coast Rail District, the North Houston Corridor Coalition and a recent program about a private venture to bring high-speed rail through the area.

"I have never heard and seen so much on rail in one week, and it was purely serendipitous. It wasn't planned," Thomason said.

Rail alignments have been contemplated along Texas 249, U.S. 290 and I-45, she said.

"Texas 249 is a very hot corridor, and I don't mean that temperature wise," Thomason said. "We hope rail would further influence development there, but we have a lot to learn because there are features that could inhibit growth; so we need to be careful."

"Texas 249 is a very hot corridor, and I don't mean that temperature wise," Thomason said. "We hope rail would further influence development there, but we have a lot to learn because there are features that could inhibit growth; so we need to be careful."

The Texas Department of Transportation has received $15 million in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail funds from the Federal Railroad Administration for preliminary engineering and environmental studies for a proposed Dallas/Fort Worth to Houston High Speed Rail Line, which would connect two of the nation's most populated metropolitan areas. Proposed speeds would be up to 150 mph. This project was identified as a priority corridor in the Texas Rail Plan.

Other ideas suggested at the Metro workshop include adding a crosstown bus that parallels Louetta from Texas 249 to Old Town Spring and a lane on I-45 for high-occupancy vehicles to travel from the Spring Park & Ride to the new ExxonMobil campus.

Residents also want Metro to look for connections for pedestrians and cyclists, especially as the Cypress Creek Greenway expands.

"Some recurring themes I've heard and seen, particularly south of FM 1960, is the need for more east-west roads," Thomason said. "That might not be a Metro issue, but I've heard that from several sources. It would allow some of our busier thoroughfares to be relieved."

Thomason said the chamber wants what businesses want, and hopefully that will be borne out through the Metro workshops.

"It's an important part of the process for people to speak now. It's sort of time to speak up or shut up," said Thomason.

robin.foster@chron.com