Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

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**METRO**

Locale	Houston, Texas
Transit type	Bus, light rail
Began operation	1979
No. of lines	130
Operator	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

A group of METRO buses parked at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) operates bus, lift bus, and light rail service in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston. METRO also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County.

METRO was created following voter approval of a referendum in 1978; the agency began operation in 1979, taking over the bus service run by the City of Houston known as HouTran. METRO's service area encompasses 1,285 square miles (3328 km²); the agency employs about 3,800 people.

The agency has been criticized in recent years for administrative inefficiency, budgetary waste, and what critics contend is a poor design of its light rail system. METRO's former CEO Shirley DeLibero was involved in an agency scandal in 2000 involving a falsified résumé and improper use of an agency-owned vehicle.

A METRORail train approaching a station in Downtown Houston

METRO's light rail service is known as METRORail. Frank Wilson is the current president of METRO.

In June of 2005, METRO announced a revised plan for expansion of the METRORail system. The plan includes four new corridors, consisting of both light rail and bus rapid transit. The bus rapid transit lines will later be converted into light rail when ridership validates the conversion, as light rail cars are extremely similar to but more expensive than those used in bus rapid transit. The revisions caused controversy among many Houstonians, as it is not what voters had approved. The plan was revised to receive more and very vital federal funding. The plan should be fully implemented by 2012 and consists of 97 miles of rapid transit, costing more than $1.3 billion.

In the fall of 2006, METRO revealed plans to rework their fare system in the face of flagging ridership. Their proposed new plan involves the elimination of the popular transfer passes, which allow the commuter to use multiple bus routes at no additional cost. Additionally, special discounted passes for students and the elderly and handicapped will be eliminated. The new system will involve convenient debit cards that must be recharged at METRO stores.