METRO celebrates 42 years of making Houston 'accessible to all'

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County celebrated its 42nd anniversary on Aug. 12.

Providing Houstonians with affordable public transportation since 1979, METRO's progress started after Houston-area voters created the transportation project by approving a one-cent sales tax to support the bus operations, METRO reported.

"Today in 1978, voters approved @METROHouston and our city's public transit as we know it today was established! I'm grateful for our partnership toward our shared goal: Making this city accessible to all," U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) said in an Aug. 12 tweet.

METRO reports that in 1973, the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of local transit authorities. Five years later, Houston-area voters approved the creation of METRO and a one-cent sales tax to support its operations.

Click2Houston reports that METRO has acquired a fleet of green buses in an effort to improve air quality.

“Houston has some of the worst air in the country," Director of the Texas Public Interest Research Group Bay Scoogin said, Click2Houston reported. "So, that alone is a big enough reason to celebrate transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles."

The fares for the electric buses will remain the same as the buses that are non-electric, according to Click2Houston.

"By switching to these electric vehicles, METRO is going to save money over the lifetime of the bus,” Scoogin said, according to METRO. "Simply because of how they’re made: less parts, less maintenance and less money."

Click2Houston reported that "It is METRO’s expectation the newly manufactured buses will offer riders a state-of-the-art riding experience that meets our commitment to providing customers safe, clean, reliable, accessible and friendly public transportation. Features such as accessibility, style, comfort and capacity will all be considered when we are evaluating the vehicles during the bidding process. The environmental benefit is really the most exciting feature. In Houston, more than 1,000 transit buses drive tens of thousands of miles every year and are powered by diesel – fossil fuel that is proven to increase greenhouse gas emissions and breathing issues for humans."