Skip to main content

METRO Begins Public Campaign for Latest Plan This Weekend

Published Jan 23, 2019 by Tess Cook

Carrin Patman at State of Metro

America's 4th largest city added nearly a million residents to its population in the last seven years, so if you're feeling a bit cramped, chances are you are not alone. And because growth seems to show no signs of slowing down, aggressive investment in infrastructure and public transportation is essential for our region.

This weekend METRO Houston begins meeting with the public on their newly released METRONEXT Moving Forward Plan. These meetings precede an expected November bond election where voters will be asked to approve bonding to help fund projects spanning 20 years. The bond amount is still to be determined by METRO's Board. A portion of the funding is anticipated to come from federal sources. The total price of the current draft transit plan is $7.5 billion.

The plan is "aggressive but feasible" said Chairwoman Carrin Patman to local lawmakers and engineers at the Partnership's State of Metro event in December. The new transit plan will be presented to Houstonians in 17 public meetings before the proposal is voted on in November 2019 alongside the mayoral election. 

Highlights from the plan include upgrades for those traveling to the airport. One out of four new light rail extensions will connect to Hobby Airport, and one of the five new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems will expedite trips to Bush International Airport. The proposal also prioritizes the creation of two-way HOV lanes to increase Park and Ride efficiencies and limit stoppage time caused by HOV lane accidents. To learn more about how this plan affects you or your community, attend one of the 17 planned public meetings or visit http://metronext.org for more information.

METRO Houston revealed the METRONEXT Moving Forward Plan at the recent State of Metro event following two years of stakeholder meetings and revisions.

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Region Asserts Biotech Excellence at BIO International Convention

6/25/25
The Greater Houston Partnership and regional partners showcased Houston’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston. As the premier annual biotechnology conference in the United States, BIO 2025 drew nearly 20,000 global attendees, offering a powerful platform to highlight the region’s momentum, innovation, and growing opportunities in the sector.    BioHouston, Galveston EDP, Partnership Lake Houston, Pearland EDC, the Sugar Land Office of Economic Development and Tourism and The Woodlands EDP presented the many assets and unique benefits the region offers to biotechnology companies from startup to full-scale, including 8 million square feet of life sciences space, strategic workforce and educational initiatives, as well as an overall favorable approach to incentives and permitting.    "Working alongside the different members of our region and telling the story of the amazing product that Greater Houston has to offer is invigorating," Galveston EDP Executive Director Joshua Owens said. "Being able to showcase our ecosystem to a worldwide audience is an exceptional step toward creating opportunities for the people of Houston."    Recent wins, such as Bionova Scientific's move to The Woodlands and United Therapeutics’ move to Generation Park, serve as testaments to the variety of options for life science businesses in our region. With pronounced capabilities in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, life sciences companies of all kinds can find a welcoming home in the Houston region.    To learn more about our life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem, visit our life sciences page. 
Read More
Digital Technology

Houston Advances Global Growth Strategy at VivaTech 2025

6/17/25
As Houston continues to expand its role as a global center for innovation and investment, the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University led a strategic trade mission to Paris, France, to elevate the region’s presence at Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2025, the largest technology and innovation summit in Europe.  With 180,000 international attendees, VivaTech offered direct access to global business leaders, policymakers and investors exploring high-growth markets. Houston’s activation sparked opportunities for potential partnerships and drew attention from notable leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Vanessa Wyche, Acting Administrator of NASA.   “They see Houston as one of the cities of the future, and they’re backing that up with their resources and attention,” stated John Cypher, the Partnership’s Vice President of International Investment and Trade. “We saw a lot of potential for partnerships that could bring more international startups to Houston and connect founders to new European markets.”  Beyond VivaTech, the delegation met with key players in France’s innovation and finance sectors, including Banque Publique d’Investissement France, Mouvement des Entreprises de France, and Station F.   The week-long trade mission also highlighted Houston’s global academic leadership with a guided visit to Rice University’s Global Paris Center, the university’s first international campus. “It’s a remarkable moment where Rice shows the world that we are an entrepreneurial-, science- and engineering-based tech accelerator,” said Caroline Levander, Rice’s Vice President for Global Strategy. The center represents a broader vision to connect Houston’s educational and entrepreneurial resources to Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The mission culminated with a reception at the former embassy of the Republic of Texas, celebrating the enduring ties between Texas and France and reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and growth.   Houston’s role at VivaTech 2025 highlights the city’s innovation and role as a major hub for foreign direct investment. Strengthening international business ties remains a significant part of our growing economy and a way to spur further investment and advance innovation for our region.   Learn more about Houston’s growing role in the global economy.  
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners