Transportation
BY RACHEL LELAND, JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO
Pearland looks at new public transit options Pearland City Council received the draft of a study that assesses the city’s need for public transportation at its Jan. 27 meeting. The study, done in partnership with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, or H GAC, dates back to 2022 and includes recommendations for what types of public transportation the city should consider building. What happened Currently, there are two public transit services operating in Pearland, according to the study. Those are the Harris County Rides program for seniors, and METROStar, which is for commuter vanpooling. At the meeting, the H GAC laid out public transit options Pearland could pursue, such as an on-demand transit service paid for by the city and federal grants.
Alvin ISD to replace 10 buses with new grant Alvin ISD received a grant totaling more than $1 million from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a number of new buses. The grant was presented at Alvin ISD’s Feb. 11 board meeting. The full story The new funding is part of the state’s Energy Friendly Bus Grant, which is part of a broader e ort by the state to reduce emissions, according to the commission’s website. The grant will total around $1.2 million and help the district replace 10 of its buses, AISD Chief Communications O cer Renae Rives said. Those current buses are diesel engines and will be replaced with propane buses, Rives con rmed March 10.
Public transit in Pearland
56% of those surveyed favor public transit in Pearland
$36K is the city’s annual cost for 3,000 trips through Harris County Rides
71,000+ commuters in Pearland
$76K-$480K estimated annual local share cost for various service options
SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
“As a concept, I struggle with this a little bit. … I’m not a huge fan of doing anything that requires federal help.” CLINT BYROM, PEARLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
H GAC to make project recommendations for FM 518 After more than a year of studying the corridor, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, or H GAC, is expected to bring recommendations to upgrade a portion of FM 518 to Pearland City Council in April. The background H GAC wrapped up its study of FM 518 in told Community Impact in a Feb. 24 email. The goals of the upcoming project include improving safety, maintaining the road, and
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moving people and goods more e ciently, among other goals, according to the project’s website. Also of note The study dates back to 2023 and ran through the end of 2024, documents show.
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Pearland from McLean Road to Edgewood Drive at the end of 2024, Principal Planner Carlene Mullins
Friendswood
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