HOUSTON — METRO has been awarded $1.2 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to plan for transit-oriented development (TOD) along the proposed Gulfton Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.
The funding will enable the creation of a strategy focused on enhancing mobility, housing, and community development in one of Houston’s most transit-dependent areas, a news release said.
A joint effort among METRO, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, the project aims to attract public and private investment and establish a community-supported vision for TOD. The initiative will also explore green infrastructure solutions to address urban heat and flooding, according to METRO officials.
“This is an exciting step toward Gulfton’s revitalization,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “This collaboration goes beyond improving transit access. Working together with all levels of government and community leaders, we are making meaningful upgrades that will make it easier for residents to go to work, enjoy recreational activities, and access essential services, all while attracting new resources and businesses to the area.”
According to the release, the grant is expected to fund the entire TOD planning process, including extensive community engagement, detailed station area analysis, and the creation of an overall strategy to guide the improvements in the Gulfton Corridor.
“Increasing and improving affordable housing near public transportation is especially crucial in Gulfton, where residents are five times more likely to ride transit than the average Houstonian. This grant will amplify and accelerate Harris County Precinct 4 work in this area, which has waited far too long for investment,” said Briones. “I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to advancing equity and promoting housing affordability, and I thank Chair Gonzalez Brock and Mayor Whitmire for their leadership and partnership in building the Gulfton that residents deserve.”
METRO detailed that effective TOD strategies leverage public transit to “enhance safety, drive neighborhood revitalization, boost economic growth, and improve environmental quality.”
Source: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
