Mild rail riders are experiencing delays alongside the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) Crimson Line after changes to the timing of site visitors lights.
Since its launch in 2004, METRORail trains have used a system referred to as site visitors sign preemption to enhance journey instances and encourage ridership. As a prepare approaches a crimson gentle, the sign modifications, permitting the prepare to move via easily.
That’s not the case for METRO’s Crimson Line. Now, slightly than receiving sign precedence, trains should cease incessantly at intersections to permit automobiles to move in entrance.
The sign change was applied final month, and Metro has warned riders to arrange for delays.
“These efforts have already produced measurable enhancements for our bus riders, commuters, and alongside crosswalks,” a METRO spokesperson stated through a press release. “On the identical time, they’ve launched some challenges for our rail system, which we’re actively addressing.”
Nevertheless, some METRO commuters, like David Kobrin, stated it has affected how they use public transit. Kobrin, who makes use of each the METRORail and a automobile to journey downtown, stated the brand new site visitors sign system has tradeoffs.
“I’ve observed it not solely on the rail, however I’ve additionally observed it on my drive in, which is nice,” he stated. “And two days in a row, I’ve made all of it the way in which with out stopping. That is by no means occurred. In order that was superior, however now that I am on the prepare, it truly is sluggish.”
Peter Eccles, the director of coverage and planning at LINK Houston — a neighborhood transportation advocacy group — stated he and others have urged Metro to rethink the modifications.
“These modifications are inflicting round a 10-minute delay for the 34,000 riders that the Crimson Line delivers every weekday,” he stated. “That is about 5,000 hours of wasted time for passengers. Metro can repair this right this moment by turning site visitors sign precedence again on.”
The modifications come as METRO retimes greater than 400 site visitors lights in downtown and midtown because it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To boost consciousness concerning the new delays, LINK Houston organized a morning rush hour race on Thursday between pedestrians and the METRO Crimson Line throughout seven downtown blocks.
Whereas the sunshine rail narrowly beat the pedestrians, race participant Robert Grobe stated that the Crimson Line being solely barely sooner than strolling nonetheless proved some extent.
“It’s been found out time and time once more that mass transit is important for a significant metropolis to operate correctly. And we consider that prioritizing mass transit is an answer that the town must put money into. And plenty of us are dismayed to see each Metropolis of Houston and Metro deprioritizing public transit.”
Tom Perumean contributed to this text.
