Voters Will Decide on $3.5 Billion Transit Funding Bond in Houston

"Metropolitan Transit Authority board members voted Tuesday to ask voters in November for permission to borrow up to $3.5 billion, without raising taxes," according to an article by Dug Begley.

"The item will be on the Nov. 5 ballot, the first vote for new transit projects in 16 years for the Houston region," adds Begley.

The bond proposition would enable Houston to move forward with the $7.5 billion METRONext Moving Forward transportation plan, revealed at the end of 2018. The plan calls for three light rail extensions, expanded use of bus rapid transit, and the construction of high-occupancy vehicle lanes on most of the city's freeways.

According to Begley, the plan is expected to shift Houston "from a car-focused city to a multimodal metro region."

Also according to Begley, the bond proposition hasn't yet encountered opposition, but politicians and business leaders are expected to stump for the plan to persuade voters to support the plan and the bond funding.