Which Houston Metro Board Members Actually Use Transit?

A review of board members' Q Cards reveals the extent to which the people who implement Houston's transit policy actually use the system: some quite a bit, some not so much.

1 minute read

November 20, 2019, 2:00 PM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Houston MTA

Lise Photography / Shutterstock

Following Houston voters' approval of a $3.5 billion transit bond measure, "riders have said it is critical leaders know what sort of improvements need to be built. The best way to do that, some say, is for [Metro] board members to experience it," Dug Begley writes. 

But a Houston Chronicle review of Metropolitan Transit Authority board members' agency-issued Q cards reveals that some of the folks in charge aren't regular transit riders. The review "shows three Metro board members did not ride a single bus or train between Jan. 1, 2018, and Aug. 31, 2019. Other members were mixed, with some taking a handful of trips while others with different commuting locations and habits hop aboard frequently."

Sanjay Ramabhadran, one of the board members who logged the most trips, said that using the system is "an important determinant—but not the only one—board members should use" in making decisions, Begley reports. "We all bring different strengths to the board," Ramabhadran said. "Some of them might be riding the system, some of that might be financial or engineering."

Begley's write-up gives some background on each of Houston Metro's board members and outlines how often they use the system, as well as which parts of the system they tend to frequent.

Monday, November 11, 2019 in The Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

40 minutes ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

59 minutes ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

3 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA