Light Rail Success Story for Houston's Red Line

Dug Begley sets the context for the early positive reviews and ridership for Houston's Red Line light rail, which opened six months ago: "Nearly six months since trains began rumbling north of the central business district along Main and Fulton on the north side, residents and community leaders said the Red Line is becoming a valued part of the neighborhood and a critical link for many transit travelers, even as it contributes to record-setting use of Metro's light rail system."

And some hard evidence of the success of the line: "After adding 5.3 miles of track from the University of Houston-Downtown to Northline Commons outside Loop 610, the Red Line posted more trips for the first three months of 2014 than in any three-month period in the light rail system's history. Based on ridership data compiled by the American Public Transit Association, more than 3.5 million trips were logged on the Red Line from January to March."

In detailing the city's evolving relationship with transit, Begley also discusses the line's impact on the city's bus system and the predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods the new light rail line serves.