The Woodlands Township is considering options to improve its park and ride program, including purchasing new buses and amending the bus routes offered at the three locations throughout The Woodlands.

Among the options the township is considering is applying for $10 million in bond money and another $10 million in grant money to purchase 40 new buses.

Township President Don Norrell said the township has projected a need for as many as 40 new buses at a cost of $500,000 each. Under the plan, the township would apply for $10 million in grant funding the Houston-Galveston Area Council will make available in June.

"[HGAC's] plan is to accept applications and, if necessary, they will fund 50 percent of bus costs over a 3-year period," Norrell said.

The buses that are currently used are owned by the Brazos Transit District.

Norrell said the township would not be required to hold a bond election for the purchases.

The township currently contracts with the Brazos Transit District to provide park and ride services at Sterling Ridge, Sawdust Road and Research Forest. Under a 2012 Census designation that named The Woodlands and Conroe as a large urban area, The Woodlands is required to take ownership of its park and ride program. Over the next year and a half, BTD and the township will use leftover grant money to pay for the park and ride program, but Norrell said that money likely would run out in 2014.

"This is such a big deal that it's going to have a huge impact on us," said Bruce Tough, chairman of the township board of directors.

Meanwhile, the township is also analyzing the routes currently provided by the three park and rides to determine if they could be better used.