At the Feb. 26 The Woodlands Township meeting, board members approved $2 round-trip fare increases and two additional daily runs for The Woodlands Express Park and Ride program. The Woodlands Express provides commuter service to the Texas Medical Center, Greenway Plaza, Energy Corridor and the Central Business District of Houston.
The background
Ruthanne Haut, director of transportation for The Woodlands Township, proposed a $2 increase for round-trip tickets on The Woodlands Express. She also requested two additional mid-day runs from Downtown Houston to be added to the service.
She said there was a 14% increase in ridership last year compared to 2024. The trend is also apparent in a 22% increase in ridership during January every year.
ZIP code data for areas that use the service show The Woodlands residents make up the majority of riders, representing 55% to 60% of riders overall, Haut said. Sterling Ridge has the highest residential ridership at 80%, she said.
What we know
This increase would raise fares from $15 to $17, and it will go into effect April 1. The township will also collect approximately $300,000 in additional fare revenue over 12 months as a result of the change, she said.
The last time fares increased was in April 2024.
What they’re saying
The addition of two runs will also help family members who are leaving the office to return home earlier in the day than before, Haut said.
“There are so many families who would like to take the bus, but they don’t have the flexibility ... I think your attention to that particular mid-day return and 3 p.m. return will make it a lot more comfortable for parents of children to be able to come home in case they need to,” board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said.
What else?
The board also discussed bus funding and changes in bus wrap design. Haut said the transportation system should get its new trolley and bus fleet this year.
The board approved using in-house design to create wraps for 14 buses in the current fleet. However, the board decided to continue the discussion about the costs after consulting with Visit The Woodlands.
