What we reported In September, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County presented its preliminary METRONext plan for $3 billion worth of improvements to the public transit system through 2040, including adding van pool lots in Springwoods Village and an I-45 express bus. The latest METRO plans to share its draft plan with the community early 2019 and has tentatively scheduled the next round of public meetings to begin late January, METRO’s Media Director Tracy Jackson said. METRO is still aiming for a November bond referendum that would fund METRONext projects, she said.