CONROE / The Woodlands Large Urbanized Area

Eligible uses for FTA funds include planning, engineering design of transit projects, replacement of and improvements to buses, and construction of maintenance and passenger facilities, according to the FTA.

"The FTA will pay for a portion of the operating cost of, say, the park and rides in The Woodlands," township president Don Norrell said.

How is funding determined?

For the Conroe-The Woodlands UZA, which has a population of 239,938, the funding formula is based on a combination of bus revenue, vehicle miles, bus passenger miles and population density, according to the FTA. The UZA is overseen by a four-member committee, which includes township chairman Bruce Tough, Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, Oak Ridge North Mayor Jim Kuykendall, and city of Conroe councilman Guy Martin.

Who is responsible for transit?

According to the agreement, Conroe oversees transit north of FM 1488, while The Woodlands oversees transit in areas south of FM 1488. However, Norrell said neither The Woodlands nor Conroe is responsible for providing transit in their respective areas. Whichever entity asks for funding must first prove the need for transit services, he said.

How much money has the UZA received?

For the FTA FY 2013, the Conroe-The Woodlands UZA received $3,335,711. Of that amount, The Woodlands received $2.6 million, while Conroe received $646,000.

For the FTA FY 2014, the Conroe-The Woodlands UZA will receive $3,521,653. The FY 2014 money has yet to be allocated, Norrell said.