Energy Corridor commuter program from The Woodlands performing below expectations as of mid-2022

The Woodlands Township’s pilot program for a park and ride route to the Energy Corridor District has not attracted the projected ridership, six months into the program that launched in January.

The program had gained momentum in 2020, but did not launch until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said. The program is 80% funded through a Congestion Management and Air Quality grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, and the township and the Energy Corridor District share funding for the remaining 20%, or $60,583 for the township’s share annually, according to township information.

Initial projections indicated about 135 riders per day were expected, but as of June, the program had six departures per day, 726 riders per month and an average of 33 riders per day, according to Ruthanne Haut, the township’s director of transportation. While that increased from an initial ridership of 12 per day in January, hybrid or work-from-home arrangements from the COVID-19 pandemic had made the ridership more difficult to predict, Haut said. As a result, fare recovery was lower than expected, and the township was expected to expend its 2022 commitment as of Sept. 1.

“We can’t afford to be operating a bus with five people on it,” said Gordy Bunch, chair of the township board of directors, after Haut’s presentation on the topic. “It’s difficult to plan a fixed route when there’s not a fixed schedule.”

Vice Chair Bruce Rieser said it was worth continuing the commitment through the end of the year to see if ridership improves.

Haut said the H-GAC is ready to continue to extend additional funds for the program for rest of the year, if the township can fund 10%.

The four members of the board voted to continue the program and reduce service to eight hours a day, approving a fiscal year 2022 budget amendment of $16,295 and revising the proposed FY 2023 budget to reflect lower use levels. Township fiscal years run from January to December.

Financial report

Sales and hotel tax revenue have continued to exceed projections in The Woodlands Township, according to a mid-year report.

In the first half of 2022, sales tax collections are 19.2% higher than projected in The Woodlands, and hotel occupancy tax revenue was 22.7% higher than projected, according to the July financial report presented at the July 25 board of directors meeting.

President and Chief Executive Officer Monique Sharp reported that every category in which sales tax is collected—including internet sales tax, food services, wholesale, manufacturing, oil and gas, and other designations—had seen an upward trend.

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct Monique Sharp's title.