Convenience Big Store: Metro's free shuttle program gets $4M boost despite low ridership

December 12, 2025

END-OF-YEAR SALE! 6 Months for 99¢

Limited-time offer: Gain digital access — from now into 2026.

Act Now

Sale Ends Dec. 28

⛅ Temperature check: High of 73; low of 61. Forecast: The warm, dry weather you'll see today won't stick around for too long.

📬 Sign up for our Weather Radar newsletter for more weather news.

Good morning, Houston.

Here's what you should know to start your day:

Need to know: A $9.4 billion network of long-distance power lines will be built across the eastern swath of Texas to create a new "superhighway" for the state's power grid.
Top of the chart: The most-read story on our site yesterday was about the indefinite suspension of Houston Texans minority owner Javier Loya.

Here's the rest of the news.

1

An Evolve shuttle is photographed in Second Ward in Houston, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025.

Houston Metro's free shuttle program gets $4M expansion despite low ridership.

In this space a few days ago, you might have read about Metro's Community Connector program, a fleet of free electric shuttles that offers rides for those in the city core. As reported earlier, the shuttles are championed by Metro board chairwoman Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock – a CenterPoint Energy executive who was among the founding members of Evolve, which operates the shuttles.

After more than one year and $1 million of Metro funding, the shuttles have delivered fewer than 100,000 trips. Still, Metro has committed another $4.1 million to keep the program moving and to potentially expand its usage.

But the only ridership data Evolve supplies to Metro is total use for the month in each of the zones the program operates. Typically, Metro gathers much more information to determine success, like riders per hour and its cost per passenger.

As you'll see, the lack of detailed information is raising concerns with some.

2

Houston projected to see job growth in 2026 even as the national economy cools.

The Greater Houston Partnership projects that the Houston region will add 30,900 jobs in 2026, although immigration remains "a key uncertainty" for the region.

3

Commissioners blast consultants after 'deeply troubling' $1.2M salary study.

Gallagher, the company behind a salary study intended to address income gaps between Harris County employees, came under fire for what commissioners described as an "extremely flawed" report.

4

Battleship Texas repairs reach milestone as crews aim for 2026 reopening.

The Battleship Texas Foundation said major strides have been made in restoring the 111-year-old historic dreadnought, with work set to finish in about a year.

5

Former University of St. Thomas professor files Title IX, defamation suits alleging retaliation.

The former faculty member is alleging that administrators fired him after he repeatedly raised concerns about a colleague accused of harassing female and non-Catholic students.

6

Beaumont schools are facing a state takeover. What can they learn from Houston ISD?

The Texas Education Agency will take over Beaumont ISD and at least three other school districts next year. Here are some of the biggest changes that have affected HISD students so far, from Superintendent Mike Miles' "wholesale systemic reform" to teacher turnover and higher ratings.

7

FBI asks for help in locating 'Cougar Campus Crook' in UH bank robbery.

Crime Stoppers of Houston has also offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the gunman.

📸 Photo of the Day

Patrick Bouse watches as the annual student bonfire burns from the shoulders of his dad, Patrick Bouse, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Bryan. The bonfire was originally schedule to be light the Friday before the school's game against Texas in November 2024, but had to be postponed due to the Robertson County fire ban.

Here are the Chronicle's best photos of 2025, a collection of images that stopped us, moved us and revealed the spirit of a region tested, transformed and determined to keep pushing forward.

🏀 Sports

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball over LA Clippers defense in the first half of game action at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Rockets: A back-and-forth fourth quarter was finished off by the Rockets as they beat the Clippers 115-113 Thursday night at Toyota Center.
Texans: Houston is allowing the fewest yards per game since the 2009 Jets. Can that elite defense carry Houston to its first Super Bowl?
High schools: After suffering a season-ending knee injury, C.E. King senior Bryce Lyons has given inspiration to his teammates as they've made a historic run to the state semifinals.
Aggies: Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is leaving for Kentucky just a week after offensive coordinator Collin Klein announced his exit. Also, the Texas vs. Texas A&M football rivalry will again be renewed on the day after Thanksgiving.

🗣️ Opinion

A new Houston dashboard capturing the true scale of gun violence could drive collaborative, evidence-based interventions that prevent harm rather than relying solely on traditional policing, writes the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board.
"If Democrats nominate Whitmire for statewide office and Republicans cross over to vote for him, what improvement would the public actually get?" writes Elizabeth Beeton in a letter to the editor.
In early December, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office is investigating the fast fashion retailer Shein for potential violations related to unethical labor practices and unsafe products. He is right to shine a light on Shein and its potential questionable practices, writes Samir Goswami.
Texas AG Ken Paxton must look into how this 1991 murder case was handled — from the dismissal to the compensation — and determine whether victims' rights were sidelined and whether reforms to the Tim Cole Act are needed, writes Kristina Byington, cousin of murder victim Anita Byington.

🍿 Things to do This Weekend

The Ismaili Center is shown in Houston Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

Check out the first Ismaili center in the U.S. when it opens its doors to the public on Saturday.
See "Ella McCay," "Rolling Stones at The Max," "Silent Night, Deadly Night," "Dust Bunny" or any of the other top new films hitting screens this week.
Get tickets to performances like Mariachi del Sol de Mexico de José Hernández at Jones Hall and Chevy Chase at Smart Financial Centre.
Get into the Christmas spirit as "Home Alone," "The Polar Express," "Die Hard" and other, debatable, Christmas classics make it to the big screen in the coming weeks.
Take a road trip to the New Braunfels Christmas Renaissance Faire, which ends Sunday. Even though The Texas Renaissance Festival has ended for the 2025 season, there are other opportunities to revel in the Renaissance-themed merriment.

You Chevrolet Silverado owners might want to keep a closer watch on your truck, if you weren't doing so already.

The vehicle was a popular target for car thieves in Texas last month. In fact, quite a few trucks landed on the top 10 stolen vehicles list for November.

Where are most of the vehicles in Texas stolen? Here in Houston.

Have a good weekend, everyone. Lock your car and don't leave your valuables in plain sight.