Like A Lot Of Smaller Cities, Conroe Is Seeing Increased Demand For Public Transit

The Conroe Connection bus service started about three years ago. It currently offers two north-south routes along Frazier Street that connect riders to downtown Conroe and other destinations.

So who's riding the bus in Conroe? City Transportation Director Shawn Johnson said according to recent surveys about 75% of riders are between the ages of 15 and 45.

55% said they used the bus three or more times a week. Those surveys also showed that riders are using the bus for work, school, medical appointments, and shopping.

Johnson said they're starting to see an uptick in ridership after some flat numbers in 2017. She said they lost some riders after the Tri-County Behavioral Health Care facility moved to new offices about two miles from the closest bus stop. So what they're working on now is establishing new connections so clients can get to their appointments.

As for the first months of 2018 Johnson said they're now seeing an uptick in ridership of about 3%. And based on those rider surveys they're now looking at a new east-west route through Conroe.

"There are critical services that our citizens need access to like Social Security, Health and Human Services, DPS, places that our bus system right now does not serve," explained Johnson.

And Johnson added that with a small bus service like Conroe Connection rider feedback is critical.

"So we're collecting a lot of demographic data, public surveys, we're even doing interviews with our drivers," stated Johnson. "All of this information will be translated into proposed transit routes."

As Montgomery County's population continues to grow, Johnson said they're also looking at new options for commuter bus service into Houston as well as a shuttle between Conroe and The Woodlands.