by Nicole Bradford
Certain to be more densely populated in the year 2040, Pearland is developing mobility challenges that can’t be solved with the mere automobile, according to a transit needs study by the Houston Galveston Area Council of Governments.
“We wanted to see what kinds of service we could recommend,” HGAC Project Manager Alan Rodenstein said during a presentation of the study at City Hall. “We’re just saying these are some recommendations for your consideration. You can take it from there.”
Pearland remains a suburb with the largest number of commuters traveling to the Texas Medical Center, followed by downtown Houston, according to the study, which recommended an on-demand transit service within the city. Costs, he said, could be shared among the city, transit grants, and riders.
Also recommended is a commuter service from West Pearland to a large employment center such as Texas Medical Center using a turnkey private or public partner. The city’s share for such a service is estimated at about $76,000 per year. Council members pointed out that such a service has been attempted before.
A 2019 park-and-ride service from Pearland to Medical Center and Downtown did not succeed, Councilman Rushi Patel noted.
“They just couldn’t get enough ridership,” he said. “Everybody wants to go when they want to go. That’s the challenge.”
The pandemic of 2020 didn’t do any commuter services any favors, Rodenstein added.
“COVID was devastating to commuter service throughout this region, throughout the country,” he said.
A survey of 2,300 Pearland residents showed that 56 percent favor public transit, while 44 percent do not. About 75 percent of residents favor transit for seniors and people with disabilities.
Gulf Coast Transit District does provide a service known as Harris County Rides through an interlocal agreement for seniors and those with disabilities, but this can be difficult for those on limited incomes, Rodenstein said.
The council will hold a more in-depth discussion on the topic later in the year, but members weren’t sold on the idea when considering costs.
“The hard lift for us is when we drive out of here and hit a pothole — we’re struggling to get some of our streets fixed,” Mayor Kevin Cole said. “I can’t see us spending $3 million for a (transit) program to make that happen.”
