Regional Transit Information Study (RTIS)

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About the Study

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in partnership with Toole Design, Vesta Rea, Outside Voices, local transit providers, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is conducting the Regional Transit Information Study (RTIS) to enhance how transit information is communicated and accessed throughout the Houston-Galveston region.


Building on the findings of the Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (RPTCP), the RTIS aims to reduce information barriers that limit transit use by helping riders better understand what services are available and how to access them. The study will assess current information tools, identify traveler needs, and develop strategies for more coordinated and user-friendly communication among regional transit agencies.

Through this effort, H-GAC and its partners will:

  • Evaluate existing transit information systems and identify best practices across local and national agencies.
  • Develop an evaluation rubric and a regional guide to improve information-sharing and customer communication.
  • Explore innovative solutions such as trip planning tools, real-time service updates, integrated fare systems, and unified “one-stop” information platforms.

Ultimately, the RTIS will help make public transportation information more accessible, reliable, and seamless across the 13-county Houston-Galveston region for all users.



Why This Matters

  • Many riders struggle to find consistent, easy-to-use information about bus routes, paratransit, microtransit, and regional connections.

  • Better information will help people make smarter, faster travel decisions — especially seniors, people with disabilities, and new riders.

  • The study will identify strategies for regional coordination so riders can get reliable trip information no matter where they travel in the Gulf Coast region.



Project Timeline

StatusTask / ActivityDetails & Notes
Completed
Project Management Plan (PMP)Updated and ongoing project oversight
Task 2.1 – Literature ReviewCompleted (Memo, June 2025)
Task 2.2 – Traveler Information Needs ReportDraft completed (March 2025)
Task 3.1 – Evaluation RubricCompleted (Memo, June 2025)
Task 4.1 – Selection of Peer AgenciesMemo completed; case study review conducted
Transit Agency InterviewsCompleted (October 2025)
Steering & Stakeholder Committee Formation10 transit agencies + 15 regional partners confirmed
In Progress
🔄Task 5 – Public & Stakeholder EngagementStakeholder Committee meetings underway; ongoing coordination with partners
🔄Recommendations DevelopmentRefining regional strategies based on agency input and engagement findings
Upcoming
📌Feb–April 2026Stakeholder Committee continued engagement & refinement of draft recommendations
📌
April-May 2026
Final revisions and partner review
📌
May 2026
Draft Final Report + Best Practices Guide
📌
May 2026
Final Report & Project Closeout



About the Study

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in partnership with Toole Design, Vesta Rea, Outside Voices, local transit providers, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is conducting the Regional Transit Information Study (RTIS) to enhance how transit information is communicated and accessed throughout the Houston-Galveston region.


Building on the findings of the Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (RPTCP), the RTIS aims to reduce information barriers that limit transit use by helping riders better understand what services are available and how to access them. The study will assess current information tools, identify traveler needs, and develop strategies for more coordinated and user-friendly communication among regional transit agencies.

Through this effort, H-GAC and its partners will:

  • Evaluate existing transit information systems and identify best practices across local and national agencies.
  • Develop an evaluation rubric and a regional guide to improve information-sharing and customer communication.
  • Explore innovative solutions such as trip planning tools, real-time service updates, integrated fare systems, and unified “one-stop” information platforms.

Ultimately, the RTIS will help make public transportation information more accessible, reliable, and seamless across the 13-county Houston-Galveston region for all users.



Why This Matters

  • Many riders struggle to find consistent, easy-to-use information about bus routes, paratransit, microtransit, and regional connections.

  • Better information will help people make smarter, faster travel decisions — especially seniors, people with disabilities, and new riders.

  • The study will identify strategies for regional coordination so riders can get reliable trip information no matter where they travel in the Gulf Coast region.



Project Timeline

StatusTask / ActivityDetails & Notes
Completed
Project Management Plan (PMP)Updated and ongoing project oversight
Task 2.1 – Literature ReviewCompleted (Memo, June 2025)
Task 2.2 – Traveler Information Needs ReportDraft completed (March 2025)
Task 3.1 – Evaluation RubricCompleted (Memo, June 2025)
Task 4.1 – Selection of Peer AgenciesMemo completed; case study review conducted
Transit Agency InterviewsCompleted (October 2025)
Steering & Stakeholder Committee Formation10 transit agencies + 15 regional partners confirmed
In Progress
🔄Task 5 – Public & Stakeholder EngagementStakeholder Committee meetings underway; ongoing coordination with partners
🔄Recommendations DevelopmentRefining regional strategies based on agency input and engagement findings
Upcoming
📌Feb–April 2026Stakeholder Committee continued engagement & refinement of draft recommendations
📌
April-May 2026
Final revisions and partner review
📌
May 2026
Draft Final Report + Best Practices Guide
📌
May 2026
Final Report & Project Closeout



  • This survey is designed to gather feedback from diverse community stakeholder organizations collectively representing broad population groups, including workers, customers and clients, youth, students, older adults, visitors, people with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, and people with limited income.   

    There are 10 or fewer questions total, and this survey should take 6–8 minutes to complete.  The first five questions are the same for everyone.  The remaining questions are tailored to the type of stakeholder organization the survey taker represents.  Responses will remain anonymous.  We request one survey response per person, but encourage multiple responses from each stakeholder organization.  

    Please share this survey link with your leadership teams.  

    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 09 Mar 2026, 03:18 PM