A Super Weekend for Houston Rail Transit

"Sunday might have been the Super Bowl, but Saturday was Metro’s super day," reports Dug Begley.

1 minute read

February 7, 2017, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Houston MTA

Lise Photography / Shutterstock

Dug Begley details the ridership reports for Super Bowl weekend in Houston, as reported the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) earlier this week. As teased in the lede quoted above, the day before the Super Bowl was actually the record breaker. On Saturday, February 4, rail use hit a record high of 109,500 trips. "The use shatters the previous one-day rail record of 98,600 on March 16, 2016, during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo," according to Begley.

For comparison's sake, on a typical Saturday, "Houston’s rail system rarely carries more than 30,000 people," explains Begley. Ridership on Super Bowl Sunday reached 70,400 trips, which didn't break any records but it did outperform the typical Sunday ridership of between 20,000 and 23,000 riders.

Monday, February 6, 2017 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

April 14 - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

April 14 - San Francisco Chronicle

Western coyote looking at camera in grassy field.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes

San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.

April 14 - Fox 5