Promises, promises

In 2003, voters backed a long-term transit plan based on a series of promises from Metro. Texas Watchdog checked in almost a decade later on which promises have been kept.
Promise: 21.5 new miles rail by end of 2012 Actual: 6 miles as of July Promise: 1,000+ new route miles of bus service by 2025 Actual: 379 miles added Promise: No sales tax increase Actual: Sales tax rate remains at 1 cent

Promise: 50% increase in bus service, 44 new routes by 2025 Actual: Routes down from 130 in 2003 to 120 today; ridership down 15%; eet smaller Promise: Longer hours of service Actual: Focus of improvements not on hours, excepting Main Street rail line Promise: Rail service to both airports by 2025 Actual: No work being done

Promise: 9 new transit centers by 2025 Actual: 5 built to date

Promise: Share of sales tax for road projects not diverted until 2014 Actual: Metro considering public vote to cap share after 2014 Promise: 250+ miles two-way Park & Ride service by 2025 Actual: 600+ miles two-way service Promise: New fast, all-day crosstown bus service Actual: 2 Signature Express Service lines in service

Promise: New 8-mile commuter line by 2025 Actual: Planning completed in 2012, construction not begun Promise: 9 new Park & Ride lots by 2025 Actual: 6 lots built to date

Promise: 50+ new rail stations by 2025 Actual: None built, 24 under construction, 19 in planning stages

Promise: Additional 72 miles of rail by 2025 Actual: Depends on future funding

Sources: 2003 Metro plan http://bit.ly/PmeGAF and Metro o cials

- Research by Mike Cronin Graphic by Lee Ann ONeal www.texaswatchdog.org