In October of 2006, Harris County was awarded a grant by the Houston-Galveston Area Council in the amount of $124,000.  This grant consisted of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (“CMAQ”) funds which came from the Federal Highway Administration.  The grant is to assist in covering a portion of the operating cost for two years of the Baytown Express Park & Ride pilot project. Additional FTA funds are available for further operation of this service at the end of the pilot period. The San Jacinto Mall has consented to the use of their parking lot for the park and ride bus terminal. The Baytown Park& Ride service began operation October 1, 2007.

The Baytown Park & Ride lot is located on the western side of the San Jacinto Mall.  The County has contracted with METRO to provide the service for this project and the Houston Central Business District drop off points is the same as that of the METRO route 236 which services the METRO Park & Ride located at Maxey Road & I-10.  The fare structure is $3.50 per one way trip.  The hours of operation are Monday through Friday.  Morning departures from 6:00 am – 7:20 am, return trips from 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm.  Transfers are available from METRO at no charge.

The City of Baytown, Lee College and Baytown United Way in partnership with Harris County have determined through public meetings and other comprehensive studies that there is a great need for public transportation in Baytown.  Harris County Transit Services through coordinated efforts with the fore mentioned stakeholders will begin a new fixed route service in Baytown May 2008.  This is new service will be a fixed route bus service with the complimentary ADA demand response transit service that will serve the major shopping, medical, educational and social services locations in Baytown.  The service will be provided through a purchase of service agreement with a 3^rd party contractor with ADA accessible vehicles.

 Harris County Transit Services currently provides both the Park & Ride service from Baytown to Downtown Houston and an elderly / disabled taxi program within the county.  These programs began service in October 2007 and as of January 31, 2008 both services combined have transported over 14,700 passengers.

Baytown Express Park & Ride Route