Houston's Winter Storm: Icy Conditions Impact METRO Service

HOUSTON, TX — The icy conditions on Houston roadways caused delays for commuters who rely on the Metro bus and rail systems, but they were and still are operating.

METRO officials announced early Tuesday morning that buses were operating normally for regular service on all lines.

However, as temperatures dropped, METRO announced that all METRO operated HOV lanes on Houston area freeways were closed due to icy conditions.

During a news conference on Tuesday morning, METRO President and CEO Thomas Lambert said there would be delays on all routes, and urged commuters to be safe and patient.

"We are doing everything with safety as our number one priority," Lambert said.

SERVICE UPDATE: At this time, all METRO-operated HOV/HOT lanes are CLOSED. Bus Shuttles are available for the Purple Line. The Red Line is operating on a single-track. Updates will continue as the weather conditions change. ^B
— METRO Houston (@METROHouston) January" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/METROHoust... 16, 2018

Meanwhile, business offices in downtown may plan to shut down early this afternoon as icy conditions worsen.

METRO officials asked businesses that has METRO shuttle service in downtown to alert them if they plan to close early.

METRO officials released the following statement and advised riders to take the following precautions and plan ahead:

METRO riders should expect delays as roads continue to deteriorate due to the winter storm impacting the Greater Houston area. METRO is adding midday Park & Ride services on some routes to help patrons who want to make earlier return trips starting with the Cypress 217. All METRO HOV/ HOT lanes are currently closed.

METROLift services are operating as normal. Riders are encouraged not to travel unless absolutely necessary and can expect delays as drivers are exercising extreme caution.

Riders are asked to monitor METRO Twitter and Facebook pages for timely information regarding transit service. METRO also offers real-time information through its service alerts system.
Please also note the following:

• METRO’s T.R.I.P. app may not be an accurate source of “Next Bus” arrival during times of schedule fluctuation.
• You may experience delays when calling METRO Customer Service at 713-635-4000 during this period.
• METRO advises riders to monitor local media, and the National Weather Service for weather updates.
• Current roadway conditions are available on TranStar’s Real-Time Traffic Map.
• Sharing resources with METRO to serve the area are: Harris County, City of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with websites providing information about safety, weather, traffic and more during emergencies.

Image: (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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