A brief history of METRO’s predecessor, HouTran

Houston’s public transport went through several iterations before becoming the Houston METRO we hate love today. Between 1874 and 2004, Houston transitioned from mule-driven streetcars to the light rails that someone hits weekly in the Medical Center.

Mule-driven Beginnings

The Houston City Street Railway Company was founded in 1870. By 1874, mule-driven streetcars were operating throughout the quickly growing city. By 1877, 100 mules were operating 14 streetcars throughout Houston.

In 1892, electric streetcars replaced their mule-driven predecessors.

After several years of reorganizations and legal battles, the Houston City Street Railway Company emerged as the Houston Electric Company in 1901.

The first transit bus appeared on Houston’s streets in 1924. Between 1924 and 1940, transit buses gradually began to replace the electric streetcars. By 1946, the electric streetcars were officially out of commission. It was this point the Houston Electric Company changed their name to Houston Transit Company (HouTran).

Struggles and Acquisition

By the 1970s, HouTran struggled to accommodate Houston’s growing population and subsequent growing pains. Houstonians were quickly becoming fed up with aging buses, inefficient bus routes, and frequent delays.

The ridership made their frustrations known to local officials and the City of Houston finally purchased HouTran in 1974. In 1978, Houston voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of a new transit agency.

In 1979, the newly created Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) began operation upon the existing HouTran system while using it as a foundation for planned improvements.

Today, the Houston METRO provides service to over 1,200 square miles via buses and 7 miles of light rail as of 2004.