Saturday

11-10-2025 Vol 19

Changes to Houston traffic lights slow METRO red line, riders say


HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — METRO light rail riders say that red lights have always turned green for approaching trains, but that this has not been the case recently.

The change comes as the city retimes around 400 traffic lights in downtown and midtown ahead of the World Cup.

Red line rider Annette Frenk said the switch-up has added about 15 minutes to her commute from east downtown to the Medical Center.

“It’s slow. You may be stopped for like three, five, eight minutes,” Frenk said.

“This is gonna make it a lot more difficult for people to choose to ride public transit and for the light rail to increase its ridership growth,” Peter Eccles with mass transit advocacy group LINK Houston, said.

Data from METRO shows the red line served an average of 32,000 riders last month.

When Eyewitness News asked METRO about the light retiming project, it acknowledged that changes had been made to the rail system.

“These efforts have already produced measurable improvements for buses, commuters, and pedestrians,” METRO wrote in a statement. “At the same time, they have introduced challenges for our rail system, which we are actively addressing.”

METRO didn’t directly address questions about the trains losing their automatic green lights.

Even some light rail riders, however, say it’s only fair.

“I do believe that people that do have their vehicles and are going through Fannin or Main definitely need their time to go through, and it can be kind of frustrating when a train is just like cutting you off,” rider Steve Cummings said.

“I just really don’t think that it’s safe ’cause a lot of people just not paying attention and those lights just automatically change,” Cleo Mitchell said.

Even when the lights didn’t change, Eyewitness News saw several trains running red lights. Some insist the lights should always be green for trains.

“There’s a lot of people who ride the red line, and I think those people should have priority. I think mass transit should have a priority,” Frenk said.

For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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Niko Travis

Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.

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