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Release Date: Sept. 8, 2019
Media Hot Line: 713.739.4040

Riding Into the Future: Conference Showcases Future of Smart Mobility

METRO is leading the technical advancement for safe autonomous travel. Today, METRO kicked-off the Autonomous Vehicles & Smart Mobility Conference on the campus of Texas Southern University (TSU). The two-day event showcases emerging mobility options including a Demo Day where members of the media were invited to take a ride on the region's first autonomous shuttle and experience demonstrations from companies like Houston BCycle, Bird, Lime Micromobility and NURO. 

Local officials, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, were in attendance. Turner praised the work of METRO's Office of Innovation and stated that the city of Houston remains at the forefront of innovation.

"I hope everyone is excited as I am about the great work METRO is doing. Looking at the future of smart mobility is quite timely in Houston as we focus on start-ups, technology and innovation," said Turner. "It's important to ensure new forms of mobility are equitable and accessible to all."

METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert echoed the mayor's sentiment.

“Transit today is really about building an environment where people feel comfortable and safe. It’s about creating walkable, livable communities, and connecting people to opportunities," said Lambert. "There are many exciting opportunities on the horizon, and we want to be prepared to take advantage of them.” 

METRO Chief Innovation Officer Kimberly Williams said Demo Day was a wonderful opportunity for the public to learn more about smart mobility. 

"We often hear about the exciting new mobility choices coming to our region, but not everyone has had the chance to experience them," said Williams. "We want people to see, firsthand, the potential these technologies have to improve mobility and enhance quality of life."

Earlier this summer, the Authority, along with TSU and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), rolled out the region's first autonomous passenger shuttle on a one-mile stretch of the university's famed "Tiger Walk."

To learn more about the Autonomous Vehicles & Smart Mobility Conference visit AVC-Houston.com.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. Besides operating more than 1,200 buses on METRO’s network, METRORail's system includes the Red Line (Main Street and Northline), Green Line (East End) and Purple Line (Southeast). METRO’s services also include: STAR Vanpool, METROLift, HOV/HOT lanes, Bike & Ride program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO services at ridemetro.org where you will also find useful tools like the RideMETRO app where you can plan your trip and even pay your fare from your phone.