HOUSTON – Residents in the downtown area will no longer see the blue and red high-visibility striping on METRO light rail trains, but instead gray trains.
But why?
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The key factors in Houston METRO’s decision to remove its safety stripes and full train wraps from its buses and trains was due to safety, cleanliness and maintenance.
Houston METRO’s Safety Department’s analysis of the data did not indicate the stripes were an effective safety measure, but the authority is continually exploring initiatives aimed at reducing accidents. The trains will remain gray for the time being as maintenance is ongoing.
It will also increase its police department’s presence and provide better lighting along the transit system. This will reportedly help enable METRO police officers to better monitor what is going on inside of the train cars.
“Customer and community safety is a top priority at METRO. We are working to increase our police department’s presence along the transit system, provide better lighting and remove wraps from our buses and trains. This will enable our officers to better monitor what is going on inside of the vehicles. It is our obligation to provide our customers with safer, cleaner and more accessible transit options, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said METRO Board Chair, Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock.