Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit characterized by a combination of tram and rapid transit features. While its rolling stock is similar to that of a traditional tram, it operates at a higher capacity and speed and often on an exclusive right-of-way. In many cities, light rail transit systems more closely resemble, and are therefore indistinguishable from, traditional underground or at-grade subways and heavy-rail metros.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County. It also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County, and to Conroe in Montgomery County. The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 77,189,800, or about 240,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
METRORail is the 22.7-mile (36.5 km) light rail system in Houston, Texas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,883,700, or about 43,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024. METRORail ranks as the second most-traveled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th most-traveled light rail system in the United States, and has the highest ridership per mile for light rail systems in the Southern US. METRORail is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO).
Bell station is a METRORail light rail station in Houston, Texas. The station was opened on January 1, 2004 and is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). It is located at the intersection of Main Street and Bell Street in Downtown Houston. This is the fourth station heading south along the rail line.
Downtown Transit Center (Houston) is a bus and light rail transportation center in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States, operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). It includes an island platformed METRORail light rail station and bays for bus service.
Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo Station is an island platformed METRORail light rail station in Houston, Texas, United States. The station was opened on January 1, 2004, and is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). The station is located at the intersection of Fannin Street and Cambridge Street and serves Memorial Hermann Hospital, the Medical School portion of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Houston Zoo. Ben Taub Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine are also within walking distance of the station.
Dryden/TMC Station is an island platformed METRORail light rail station in Houston, Texas, United States. The station was opened on January 1, 2004, and is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). The station is located within the Texas Medical Center and is located at the intersection of Fannin Street and Dryden Road. Outside of weekends, it is the busiest station on the Red Line and the METRORail network as a whole.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is a governmental agency and its purpose is to "provide safe, effective, and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state. Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with maintenance of the state's immense highway system, the agency is also responsible for aviation in the state and overseeing public transportation systems.
Valley Metro Rail is a 29.8-mile (48 km) light rail system serving the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa in Arizona, USA. The network, which is part of the Valley Metro public transit system, began operations on December 27, 2008. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 10,797,600, or about 34,400 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
The Tide is a 7.4 mi (12 km) light rail line in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, owned and operated by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). It connects Eastern Virginia Medical School, downtown Norfolk, Norfolk State University, and Newtown Road. Service began on August 19, 2011, making it the first light rail system in Virginia. Fares match local bus fares and the line accepts HRT's GO Passes. Trains generally run every 15 minutes, increasing to every 10 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during early mornings and late evenings. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 771,500, or about 2,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
The METRORapid Silver Line is a bus rapid transit line in Houston, Texas operated by METRO. Opened August 23, 2020, the line connects the Uptown area of Houston, with dedicated lanes over nearly the entire length of the corridor. It serves the Northwest Transit Center, 8 stations along Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown, and the Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center. On internal METRO documents, the METRORapid Silver Line is designated as Route 433.
The Red Line is one of three light rail routes on the METRORail network operated by METRO in Houston, Texas. It is the oldest line in the METRORail system, with the first 7.5-mile (12.1 km) section of the line between Fannin South and UH–Downtown opening on January 1, 2004.
The Purple Line is a 6.6-mile (10.6 km) METRORail light rail/streetcar route operated by METRO in Houston, Texas, United States, serving Southeast Houston. The line opened on May 23, 2015.
Light rail is a mode of rail-based transport, usually urban in nature. When compared to heavy rail systems like commuter rail or rapid transit (subway), light rail systems are typically designed to carry fewer passengers and are capable of operating in mixed traffic or on routes that are not entirely grade-separated. Systems typically take one of four forms: the "first-generation" legacy systems, the "second-generation" modern light rail systems, streetcars, and hybrid rail systems. All of the systems use similar technologies, and some systems blur the lines between the different forms.
The Green Line is a 3.3 mi (5.3 km) METRORail light rail/streetcar line operated by METRO in Houston, Texas, serving the East End area. The first seven-station segment of this line opened on May 23, 2015. The two-station eastern end of this route was delayed due to issues over crossing Union Pacific Railroad tracks, but eventually opened in January 2017.
Palm Garden station is an at-grade combined light rail and busway station operated by Pittsburgh Regional Transit in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station is located on an exclusive right-of-way shared by the Red Line of the Pittsburgh Light Rail and South Busway routes 39, 41, Y1, Y45, Y46, Y47 and Y49. The station provides access to residences along the back slope of Mount Washington and is named for the large Palm Garden Apartments complex, which is centered on the stop.
The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally-owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) from NRG Stadium and is in proximity to the Third Ward area.
Altic/Howard Hughes is a light rail station in Houston, Texas, on the METRORail system. It is served by the Green Line and is located on Harrisburg Boulevard at Altic Street in the East End. The station is named for Altic Street as well as Howard Hughes, who built a Hughes Tool Company factory in the area.
Purple Line 
