Texas Transit Association

This District (formerly Brazos Transit District) has taken public transportation to the water in The Woodlands. The operation of The Woodlands Waterway began in July 2004 and is off to a fantastic start. Waterway cruisers operate seven days a week along the Woodlands Corridor which is 1.25 miles long. Vintage style trolley cars operate along the corridor as well.

Designed for the employees and residents of the corridor, this is also an excellent mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike to explore all the amenities the Waterway has to offer. The corridor is surrounded by restaurants, office buildings, hotels and residential property, including The Woodlands Mall, the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, and the Cynthia Ann Mitchell Pavilion.

The Woodlands Waterway & Transit Corridor is a model Public/Private Partnership between The Woodlands Corporation, The District and the Town Center Improvement District. The Federal Transit Administration, Texas Department of Transportation, The Woodlands Operating Company and The District provided funding for the planning and construction of the corridor with fully one half of the total cost being provided by The Woodlands Operating Company. The Town Center Improvement District will assist The District in maintaining and securing the corridor as well as providing financial assistance for operating the project.

Transit & Pedestrian corridor was initially envisioned by Mr. George Mitchell, the owner of The Woodlands Corporation in 1989. His initial concept was the development of a high density urban center built around a public transit spine in order to eliminate future traffic congestion and air pollution. To that end The Woodlands Corporation and the Brazos Transit District, in concert with the Town Center Improvement District, planned and developed The Woodlands Waterway & Transit Corridor that you see today.

The Woodlands Waterway & Transit corridor is an example of how the public and private sectors can cooperate to develop a transit modality that is innovative, fun and contributes to the overall quality of life for those it serves.

During the negotiations and contract period of this project The District General Manager, John McBeth, obtained the exclusive rights to provide service on the corridor for the next thirty years.

The District began operating in 1974 in the Brazos Valley, and has grown to provide general public transportation in sixteen counties in Central and East Texas. Fixed route systems are located in Bryan/College Station, Lufkin and Nacogdoches, and Demand and Response service is provided in sixteen counties. The District wanted to provide a first rate commuter service between The Woodlands and the Houston Central Business District, so in 1987 we opened our first Park & Ride in The Woodlands. Due to the success of that system, we opened another Park & Ride in Research Forest in 1997. Both Park & Rides are thriving, and another Park & Ride is currently in the planning stages. An extension of the Woodlands Waterway is already being planned.

The District’s main office is located in Bryan with three satellite offices to cover East Texas and The Woodlands. Dispatching for the entire system is done through the Bryan dispatch office. Our service area covers 13,333 square miles with a population of 932,441. An average of 1,092,091 trips are provided each year. This expected to increase by 50% with the opening of the Woodlands Waterway and Transit Corridor. Service is provided with 87 total revenue vehicles.