Texas A&M students propose a 10-stop loop bus route after local outreach

A team of Texas A&M University senior urban-planning students presented a transportation-demand analysis to the Navasota City Council and recommended a fixed, 10-stop loop bus route after interviews, literature review and local outreach.

Student presenters said they initially evaluated demand-response services run by Brazos Transit District and the Grimes County Health Resource Center, which require manual scheduling and 48-hour notice. After surveying and speaking with residents at local events, the students reported about 40 survey responses and additional input from farmer's market attendees, senior groups and an Easter event. The students said survey respondents most commonly identified trips to grocery stores and shopping centers as destinations and expressed willingness to pay roughly $1.50–$2 per ride in their sample.

Because many respondents—particularly seniors—preferred the existing manual system, the students pivoted from building an app to proposing a fixed-route service. Their recommended loop includes stops at West Virginia Park, City Hall, Brookshire Brothers, the Navasota Landing Apartments, HealthPoint Navasota, Walmart, Golden Creek Healthcare, the hospital, 42 Place and Buckingham Gardens Apartments. The proposed loop was estimated to take 30–45 minutes.

The students recommended a follow-up volume-demand survey and further community engagement before implementation and urged exploration of diverse funding sources, noting Brazos Transit District had indicated possible funding support. The students asked council members to consider the proposal as preliminary research for future planning rather than a final implementation plan.