Texas A&M students propose 10-stop fixed bus loop after demand analysis

A capstone team from Texas A&M University presented a transportation-demand analysis and proposed a 10-stop fixed-loop bus route for Navasota after interviews with Brazos Transit District and the Grimes County Health Resource Center. The students said the Brazos Transit demand-response service runs Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m., with a $3.50 base and $7 per trip option, and noted that the current booking system is manual and requires a two-day notice.

The students described their outreach: a QR-code survey and in-person events yielded roughly 40 responses; among those respondents 60% said they were somewhat likely and 20% very likely to use a bus, which the students summarized as about 80% likely to use a service. "We realized no 1 wants an app," one student said after shadowing riders, and the team pivoted from a ride-booking app to a fixed-route solution. The proposed loop includes stops at West Virginia Park, City Hall, Brookshire Brothers, Navasota Landing Apartments, HealthPoint Navasota, Walmart, Golden Creek Healthcare, the hospital/HealthPoint, 42 Place and Buckingham Gardens Apartments, with loop times of about 30–45 minutes.

Students recommended a volumetric demand study to refine service frequency, continued logging of survey responses, and pursuing diverse funding sources including Brazos Transit District support. Council members thanked the students and asked follow-up questions; the presentation did not include a formal staff recommendation or council action.