As Houston’s regional traffic patterns officially surpass pre-pandemic levels, organizers with the Houston-Galveston Area Council are strategizing how to entice the area’s millions of commuters to choose public transit over single-occupancy vehicles, especially in the Bay Area.

The setup: Organizers are also striving to do this to improve air quality throughout the region. Commute Solutions, a subsidiary of H-GAC, is launching an “emergency ride home” program in partnership with Houston-based taxi service Z Trips.

Who it's for: Commuter traffic from the communities southeast of Houston into the city’s core is massive, said Robyn Egbert, manager of transportation demand management with H-GAC. Over a quarter of Galveston County residents work in Harris County.

About the program: In 2024, Commute Solutions launched “Free Fare Friday,” in which public transit fares are waived every Friday in September—a month the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ranks as one of the worst for ground-level ozone.

Gay Family Kia Auto celebrated its new showroom and one year anniversary in their new location in mid-September.

What they offer: The dealership offers a large selection of new and used cars, SUVs and minivans with an assortment of different color and trim level options, according to its website.

📍2801 Gulf Freeway, Dickinson

Friendswood residents will face a higher tax rate in fiscal year 2026-27 than the previous year. However, city leaders were able to lower this year’s rate from earlier staff recommendations by making $2 million in budget cuts.

What residents should know: Friendswood City Council voted 5-2 at its Sept. 14 meeting to pass the first and final reading of an amended $128.8 million budget and 6-1 to pass a tax rate of $0.52483 per $100 home valuation, which is one penny higher than the no-new-revenue rate.

Also of note: As a result of the decrease in the tax rate, residents with a home valued at $460,000 will have an annual tax bill of $1,931.42, according to city documents.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is slated to discuss and adopt tax rates and budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year during its Sept. 17 meeting.

The overview: As the county faces a projected about $180 million shortfall, commissioners are expected to set the tax rates and budgets for Harris County, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris Health system and the Port of Houston Authority, according to agenda documents. Commissioners are also set to discuss the budget for the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

The court will consider a 7.6% overall property tax rate increase, which commissioners discussed at their Sept. 8 meeting.

Also on the agenda: The court will consider approving a burn ban at the request of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, according to agenda documents. The ban would take effect Sept. 17 and last at least 90 days or until the Texas Forest Service determines that drought conditions no longer exist in the county.

The National Integrated Drought Information System has marked Harris county as “abnormally dry,” a designation used to indicate areas entering or emerging from drought. As of Sept. 14, the 210 counties in Texas have instituted burn bans, according to the forest service.