Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced in a Nov. 25 news release that the transit company is collaborating with regional law enforcement partners to bring enhanced visibility across all rail lines and transit facilities.

Zooming in: The move is described as a systemwide safety initiative that is intended to not only enhance the visibility of police officers but also improve response times and overall safety.

The initiative was first launched Nov. 12 and started with increased officer presence along the Red Line, a frequent light rail service used to get to destinations such as the Texas Medical Center, Museum District and University of Houston. However, per the release, the initiative expanded to the Green and Purple Lines the week of Thanksgiving and is expected to be extended across the entire system in the near future, with rails serving as the starting point.

Something to note: METRO officials said riders can expect to see additional uniformed officers on trains, platforms, buses and transit centers during peak hours.

A new doctor's office with the Memorial Hermann Medical Group is opening soon at the Bellaire Triangle shopping center.

The details: Primary care specialists, including cardiologists, will be accepting current and new patients at the new location once the office opens Dec. 15, according to communication officials with the hospital group.

Also of note: Until the official Bellaire office opening, Memorial Hermann doctors are seeing current patients at the West University Place location on West Holcombe Boulevard, officials said.

• 5427 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. A, Bellaire

Early voting for the runoff election between Dwight A. Boykins and Alejandra Salinas for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4, started Dec. 1 and will go through Dec. 9. Election day is Dec. 13.

Taking a step back: Fifteen candidates originally ran for the position in November. However, after residents across Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties cast their votes, Boykins and Salinas were sent to a runoff after no candidates received more than 50% of the votes.

Salinas received 38,127 votes, while Boykins trailed slightly behind with 37,816 votes.

Something to note: The winner of the runoff election will fill an unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2028.

A new $617 million natural gas power plant is slated to be built in east Houston after the project was selected for a loan by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

About the project: North American power company NRG Energy’s 455 megawatt power plant will provide power from the company’s Greens Bayou Generating Station to Electric Reliability Council of Texas' grid beginning in 2028. The new plant will connect with ERCOT’s Houston Load Zone, which provides power to Houston, Pasadena and The Woodlands, and is one of Texas’ largest electricity centers.

Quote of note: “Our investment at Greens Bayou reflects NRG’s commitment to delivering dependable, dispatchable generation when Texans need it most,” said Robert J. Gaudette, NRG executive vice president and president of NRG business and wholesale operations. “These units will strengthen grid resilience, create local jobs and support economic vitality.”