^ Odd, I found an article dated December 8, 2016 from the Texas Tribune and a different article from the Houston Chronicle dated December 16, 2016. Despite being published only about a week apart, they report completely different stories.
From the Texas Tribune:
As Houston's overhaul draws new riders, other cities mulling bus changes
From the Houston Chronicle:
Metro ridership in reverse after transit officials boasted bus system revamp would add many riders
And from Streetsblog:
Transit Ridership Falling Everywhere — But Not in Cities With Redesigned Bus Networks