Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) reported 4,500 boardings on its Red Line light rail extension on its recent opening day. Passengers rode free all day for the entire Red Line, including the existing 7.5-mile section as well as the 5.3-mile extension, and ridership on the whole line totaled 22,054.

METRO hosted ceremonial events at both ends of the North Line on opening day. Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) cut a ­ribbon at the last station stop, Northline Transit Center/HCC. Other elected officials gathered at the start of the North Line, UH-Downtown station, where they boarded the special train. The inaugural bash culminated with food, public activities, and live music at Moody Park.

“Light rail is successful in ­Houston and it’s expanding,” said METRO Interim President & CEO Tom ­Lambert. “Northside residents can now board a train from their community and take a one-seat ride into downtown Houston and beyond, and vice versa. The North Line not only extends our existing Red Line, its bridging communities. We have reason to celebrate. Our work is not done; two more lines in 2014.”

METRO also celebrated another landmark on Jan. 1: the 10th anniversary of the opening of the original Red Line. The agency noted that the line has hosted nearly $4 billion in public-private development from 2004 to 2011.

“The success of the Main Street Line validates the importance rail plays in the city’s transportation landscape,” said METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia.

Photo by Tom Callins Cutting the ribbon for Houston’s Red Line extension are, from left, Rep. Gene Green and his wife Helen Green, METRO Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia, Interim METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert, and METRO Board Member Christof Spieler.