It's been exactly one year since the Houston Downtown Management District, BG Group and Houston First Corporation came together to launch launch Greenlink, downtown Houston's first free, fixed-route circular since theMETRO trolley stopped running in 2005.

Ridership over the first year hasn't been as high as initially anticipated, a factor that Downtown Houston executive director Bob Eury attributes to the increased walkability of the area in recent years, as well as alternative transit options like B-cycle and the METRO Rail on Main Street.

Still, an average of 895 riders board the eco-friendly buses between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. each weekday to take advantage of the 18-stop, 2.5-mile route. Service increases during late-week lunch hours and when the George R. Brown Convention Center hosts large-scale events.

"I'm thrilled to see the buses operating and the downtown community utilizing this service," Eury said in a statement. "Our goal was to make them noticeable and unique. You can't miss the bright green and orange Greenlink logo rolling down the street."

Additional routes and hours are currently being considered to support events at the GRB, with pilot programs during the American Association for Clinical Chemistry conference in July and The American Legion national convention in August. This additional service may also be extended for events like the NCAA Final Four in 2016 and Super Bowl LI in 2017.