Some of the most oft-heard criticisms of Houston bus service by riders and non-riders alike are some of the biggest challenges identified in a quadrennial report on Metro, which officials will discuss on Wednesday.

Among the 18 recommendations made by the auditors – prepared by the consulting firm Milligan & Co. and required every four years – is a desire to see Metropolitan Transit Authority increase how much of its operating costs come from paid fares and decrease the perception it is unsafe to wait at bus stops and train stations.

“Metro needs to be a part of the discussion and ultimate solution regarding vagrancy, loitering, and panhandling on and around the transit system,” auditors wrote. “Metro should work with social service agencies, churches and the city to address this issue. The ultimate outcome of any collaboration to address this challenge could stem the loss of ridership.”

Released earlier this month, Metro will have a public meeting Wednesday at noon to discuss the findings.

Though auditors said the agency has “an excellent transit system” the improvements noted could make it better. About half of the recommendations were mundane changes to record keeping or suggestions of how Metro could adopt policies that more clearly state its existing practices. The audit also relies on fiscal years 2012-15, meaning the total overhaul of bus service Metro implemented in August 2015 isn’t reflected.

Since the system redo, ridership of Metro has fallen. Though the agency said the declines are because of job losses in the area, particularly within the energy sector, critics of the agency have called the losses proof the new system is a failure.

Whatever the cause, auditors said Metro must do a better job attracting new riders. Part of that requires better understanding of why people ride, and more importantly why they do not, the consultants said.

To capitalize on opportunities, auditors suggested Metro market heavily to millennials and especially college-age people. Transit officials can also use the Super Bowl to show off the system, in hopes it might lead some to consider transit where practical.

“Potential riders in and around Houston get to experience riding Metro firsthand, while enjoying the Super Bowl activities," auditors said. "Metro’s name and reputation will be shared all over the world."

In a response to the audit’s release, Metro officials said they have made many of the recommendations already, and have plans to improve some of the lingering problems. Officials offered no specifics, however, on ongoing efforts to work with Houston city leaders to address crime and vagrancy near transit stops.

Two of the auditor’s recommendations, meanwhile, fall well outside Metro’s control. To improve transit in the region, auditors called for increasing the number of HOV lanes in the Houston area. Auditors also suggested making areas around the downtown rail lines transit-only corridors.

The Red Line runs along Main Street, though one lane of vehicle traffic in each direction parallels the train line for most of the street. Left turns are also heavily restricted, something rail line critics have said has complicated traffic since the line opened in 2004.

The Green Line and Purple Line, opened in May, share right-turn lanes along Capitol and Rusk with vehicle traffic, making them even more complicated to separate from cars and trucks.

“That being said,” Metro officials said in their written response, “some discussions have occurred with various stakeholders… Specific and more immediate conversations have begun to understand how we can best deal with the shared lanes on the Purple and Green lines. Closing sections on Main Street to traffic have also been discussed and specific sections of Main Street have limited vehicle traffic already. Metro hopes to continue these discussions only in cases where the change benefits both Metro and the community.”