Is that lot part of the TOD that Todd Mason put together last year?  What was the total taxpayer subsidy on this project?

Hopefully this P&R will save me 1/2 my drive and gas costs.  I have been trying to get a schedule for several weeks.  Last week I was advised the Community Outreach team would be at NWS today and Friday.  I stopped on the way home (around 6:00-6:15)I parked and walked up to the boarding area. and the only thing I saw was a sign posted with the schedule.   It was a little too cool to spend time looking at it.  I had talked to the Metro office today and was told the schedule would be uploaded Fri and available Sat on the website.  Glad it was printed here.  I can't believe a major change-adding a P&R- like this has been handled so poorly.  Messers. Wolff (“Therefore, Mr. Chairman -I am the Chairman”-Houston Chronicle 24 Jul 07) and Wilson need to ensure a change like this is on TV and the paper (thank heaven for Sallee-he covers the nuts and bolts ) and have as much consideration for the riding public as the Metro team handling the phones and email.

Mary, do you think you could break up your posts a bit? They're awfully hard to read when there aren't any paragraph breaks. Surely there's enough room in your supply budget for an enter key. :)

Also, the post includes the lines "See press release here" and "a complete schedule is here."

I assume this is a copy-and-paste email you sent out to media colleagues, but the links don't work. Could you please fix them so we can easily the supporting documents?

One more question: Does this facility have cameras covering every floor of the garage?

I look forward to your responses.

Thanks!

Will the renumbered 219 provide mid-day and late service?

Shelia Jackson-Lee was just appointed Chairwoman of a subcommittee covering transportation security.

So, when Miss Jackson-Lee shows up at a Park And Ride lot for a photo-op about security at bus facilities, will you add METRO Police to the event to provide security, or will you and HPD just temporarily add more cameras?

Ms. Sit,

Rhetorical question regarding Mr. Simon's post, just above yours.

I wonder what the country would think of her if a major expressway bridge (which carrys 250K+ vehicles/day), situated four blocks from her Houston Congressional office, were to collapse as a result of stray current corrosion onto the boondoggle METRO "transit backbone" tram that she supported.

Laurence, I'm sure Chief Lambert will put his crack Israeli trained SWAT team on the job. Just make sure they aren't between her and a camera, they might get hurt badly.

Does anyone know how the new park and ride will work for vanpools if everyone is parking in a garage? Will there be reserved spots for the actual vanpool so that the riders can find their van?

Will there be a charge to use this P&R?  There was speculation at one point that we would have to pay to park.

I doubt this new route will save you time.  I rode the bus from Cypress this morning.  Unless they extend the HOV or some form of HOV lane to Cypress then expect the same commute time.  Is there a planned extension of the HOV lane on 290? It took 35 minutes to reach the HOV this a.m.  Someone didn't accurately figure the ACTUAL commute time to the HOV as it takes from 35 min to 45 min to reach it on the fwy from Cypress if driving on the mainlanes; the feeder road is always faster. This was a regular traffic day not a heavy one. Were the schedules developed over the light holiday traffic time period? The new route said I would be DT by 8:01a but we didn't get dropped off until 8:25a. It would help if the driver knew what she was doing.  We spent between 5-10 min at Transit Ctr while she tried to figure out where she should go next by calling dispatch via her onboard telephone and then when she stepped off the bus to use her cell to call? Then, once DT she informs us there are only 4 stops DT?!?!?  The press release and schedule did not mention this.  I'm in the Houston Ctr area and it's already 6 blocks from McKinney/Smith.  Being dropped off at Rusk or Dallas adds another 3 to 5 blocks to my commute.  There were a lot of disgruntled passengers on this a.m. bus.  Most planned on returning to driving to 214 if there is no improvement by the end of the week.

It would be nice if they could extend the HOV out as a diamond lane like was done to Katy.  That would improve the effectiveness of this park and ride 10 fold.  

The Hwy6/1960 and 290 intersection is a disaster.

I was on the same 217 bus this morning as "lcampbe1" and I also was thinking that I might as well continue to take the 214 because it's not saving any time.  If Metro would ride the feeder through Huffmeister (or is it Hemsptead, I get them confused) and turn left under Highway 6 and get back on 290 they could easily shave 10-15 minutes off the commute time.  Otherwise, you will inch bit by bit on 290.  Just wait until an accident happen on 290 that will easily turn into a 1 1/2 hour commute if not more.  Not worth it, might as well drive 214 where you can ride the HOV lane all the way.

I read somewhere that the HOV lane is to be extended up to Huffmeister.  I was surprised that they would start a P&R without an HOV extension.  Even though you are on a bus instead of sitting in your own vehicle inching away, it still takes a long time to get to your destination.

I wonder what happened early this morning in the Cypress Park & Ride Lot.

I wanted to try out the new 217 router. Since traffic starts at 6am on 290, I headed out of my house around 5:25am. I drove over to the entrance on Jarvis Road, It was blocked at 5:38am. I thought I was early, so I drove to the entrance on the 290 feeder road, and it was 5:42am when I got there. There were a long line waiting to enter the parking lot. And by the gate, there were 2 cops, and two other cars blocking the entrances. I waited till 5:45am, and the gate was still blocked. So, I drove over to 214 P&R......

Is it someone forgot to open the gate this morning? Or it was like that yesterday too?

I think I will go back to 214 until they can catch up with the schedule they set up.

When will the HOV be extended and/or what is the plan to addrss the commute time. I live in Coles Crossing, but still choose to take the 214 route because of the lack of HOV. I appreciate the effort, but it really makes no sense.

On the 219, is there any plans to cover the Cypress Park and ride?  Even though it takes a lot longer during non-peak time, it is nice to know that you can get back if you need to.

Hey Mary,

It is ok, I totally understand the situation. Just felt kinda weird and wondered what was going on. Thanks for your reply!

Also, this morning, I was on the first bus again. And when we got to the NW Transit Center. The driver got off the bus for about 10 minutes out of the blue. He did say something before he got off the bus, but I was at the very back end of the bus, and people didn't hear it. We were asking around the back, but seemed no one knew the reason. But thanks for opening up the new 217.

Hello! I work with Continental Airlines in downtown. I moved to this beautiful city 6 years ago from the Big Apple (NYC) and immediately began utilizing the METRO system. I have been riding the 214 line for about 5 years now and when I read about the expansion of the park and ride system to Cypress I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was about living so close to a bus route. Finally an end to an 8 mile drive to a park & ride; no more quirks that the “Northwest Park & Ride” is infamous for; especially the heavy traffic on 290 nearing HWY 6. However now that the schedule has been published for the 217, I was puzzled and felt let down about the start time for the 217. I figured that it would almost mirror the 214’s schedule or at the least match the start times to get the early risers to the city on time. What would it take to get a 5 AM start for the 217? Do you need signatures from riders or more requests in order to implement such a thing? I know there would be interest in an earlier start time, just look at the ridership on the 214 5:00 AM bus. I would be more than interested in starting a campaign to implement such a change. Is there a possibility that midday service will begin any time soon? I used to take my son on a bus ride to the train and then to the Children’s Museum. He loved it! Then it became difficult to locate a parking spot around 10 AM at the NW Station. I remember seeing college students riding the bus to downtown; so why not implement midday service as well?

To correct my previous posting: with regard to the start time, maybe 4:45 AM would be more ideal so that passengers arrive at the same time as the 214. That would minimize the possibility of work schedule conflicts. Until then I'm going to continue to ride the 214 since I can't get to work by 5:35 AM using the 217.

First let me say I was very excited about the Cypress Park & Ride project and I was very pleased that METRO opened up the temporary lot ahead of the schedule...  However I believe if the logistic behind the 217 schedule stay the same, this service is doomed!

I recognize there are always startup problems but who thinks that people will:

Increase thier daily commute by 20-30+ mins per trip.. 60+ mins day?  

The "scheduled" times are not as frequent as the 214 bus it is meant to replace... suggest bus departures not later than every 15 minutes.

Wait in traffic as there is no HOV and 290 backs up terribly in the morning... Suggest you work with TXDOT to add a "Diamond" lane.. at least southbound in the AM, the afternoon its not as big an issue..

Walk farther to work than the old 214 bus schedule?  This bus only makes limited stops downtown.... suggest you mimic 214 stops that the bus is trying to assist.

Taking into account that this bus also winds up costing another $20 a month...

To recap who do you think is willing to pay more to wait longer at the bus stop, sit longer in traffic while commuting, and walk farther in the great elements..to get to work late?

Sorry for the sarcasm... I really want his bus to work but most people I talk to are willing to give this only a limited chance before reverting to the 214 or other modes of transport...  I look forward to your response

I agree with BuffaloBill. bus departures every 15 minutes is not going to work for people who wants to get on the 217 bus.

I want to get on the 5:45am bus and usually get on the bus by 5:42am. But in the past two days, it was full even before 5:40. This morning, there was a line already waiting to get on the 6:00am bus while the 5:45am bus was still there. People could not get on because it was completely packed up already! I was about to get on the 6:00am bus luckily, but by 5:55am, there were people standing on the bus already, and a line were there to wait for 6:15 bus. We can tell how bad it will be for people who wants to get on the 6:15 bus.

So, I think everyone who rides on 217 would love to see more buses, and shorten the bus interval to around 10 minutes.

Thank you

<a href="http://vitpmnfw.com">zklqcgyk</a>  [URL=http://ddzevvhb.com]uedfsqtt[/URL]  gnkdldxa http://zircxuix.com citwsaye bsvikadj