Smooth Sailing as New Cypress Garage Opens

Yesterday's official opening of METRO's first Park & Ride garage met few glitches as customers drove into the four-story garage to park their vehicles before boarding a bus to downtown Houston.

"From a staff perspective, we felt it went very smoothly,  thanks to the efforts of folks trying to get information out last week," said Karen Marshall, director of community outreach. "A lot of people had already purchased their Q Card for parking. We made an effort, and a somewhat successful one, in educating folks on how the Q Card works, so that first morning ended up going well."

On opening day, about 500 cars parked in the 1,500-capacity garage, said Marshall.

We had 501 boardings on 11 bus trips Tuesday. Commuters experienced an initial  back-up getting into the garage, triggered by non-Q Card holders paying cash. But the back-up dissipated as the morning progressed.

"People feel good about having covered parking for their cars all day. They are trying to get used to the signage and direction to the garage. There are improvements needed so it's a more user-friendly garage," pointed out Marshall. "But all in all, the patrons were pleased with the facility itself."

METRO handed out breakfast bars on opening day to celebrate - and new schedules informing riders of a new trip added between 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Compared to all our other Park & Ride lots, this joint-venture garage with NewQuest properties is like the Ritz. Those who don't commute with a Q Card will have to pay to park: $4.50/day. But everyone with a Q Card - with a minimum balance of $3.50 - will get free parking during this interim period until the Q Box - a card reader - is installed.

Right now we have a parking attendant with AMPCO, the contractor operating the garage, who will be checking customers' Q Cards. Later, when METRO goes completely to Q Cards, we will have a card reader machine in the garage - the Q Box - which drivers will tap with their Q Card, pre-paying their bus fare.

Essentially, the garage Q Box will be like a bus route. Riders will pay the $3.50 (same as a Zone 4 fare) when they park, and then when they board their bus, they will tap their Q Cards again and get a transfer. Their in-bound trip, including parking, will cost a total of $3.50.

Anyone else with a Q Card will have $3.50 deducted from it each time they enter the garage, if they use their Q Card  to park (instead of paying cash). The park-all-you-want-for-$3.50 will only be in effect until the Q Box is installed.

Customers will have 30 days' notice to use up their old media fare and transfer any remaining balances to the new Q Card.

Cindy Brandt, supervisor of RideStores and Lost & Found, says her staff on the Explorer Bus at the Cypress garage has sold approximately 500 to 600 Q Cards already. Although you only need a balance of $3.50 on the Q Card to get free parking during this interim period, the pre-loaded Q Cards sold on the Explorer Bus are being sold in $5. $10, $20 and $50 denominations.

"The majority are purchasing the $5 cards," said Brandt. "Some people were confused, thinking they were paying twice for something - for their fare and for parking. We explained that the money on the Q Card is like money in the bank for when the Q Card rolls out. "

Brandt explained that charging non-METRO commuters a parking fee ensures there will be a parking space for METRO riders. "It's there to help maintain parking availability in the garage, so people who are not riding the bus just leave their cars there," she said.

The Explorer Bus will be at the Cypress garage all this week and next week for anyone who needs to buy a Q Card.

"That Park & Ride is very nice. It's the elite of all Park & Rides," said Brandt. "It's beautiful. It's the wave of the future."