I think this HOT stuff is going to make people Hot!  I can see new facilities going HOT (Katy), but to convert the old ones?

Remember what happened when they wanteds to convert th mainlanes of SH 249 from free to toll!  Or the Westpark?

New stuff yes, but not what is in place now.  That's changing rules in the middle of the game.  Is this not POST EX FACTO?

$30.00!!!!!What is a cab between these two points?  By the way, would it be cheeper to have a METROLift cabbie under contract do this?

I have another name for the HOT lanes. It's called "gouging".

Mr. Mazoch,

It is commonly referred to as "congestion pricing" and works reasonably well.

My problem with these programs, including the HCTRA, is that they divert the cash from paying off the bonds.

Is anyone aware of a cost analysis on hybrid commuter buses?

Since Metro's express commuter buses run primarily on the freeway, where does it expect a cost savings from energy-regenerative braking?

"The Bush Airport Express is a new bus service we will launch soon that will leave the Downtown Transit Center every 30 minutes, take 30 minutes to travel nonstop to Terminal C at Bush Intercontinental Airport, and cost $30 round-trip. We're calling it the 30-30-30 solution to travel to Bush. There will be concierge service at DTC and at Terminal C. And you'll get to ride in our new hybrid commuter coaches."

There was already a service like that where a bus would take you from Downtown Houston non-stop to IAH.  When does METRO anticipate this service to begin---and---when will the new hybrid commuter buses arrive?

Oh, I don't mind the concept of HOT.  Katy is a good start.  But I just don't think anything which was not toll or HOT from the get go, being converted, unless it is rebuilt, like the present Katy or future 290.

Sorry I was not clear.  What you get after blogging after a late shift.

Speaking of the Katy.....

I was watching a show about Bogata.  They have two dedicated lanes in the middle in each direction like the Katy.  In that case, it is BRT operation, with stations, TC's every few miles.

Now, to me it would not be too much of a strech for METRO to get air rights from TXDOT/HCTRA, and place elevated transit stations every so often above the HOT structure.  And to convert the P&R platforms for BRT.

METRO is allowed 60 buses per hour in each direction FREE in the HOT.  Why not do it.  Should not take FOREVER to do!

HOT is long overdue.  One the main disincentives to mass transportation in Houston is that it simply takes a lot more time to get there in a bus than in private cars.  Congestion controlled pricing to keep the current HOV lanes clear should substantially mitigate this problem for the P&R routes.

Unless/until some form of urban development control is implemented in Harris County (I'm not holding my breath) to concentrate residences along defined mass transit routes, the primary mode of mass transportation in Houston will remain bus-centered.  It's time for the public to wake up to the fact that a well funded and managed mass transit system benefits everyone, riders and non-riders alike by drastically reducing oil consumption.

Cedric:

There is no non-stop Metro service to to IAH. There is on the 102 express service to the airport, but it leaves the freeway to serve avenues and streets between Greenspoint Mall and the airport.

The fare is $1.00 for non-rush hour trips.

Dominic Mazoch said:  

"$30.00!!!!!What is a cab between these two points?"

-----------------------

The last time I took a cab from Alief to IAH, it was well over $100 (including tip).  That was at least 3 years ago.  I don't know what it would cost from the Downtown Transit Center to IAH, but I would guess it's way more than $30.  Cabs aint cheap.  

I think $30 is the going rate for cab service from Downtown to Bush, maybe $40, but under $50. I know most cabs have a flat rate, and a lot of hotels already have shuttle service. If there's not much traffic at $30, you may have to lower prices. Not many are going to want to take a bus (no matter how snazzy) over a cab.

The better idea would have been to create a 201(I know that's the old N. Shepherd number)to go straight to the airport and charge $3.50.

ChloeMireille, wow, that's a lot less than I used to pay from Alief.  I just remember that meter kept clicking from zone to zone to zone; plus there was the toll road fees if they went that way, which was almost always faster.

HOT Lanes...needs more thought.  It is a fact that Houston is Growing Exponentially and our current transit situation needs improvement.  I'm just not sure that "HOT" Lanes are the best answer.  For short-term it could be a viable alternative.  Metro needs to get the message to these large corporations give their employees an incentive to ride mass transit!

If more folks rode mass transit it could actually hit the oil companies in the "bottom line" and perhaps fuel prices would go down and it would be a win/win for all concerned.

I have to confess I was not an advocate of utilizing the Park and Ride but when it came down to how much time and money I was spending sitting on HWY 290.  I started investigating.  Five Dollars $5.00/day to ride the bus round trip is significantly less than what it cost to fill my gas tank twice a week.  $25 vs. $125.  Saw the impact immediately.

Just last week the majority of single driver violators were taken off the 290 HOV Lane.  What used to take Line 286 45 minutes to commute took 30 minutes!  By taking these violators off the HOV lane it made travel to/from work more pleasant.

We already have violators on the toll lanes I can see these same folks violating the "HOT" Lanes.  Do we have the resources/bandwith to pursue these violators?  

Robert Wade,

           You may want to re-read what I said.  The key word is "WAS."  Here's the comment again for a refresher=>"There WAS already a service like that where a bus would take you from Downtown Houston non-stop to IAH."

The route number was "112."  I can't think of the CORRECT name but that was a while back.  Sorry for any confusions that I have made.

If I have an EZ Tag, how will the system know how many people are in my car?  Will I be charged if I have 3 passengers?

A. Hatcher said:  "Just last week the majority of single driver violators were taken off the 290 HOV Lane.  What used to take Line 286 45 minutes to commute took 30 minutes!  By taking these violators off the HOV lane it made travel to/from work more pleasant."

_________________________________________

Yes, I'm on the 286 too and there has been a big improvement in the 290 HOV transit time.  I just didn't know there had been a crackdown on violators.  GOOD!  

Nevertheless I don't see the HOT concept as a substitute for enforcement:  ANY system that restricts access to the HOV lanes is worthless w/o enforcement.  It just seems to offer a time-flexible way to manage the traffic flow that would be effective even beyond the point where single driver vehicles have been cleared off.  

$15 each way from downtown to IAH may be high for a bus ride but its much less than a taxi. you will spend $60 one-way in a taxi

$30 is a ridiculous price for this service.  Let's review options though...A cab from downtown Houston is about $55 with the tip and the Blue van shuttle service is $25.

By the way, this service existed before as the 101 I think and the cost was the normal fare, if I am not mistaken.  I know it was not used as the times were odd and it actually did not operate on weekends, which I think was a big mistake.

I am not aware of any other city where a public bus charges that much to get from the airport to the city!  I suggest that if Metro do not want this service to fail like the first one, they should lower the price to something more reasonable.  I would actually pay $5.00 each way for the service and I'd like a transfer to my bus to/from my house as well.

How come they never ask customers before they start these services?  Or maybe they do.  I really don't think a tourist will pay $30.00 each way to visit Houston while waiting for a flight.  

As a 102 bus rider, I see lots of tourist on the bus who are laying over from say Mexico and going to Europe and want to kill time.  They pay the $1.00 or $1.50 depending on the time of day as it is cheap, I am pretty sure they wont pay $15!

I hope the President can address my concerns in his chat.

You all are thinking of the 112 - Bush/IAH Direct.  I believe it ran every 30 minutes and had the basic express fare during peak times and the $1.00 fare during non peak hours.

The only way Metro can justify a $15 trip is to extend service to Hobby as well and provide branching service to Greenway Plaza/Uptown/Galleria area.

I think this service could be provided cheeper by cabbies who have contracts like METROLift.  Or the contracts can be extended to cover the service.  Mabe these METROLift/Airport units could be painted a different color, or something like that.

Dominic,

       I hate to say this but I would think METRO would need to change the paint scheme of the buses---since there are people who may not like it as much as the next person.