I think Richmond is too narrow, but at least it part of it will turn from the Baja 1000 to a street with pavement.

Have you seen all the comments over at the Chronicle?  People are going nuts over there over this.  As long as it takes for them to build it, I'm just glad they're finally getting started.

Where were you Royco?  I thought you were single handedly going to stop any more tram construction.  The sheeple needed you to point out the fallacy of building more trams.

Sorry Royko, I forgot how you spelled your handle.

I 2nd P&R Rider's question.  Funny of what you said---no seriously---that's funny.  *lol*  For those city council members who voted "nay," I pity you!!!!

On a more serious note:  My congrats to METRO on this accomplishment and now they can FINALLY do what they need to do to begin this "new era of mass transit in Houston."

I prefer to think of myself as a "sheepette," but as long as I can take a bus, train, or whatever and don't have to drive, Royko can call me whatever he likes.

The City Council ruling is a victory.

A victory of the sheeple, by the sheeple, and for the sheeple.

This pleases me.

Me again.

Even if this statement "Metro still faces a long road. Federal funding is not guaranteed, a lawsuit challenges the plans for rail on Richmond Avenue, and Metro has yet to agree to terms with a contractor to build and operate the system." may stick true to the "T," I'm hoping that METRO can clear those kinds of hurdles---in their favor, of course---and move on so we Houstonians won't have to wonder years and years and years from now about the future of mass transit here in Houston.

Way long over Due. (Way to Metro)

Way long over Due. (Way to go Metro)

Elizabeth,

The only word that come to mind is "gracious."

P&R Rider,

I appeared before the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday.  The Mayor limited all speakers to one minute.

I distributed written comments for the record.  Since the text was five pages, I will not post it but will email it to any of those who have an interest in the arguments.

You folks have no idea as to the level of misery that METREAUX is about to inflict upon Houstonians.

I have not given up, and await "findings" from the FTA regarding the Civil Rights complaint.

Time will tell.

Royko---the Chicken of the Seas---strikes again!  Perach to us with your nonsense commentary!!!

Preach

Roykeaux said:  "You folks have no idea as to the level of misery that METREAUX is about to inflict upon Houstonians."

ROTFLMAO!!!!  Actually, that's not even in the same zip code as funny!

Time will tell to when people need to realize that we either need to be just as great as or better than other cities as far as having an integrated mass transit system.

Stop trying to ruin METRO, Roykeaux---and STOP TRYING TO RUIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS!!!!

Royko, I think you wrote once that you were a conservative.  And you're concerned about poor people? That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

Royko, I figured that anyone as passionate as you are about the tram would be at the meeting and I was correct.  I was just kidding about you single handedly stopping the train.  I think you are facing an uphill battle, but I admire your tenacity.

I think the delay in building the next phase in the rail was so the politician's relatives could buy real estate along the route and sell it to Metro at 10x the cost.

P&R Rider,

Those deals were done, and flipped, a while back.

I have questioned more than one METREAUX deal.  I would hope to have attracted some scrutiny of these transactions.

Again, time will tell.

I was a amused when, after Robert Muhammed spoke in support of the METREAUX scheme, she disclosed the fact that he is a highly-paid METREAUX Consultant.

I had expected the East End Polecat to speak in favor also, seeing as METREAUX pays her $6,000 per month from taxpayer funds without her having to file any documentation other than an invoice.

P&R Rider,

Sorry, several distractions.  "She" is CM Jones.

East End Polecat refers to a former CM who didn't have a clue as to shennanigans in the Mayor Pro Tem office.

don,

If you can explain to the audiance how the scheme about to be perpetrated by the Urban Rail Robber Barons are going to help any of the poor, I'm listening.

Royko? Carol Alverado?

Allow the drivers to use short-range radios to talk to each other.  No more getting off the 53 at Hillcroft and running down the 82 just leaving.  This will also alleviate, at least a little, inefficiencies caused by the inevitable clumping up of buses caused by unpredictable traffic.

If only METRO could take all buses off Westheimer between Yorktown and the Loop, but that is not in METRO's power, unfortunately.

Way to go City Hall and Metro...  It's way overdue.

This is terrible, terrible news for the City of Houston.  We have now put the future of our general mass transportation mobility into the hands of an agency that can no longer even adequately provide bus service, it's core function, after nearly 30 years in existence.  

Metro is plagued by a failing fleet of cheap, generic, buses fillied to the brim with useless, yet expensive technology, a workforce consisting of a large number of lazy, ill trained, apathetic and wholly unfit drivers, and a management that has driven morale into the toilet, betrayed local bus riders, and sent this city on a collision course due to it's disregard of local bus service (again it's core function) as to focus on a light rail "system" that is a paltry seven miles long.  Pathetic.

But why am I even shocked?  Metro will spend billions to build "rapid transit" tram lines that follow nearly all of the same rules as a bus (how is it rapid transit when my tram is going BELOW the speed limit between Wheeler Station and the Museum District or sitting at stop lights alongside vehicle traffic? Hmmmm?) but in the same breath say that there can't be anymore bus service added to the 82 - Westheimer/West Oaks line because THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE STANDING YET!!!!!!  I shall repeat that, Metro says THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE STANDING YET TO WARRANT EXTRA BUS SERVICE ON THE 82 - WESTHEIMER. Oh, but they'll look into it though.  Well, this is the same agency that has been looking into extending the 4 - Beechnut to Highway 6 and running a bus down Renwick for ten years.  I hope you enjoy the comfort and ambiance of standing, packed like sardines on the ever crowded 82 - Westheimer.  Oh, by the way, this is the same agency that runs 75% empty buses on the 42 - Holman Crosstown at 18 minute frequencies.  

Your customer service department is useless and should be scrapped.  Automotons could do a better job than the current humans you employ.  That has already been proven by the automated system used for bus schedules.  It runs rings around the live person who used to give out the same info.  Your customer information specialists are surly, poorly trained (I know from experience), impatient, and just overall unpleasant to deal with.  Perhaps if you payed more than $11 (at part time hours), you could hire quality people instead of the temps you parade in and out of the call center.  You all are so desperate to be run like a business (CEO, change that title back to General Manager, PLEASE) well it would do you good to see how REAL businesses, not government agencies trying to pose as one) run their call centers.  Firing the head of the department and her subordinates/trainers would be a good start.

Dismiss anyone with any position of power at West Garage.  The whole operation there is dismal and pathetic.  They allowed an operator to run her route run for two weeks without any intervention.  She was supposed to deadhead from Sharpstown to Wheeler Station, but instead she ran in service causing a 40 minute delay.  This happened two Fridays in a row, yet she was oblivious because no one said anything when she got to the garage.  But, I guess it's just standard operation procedure to run terrible service that whenever you do decide to show up with your bus that's okay.  Of course if a bus is off route and then showing up for pull in 40 minutes late, you'd think that a light bulb would go off SOMEWHERE and management would be like "Hmmmmmm, I don't thinks this is right."  Oh yeah, this didn't involve the Utopian Tram so who gives a darn!  Then, there was another bus driver who decided it would be okay to pay her bills at a store along her route, despite the fact that she was already behind schedule!!!! Do your people understand they are operating a public vehicle and not their personal car?!

The tram, I am so sick of that thing!  Even running at speeds that make it almost seem worth the cost it can't beat an 8 - South Main to the Medical Center traveling at a leisurely pace!?  Good grief!  The rail bias within your organization would be funny if not so serious and system crippling.  When a lady fell under the tram a month or so ago, my bus was pulled out of service to shuttle people downtown. My bus, THAT RUNS EVERY FREAKING 70 MINUTES AND WAS ALREADY PULLING OUT OF WHEELER STATION was pulled out of service so the glorious tram would still be running, even if only in spirit.  It was nine o clock at night, you have hundreds of buses sitting idle but you kick people off an in service bus to shuttle a hand full of people Downtown?  Yeah, that is GREAT business and shows how important we local bus riders are.  Of course, this would not happen to Park and Ride buses though, buses that run TWO MINUTES APART in some cases!

But hey, this is the agency that is going to take us into the future.  I can't wait to see what lows we'll reach next.  Look at how one rail line decimated the overall bus service, just imagine what five will do!

Oh yeah, fix the Sunday service on the 2 - Bellaire!  Just because you ignore it does not mean the problem will go away!

With the RTA in the Corpus Christi area, their is one channel they can use for one bus to contact another concerning a transfering passenger.

I can't see why the 800 mHz radios can't be set up for a "bus-to-bus" call group for that to happen.  Just so long it is not used as a chit-chat "channel".

BTW, we are not the only ones with buses coming in fleets.  The CTA (Chicago) has the same problem!

J. Liggins,

Well said, although there is nothing "RAPID" about urban rail at grade.  It is a false and misleading term used by the propagandists to try and "sell the sizzle" to the unsuspecting population.

"Well, this is the same agency that has been looking into extending the 4 - Beechnut to Highway 6 and running a bus down Renwick for ten years."

Actually, they finally extended the 4-Beechnut with the June schedule changes. I just don't remember how far, but I know it's not all the way to HWY 6.

And don't forget the ever-elusive 32-Voss/Bingle Crosstown.

"Oh, by the way, this is the same agency that runs 75% empty buses on the 42 - Holman Crosstown at 18 minute frequencies."

There are times that I think that the 42 shouldn't go to Magnolia anymore. Think about it. Every bus that the 42-Denver Harbor crosses goes to Magnolia anyway. The 36-Lawndale is within walking distance of the 42-Magnolia turnoff. You can catch the 50, 20, 37, and 48 on their respective streets, and the 26/27 stops in Denver Harbor already. Kinda redundant, really.

"Automotons could do a better job than the current humans you employ.  That has already been proven by the automated system used for bus schedules.  It runs rings around the live person who used to give out the same info."

Believe it or not, I can tell when the automated service is down or overloaded. When it's up, it's a short ring. When it's down, it's a normal ring, meaning you'll get a person. If the latter happens, I hang up and redial. Now, if you could fix the silences on the unnamed stops, it'd be perfect. I know there's 2 stops on the 88 that don't give an intersection on the automated service.

As much as I complain, though, I do it because I like using Metro. I can't afford a car, but even if I could, I wouldn't want to drive out here when I can take the bus. A tank of gas at current market value is roughly what I pay monthly for the bus. Even when gas was cheaper, it was still less to ride the bus.

J. Liggins said:  

Metro...a workforce consisting of a large number of lazy, ill trained, apathetic and wholly unfit drivers,...."

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

First, I agree completely with your comments about overcrowding, particularly on the 82.  It makes for an incredibly uncomfortable experience, and it's one of the reasons I drive all the way to the Westchase lot to take the 132, a route that manages to stay full but people get to sit.  I loathe the cheek-to-jowl cramming of the rail too, but that's another story.

However, I have disagree with your comment about the drivers.  I'm sure this must vary by route, but over the years of taking various P&Rs, the 65, 2, 4, 132, etc., I can count on one hand drivers who fit the above description.  If anything, I have found most of them to be quite the opposite, and considering the ill-mannered general public they deal with every day, not to mention the kamikaze habits of Houston drivers, I think they are a great bunch.

The 42 would carry more IF it was extended to Greeway/Galleria.  The 78 could turn around at the DT TC, and the 42 could assume the 78 route, but extend it west to the Galleria.  This should not be that hard to do.

Roykeaux,

        How many times do I personally have to tell you that you're not representing anybody but yourself?

If y'all want Houston to be better than anybody else, then this may have to be the way to go.  That's just the way it is!

I presented Metro with a sketch of a route that was a combined 42/78 with service to the Galleria and a possible extension to the Richmond Strip a few years back.  The problem is that the 42 and the 78 don't run the same headways making it a somewhat tough combination that would need a turnback at Montrose.

The issue I'm realizing with the 42/78 combo is getting from Elgin to Alabama in Midtown without alienating the riders that get on in the Montrose area.

As it stands now, the 42 runs down Holman to Louisiana up to Elgin/Westheimer, terminating at Lovett @ Yoakum. The 78 runs down Milam to Alabama and terminates in Greenway Plaza. Both routes are going to have to be adjusted when the University/Westpark line is built anyway.

The main purpose of the combination is to extend the 42 while retaining the general concept of the 78. The problem is that the 42 is an east-west bus while the 78 is a north-south bus in Midtown.

To fix that, the 42 will have to make a left turn somewhere to get on to Alabama.  Our options are Milam and Montrose unless you want to use a narrower side street like Waugh, Dunlavy, or Taft.

Milam is already where the 78 runs anyway, so it wouldn't be a terrible stretch to have the 42 turn left at Milam and Holman, continuing the 78 portion of the route in its entirety. This will discontinue the 78 in most of Midtown, though, leaving only the 9-Gulfton on that street. It will also discontinue the 42 from Milam @ Holman to its current terminus, meaning people on the East side of town will have to figure out how to access the Social Security office on Smith and Elgin another way.

Montrose would be more ideal in preserving the 42. It would turn left on Montrose, and use its current terminus as a Sunday/low ridership turnback. The normal route would thus proceed to Alabama and continue from there. However, this would eliminate the 78 from Midtown altogether, again leaving only the 9 Gulfton on Milam.

As for going to the Galleria, I think I went over that when this idea first came up. Alabama dead ends at 610, so it has to go to either Westheimer or Richmond before that...probably on Weslayan, which I think is too soon. Unfortunately, there's no other major thoroughfare to do this on between Weslayan and 610 without listening to the whining from people in Afton Oaks. Otherwise, I'd just run the bus up Newcastle.

I think once a 24/78 gets to Greeway, it could follow the route of the 73 to the Galleria.  That way, it would keep the route out of Afton Oaks.

Mr. CoLLins,

The citizens are not getting the best transit, or mobility solution for our city.

The incentives are too skewed in favor of boondoggle rail.  The media does not challenge METREAUX.

The mob has spoken.  It's endless boondoggle urban rail so the insiders and cronies keep the nests feathered while the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders are further abused, and future generations will be indentured to pay off the billions in bonds floated so that the urban rail robber barons can play Monopoly.

Roykeaux,

        You amaze me with your ranting about who you think you're representing and thinking we're not getting the best transit out of METRO---or any TA in this country.  Astounding!  Bravo!

One suggestion, though=>Why don't you put your money where your mouth is and let people speak up for themselves?  I personally do NOT think they need your help.  You've done enough!

If you think I'm not getting the best out of METRO, then why---OH WHY---am I still faithfully riding their buses and trains?  Sorry but as long as there is a TA here in this city, I'll be riding it until there is no more Houston---thank you.

Would you rather have too many cars on the roadways---leading to more traffic, accidents, more of your precious tax money to build more and/or maintain current roadways, etc.?  Don't answer that---I'll do it for you---YES!

I do not believe that any person should attempt to coerce another individual to stop posting on this blog!   YOU MAY IGNORE POSTINGS THAT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH! Only the administrator of this blog can exclude posts. Andthen it would be a disservice to this blog community for royko to stop posting. Just as some bring positive facts to share with this community royko also brings facts  albeit mostly adverse to this blogs intent. I see him in a devils advocate role who has fun posting here. I am through speaking for myself ;) !!!

coug6666,

        ROTFLMAO!!!  Unfortunately, that's not even in the same town as funny.  Now that I got that laugh out of the way.....

Maybe you FAIL to realize that Royko (CORRECTION=>ROYKEAUX) ONLY cares about what shouldn't happen with METRO and what certain people at METRO (if not all involved) did WRONG in an attempt to make Houston a better city for integrated mass transit.  Say what you want but this so-called "Devils Advocate" needs to go where he belongs.  It's already bad enough we have food critics (need those, BTW) but this?  It's ridiculous.

BTW, what you say DID fall on my deaf ears.

Now that I got that out of the way, METRO should of thought of this AND done this kind of stuff LONG time ago.  Need more trains (light rail---and get those commuter trains rolling---NOW), need more buses (especially artic ones---NOW=>shhh, Dominic *lol*).  My question to METRO is why wait until now?

As more and more people ride---especially those P&R buses/coaches (mainly because of gas prices), you people will realize that more buses (and possibly trains) may be needed for METRO.  What we have now just isn't going to work.  I heard drivers may have to change routes this quickly and more buses are needed because too many people want to escape the screwed-up gas prices causes by the government and hope to rely on mass transit to get where they need to go.

Don't like buses?  You can always carpool---or even vanpool.

Just as y'all can let Roykeaux can keep ranting about what HE thinks should happen, I'm going to keep mentioning (ranting if I have to) what we need more of until whatever METRO does makes me happy.

BAM!

My continued ranting continues.....

Here's something that critics FAIL to realize here=>We're WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY behind other cities that have an integrated mass transit system.  Dozens of buses and only one doggone rail line?  Embarrassing in my book.  Double---no---TRIPLE the number of buses/trains that we need more of---to the point that METRO may need your precious tax money to build more facilities to house these additions.

Step up to the plate METRO and give us riders and METRO supporters what we need---FAST!

I REST MY CASE!  For this and other blogs, until next time.

I don't mind having various opinons this board, positive, negative, or neutral.  I don't mind debates.  But can't we do it with some civility?  

Now that METRO has the green light, will small-disadvantaged businesses still be included in these projects?  It appears that small-disadvanted businesses have to be connected to City/METRO insiders to get these contracts.

Something I've been percolating on for a while is what's going to happen to the route segments that the rail lines are replacing. I've kind of been working on it off and on for a couple of months and this is what I have so far.

University/Westpark line-- The western segment of the line is replacing the 25 Richmond up to Cummins. This is the biggest issue, but the easiest to solve. The 25 will either start somewhere in Greenway Plaza and continue as a crosstown bus, or start from Wheeler Station and run as a limited route like the 132.

Another problem that occurs in Greenway Plaza is that the 53, 73, 78, 283, and 286 run on Richmond. I think that this can be solved either with some rerouting, or building a transit center.

The 53-Briar Forest is already a Limited route, so it wouldn't hurt to extend the freeway portion to Weslayan, or run it down the feeder from Buffalo Speedway to Weslayan.

The 73-Bellfort Crosstown could either take the feeder like I've suggested for the 53, or it could just cross Richmond and continue down Alabama. The 53 could do that too.

The 78-Alabama (in its current state) terminates in Greenway Plaza. Assuming it won't be extended to the Galleria, it should terminate further down Alabama. Instead of coming down Buffalo Speedway, we move it to Cummins, continuing down Richmond to Weslayan and returning to Alabama.

The 283 and 286 could theoretically be eliminated because the majority of the local portion will be duplicated by the rail lines. The 286 certainly can if the frequency of the 216 is raised...or if W. Little York P&R gets its own 21x route. And the load shift from the loss of the 286 would definitely support it.

The 283 from Kuykendahl may have a bit more trouble. Service out there is thin, and there's no direct route from there to anywhere but Willowbrook, Greenspoint, and downtown. It may have to stay as is, but rerouted from Post Oak to Sage...or something. The portion in Greenway Plaza may have to be relocated to Alabama somehow.

I'll have to cover the eastern half of the route in another post because this is getting kind of tl;dr. Let's just say it involves moving the 42 and possibly the 80-Lyons/Dowling.