["Councilwoman Wanda Adams said at yesterday's meeting she will work to make sure "the community's voice is heard."]

I would have to 100% agree with Councilwoman Adams.  I say that because I'm hoping that there's still time to make changes before the actual construction begins.  Good luck to all on that conquest!

You mean some of richmond will no longer be the Baja 1000?  My car's struts are saying, "Thank you!"

A light rail system is well overdue.  Houston as a city cannot continue into the 21st century relying on the automobile to move its citizenry.

Phil said:  "A light rail system is well overdue.  Houston as a city cannot continue into the 21st century relying on the automobile to move its citizenry."

AMEN to that!  Unfortunately, ONE person can't get that message.  He hasn't said anything here---yet.

This calls for the development of a METREAUX Misery Index (MMI), similar to the one devised in the Carter years, but focusing on how METREAUX is making transit worse for those who are bus transit dependent, and the statistics which document METREAUX's failure to significantly improve the overall mobility throughout the service area.

Hey Royko,

Charles Schwab's research bureau (I use them as my broker), has created a new version of the misery index, I think they call it the Consumer Pain Index, and this "CPI" is as bad right now as it ever was under Carter in 1978.

Thank you GW Bush! BTW, I voted and campaigned for Bush and Culberson in 2000, but I subsequently learned my lesson. I hope you do as well.

I've been riding METRO for about 10.5 years.  Back in the day, one would regularly see the correct bus schedule on the correct bus as well as a plentiful supply of the "Take One" brochures.  Those days are long past.

Also, how many times have we seen umpteen buses on the same route going the same direction literally one-right-behind-the-other?  If METRO is so advanced and so with-in with public transport, then why does this still go on?  I know traffic around the Galleria, etc. is horrendous always, but surely something can be done.

PWang,

I must resign myself to the bilious thought that it could have been worse!

Still sitting here honing the tynes on my early-American pitchfork, ready to head towards the sound of the guns.

Good.  Get Metro away from internal combustion and into electric traction propulsion as quickly as possible.

Long-term, motor fuel is not going to get cheaper.  One day, we'll see outright shortages.  If you can't fill up, Metro won't be able to run their buses, either.

Electric traction is so much more efficient than internal combustion.  It is a crime that the US and Canada scrapped their electric railway systems and went to buses.  They didn't know then that cheap petroleum was a one-shot deal.

Roykeaux said:  "I must resign myself to the bilious thought that it could have been worse!"

I don't know what the heck that means but this I gotta see---or hear.

METRO is also giving something to the city: $300 million of utility upgrades. For example, if a sewer line needs to be larger or needs to be replaced due to age, METRO will install a new one.

METREAUX fails to mention that they are busy trying to end the 25% of sales tax that is currently being shared.

Let's see, METREAUX is going to collect over 1/2 Billion dollars in sales tax this year, where the COH share is $94 million.  Next year it will be $100 million, ans so on.

So METRO will soon end the 25% of sales tax, and "give" the COH a mere $300 million in utility upgrades, where METREAUX was to be responsible for the relocation and/or replacement of underground infrastructure anyway.

Sounds like a deal Jordy would have cut for taxpayers.

We are being short-changed again!

Roykeaux,

        Sooner or later, your whining about how METRO and the City of Houston's money stuff will soon fall on deaf ears because when those two folks make their final say on issues that they address, DEAL WITH IT AND MOVE ON!

Mike Harrington said:  "Long-term, motor fuel is not going to get cheaper.  One day, we'll see outright shortages.  If you can't fill up, Metro won't be able to run their buses, either."

I hate to say this but this'll even include HYBRID buses.

Hmmm---one thing strikes me---ELECTRIC TROLLEY BUSES!!!!  Think about that one.

Mr. CoLLins,

The COH and METREAUX rely heavily on federal pork.  HUD recently demanded the COH return at least $15 million (up to $25 million) that was squandered by the H&CD department, and, not resolved by the guy who is now trying to dupe voters into electing him to a county position.

If METREAUX can't get the federal pork, all this threatened pie-in-the-sky dystopian rail will end.

Roykeaux,

        While you worry about something that I don't care about, ELECTRIC TROLLEY BUSES!!!!  Look how those kinds of vehicles have lasted in certain cities=>in Vancouver, for example.

Fuel prices are going to get worse before they get better but I can bet you're not too concerned about it because you surely think buses by themselves are the way to go.

I REST MY CASE!

Mr. CoLLins,

Electric trolley buses.  Ok.  How does that solve the immediate critical problem of the United States being quickly drained financially for foriegn oil when the Liberals and environmentalists have prevented American energy independence by restricting drilling and nuclear power facilities?

Rokyeaux,

        May I ask what the ______ does that have to do with TAs in not just the US but also in Canada and wanting eletric trolley buses?

While there are disadvantages with electric trolley buses, read that and the advantages first (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus) before you ask something like that.

Now---you was saying?