Comments:

1.  Been by the terminal.  Staff very helpful.

2.  But why start out with the new MCI's?  How about using those spare vans by the terminal.  Once you got the business, then, yes, move up to the MCI.

3.  Needs to go to:

a.  Hobby-TMC

b.  Both airports and Galleria.  maybe some downtown trips go through to Greenway Transportation Center and Galleria?

c.  A one stop MAX (Metro Airport Express) with one stop at the Greespoint Mini-Terminal.  Connectivity with 56, 86, 102.  A small termainal building with some parking METRO could rent from Greenspoint Mall.  There are convention motels across the street.

I rode this on Sunday, and it was a fast and pleasant ride.  However I was disappointed that the Q card would not work, and the credit card machine would not work either.  Fortunately they were able to take an impression of my card, but it required a long wait.  When I got on the bus, the metro money card came back invalid as well, but the driver was great and said the receipt was enough.  It was also unclear how to get a ride home on the return trip, since the Q card does not work.

Mary - Does the Q card offer buy 5 get 1 free?  Since the card doesn't work yet is there a way to get a credit for previous trips on this promotion?

boy... boy...Im just shaking my head now. I want to meet the person(s) who suggested this route so I can pay them to put some suggestions in for the 102.

Like taking that raggedy, mildew smelling bus off the Southbound 6a Greenspoint TC. Also try adding a 5a Southbound 102 because I cant ever catch my 5:17a Kuykendahl when I need to with the 4:56a WB 86 drivers being late every morning.

But I hear a lot of people (airport employees) on the 102 talking about the new route. Their only complaint is that $15 ticket... but of course METRO knew that. I think its a bit steap considering in LA I rode the bus to San Diego for $29 round trip.

I have to give it to METRO, this is a really nice service. I do have some complaints about that brochure.

My only strong comment about this service is (puts on Nomex suit)---if you can afford the plane ticket, then you can afford the $15 one-way ride.

Dominic,

       My question is---what's with those vans for anyway?  One day, I would want to ride this service---just to ride it.  If there's any problems with my new favorite coaches, hopefully METRO will fix those ASAP!

Cedric:

I want two things,

1.  Ride the MAD myself.

2.  Wish Corgi/Die Cast Direct would make this bus in 1/50 scale.  (Nothing against your paper models....)

Those vans?  ?????????? Should be used on something like the 39 or 64 circ routes.

Questions:

1.  Free 2 hr. Transfers?

2.  Counts as a Q card trip?

3.  If I ride a $1.00 service, and ride the MAD, will Q deduct $14.00 or $15.00.

More people would use it IF transfer included!

The Airport Direct is clearly designed for travelers. When a taxi costs over $40 to go to Bush from downtown, $15 one way is pretty frigging cheap.

This "Airport Direct" is exactly what is wrong with Metro.  You all go all out with the buses, the little plaza building, the vans, the coffee, the TVs, the bellhops and for what, 100 riders per day?  Isn't that the projected ridership?  Are you all insane?

Meanwhile, the 2 - Bellaire and the 82 - Westheimer (I refuse to use the 81/82 desginations) bring in over 25,000 daily riders.  Quick math lesson guys, which is correct......

100 > 25000

100 < 25000

100 = 25000

Light rail light rail light rail!!!!!!!!

While I'm sure most Metro personnel chose the last choice, the answer is the second one.  100 people is less than 25,000.  Yet, while 100 people enjoy your Airport Direct service, 25,000 people deal with late and horribly maintained to the point of dangerous buses.  I had an articulated bus (4559) with torn bellows.  Even the duct tape was badly applied and hanging like an old pull cord.  Where's OUR relief Metro?  Oh yes, it's either delayed AGAIN (QL - Bellaire) or non-existant (QL - Westheimer where art thou?).

You all seem to have no shame in throwing money down the drain then rubbing our faces in it.

No offense Dominic but those vans should NOT be used for services like the 39 or 64.  METRO needs to use something like those METROLift vehicles---since they're already equipped with wheelchair lifts.  Remember, we need to try to keep a 100% accessible fleet and unless those vans can be modified ot have wheelchair lifts or ramps, they ain't gonna work.

J. Liggins said:  "You all seem to have no shame in throwing money down the drain then rubbing our faces in it."

Ummm---we throw money down the drain on other things in life so what exactly ARE you trying to imply?  Are you saying that we should NOT give our money to METRO?  Are you saying that we should save our money and THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO RIDE FREE?!  Nothing comes either free or cheap---NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When are some of you people going to learn that not everything will go your way, huh?!  If you don't like it, tough!  That's life and you're going to have to deal with it.

Mr. CoLLins,

Maybe we can get METREAUX to deal with the fact that it was, and still is seen as a bus operator with one heck of a large service area.

METREAUX promised voters, in 2003, a 50% INCREASE in bus service.  Mr. Liggins has every right to criticize METREAUX for the illogical allocation of rolling stock.

Wee seem to be unable to communicate with the unelected, and seemingly unaccountable urban rail robber barons who are focused on playing "Monopoly" instead of wanting to provide exemplary bus service.

Well I have the right to criticize you and anybody else who knows that things are NOT going to go their way so what are you going to do?  NOTHING!

NEXT!

Cedric,

I thought those vans HAD lifts. If not, they should.

I rode the 500 out and 102 in.  METRO might be onto something here!  I was impressed with the NCI 4900's.  But I am REALLY impressed with the new 5000's.  Considering they are hybrids, they are really quiet.  Can the BOF's keep 'em that way?

Now the 102 is a Bus From Hades.  Maybe there 102 should run Downtown-Greenspoint Transit Center-Terminal C ONLY.  GTC-Term. C can be a cirulator, with an extension to the Eastex P&R.

Now back to Westheimer Corridor:

... --- ....  ... --- ...

(Morse for SOS!)

Speaking of the 102, I have ridden it several times and have no complaints about it. I live downtown and it gets me to Terminal C in about an hour for a buck. (actually it costs me nothing since I'm over 70) That beats driving and paying parking fees of $60 or $70 a week.

Cedric:

Those vans.  They are used on very early or late MAD trips.  Because they are part of a METRO service, I think they have lifts.

And if they have lifts, why can't METRO use them on lighter routes, and for weekend/holiday/night service.

They should be cheaper to run than even the METROLift microbuses.  I think METRO is missing out by not considering using buses on either end of length.  (The 39 Parker does not need an artic, but a 29.999....foot NewFlunker is a bit of overkill!)

Now if METRO could get NewFlyer to clone some of those special buses they built for Eugene OR, and clone some sliver stops on Bellaire, and place both on Westheimer.....How do you spell BRT....no rocket science here.  (West BOF can do Artics, so.....)

Mr. Collins, are you on medication or is that just that Red Flavored Metro-Aide you've been gulping?  Seriously, it seems since the start of this blog you've gone from a oddball Metro fan to a raving seven year old.  Get help.

J,

These fancy new plans that are being cranked out are intended to attract new riders, not satisfy the old ones. Sad, but true.

In a sense, a lot of their LOCAL ridership is a captive audience. Some of us own cars and they're in bad shape. Others don't own one at all. So what do we do? We get on the bus. It was good enough for our parents and grandparents, even when we forced to sit in the back. Basically, they've got OUR money already. It's everyone else's they're going after.  

And the thing is, we're here complaining on this blog everyday. There are people who complain over the phone everyday. But I can guarantee you that for every person that files a complaint somewhere, there's another 50 that aren't saying anything.

When a bus shows up more than 5 minutes late, it didn't just affect the person who called it in. It affected everyone on the bus already, and those who were waiting that extra five minutes to get on it. If it's during morning rush, someone might have lost their job because of it.

It's honestly ridiculous that in the four years I've been here, there have been more routes discontinued than created. And I don't blame a bit of it on the Light Rail. It didn't replace the 8 Main, it just made it move over to Fannin. And I think they would have split it in two anyway, which was a stupid idea. I mean, what other route have you been on that begins AND ends within half a mile of Fry's Electronics?

Since I arrived in April 2004...

*the 35-Fairview/Leeland discontinued the Leeland half.  

*the 41-Gulf Meadows was discontinued.

*the 43-Pinemont Plaza was discontinued.

*the 54-Aldine/Hollyvale was discontinued.

*the 55-Greenspoint/Deerbrook was created and discontinued.

*the 64-Lincoln City was discontinued and brought back.

*the 70-Memorial/University discontinued the University half

*the 84-TC Jester was discontinued

*the 93-Greenway Plaza/NWTC was discontinued

*the 101-Bush/Hobby discontinued the Bush half.

*the 210-West Belt was discontinued and the lot was sold.

See how many times I used the word "Discontinued"? 11 times.

The only new routes that came since I got here were the 39-Parker, 59-Aldine(which is just a retooled 54),

217, and 222. Making branches into separate routes doesn't count in my eyes.

So for 11 discontinued routes, we get 4 new ones? This must be the New Math.

Hey Metro, are you monitoring this? Will you stick up for yourself, please? I just heard from a driver last night that Airport Direct is being sponsored by Continental Airlines. If what she tells me is true, this service isn't costing us anything, making all the belly-aching about it moot. So what's the story?

There are ads on the buses for CO, there is a filght info displace in the downtown terminal for CO, it stops at Terminal C at IAH, which is only used by one airline (guess?).  The downtown terminal is not too far form an airline HQ (guess?)  Many of the art facilities downtown have an airline as a sponser(guess?)  If CO is backing this up, so much the better.  (As long as it will not be coming out of the new first bag fee.)

Just came from CO's web site.  If you go to search, and type in "airport direct", the first listing IS METRO Airport direct.

So, if CO is sponsoring this bus route, why is the fare $15?

It's called an "investment". If you want free, walk. If you've got a buck, take the 102. Otherwise, pay the $15 and be happy. I live five miles from IAH, and a cab is almost $20.

What an idiotic argument.  By your logic, Metro can raise all of their fares to $15 and if someone doesn't like it they can walk.  You have the critical thinking skills of a developmentally challenged toddler.  

Metro is INVESTING in 100 riders per day while tens of thousands of riders are suffering on decrepit buses running terrible service.  I think that's a bad INVESTMENT.  In fact, that's just bad business.

Metro is running with 54% on time performance yet it's INVESTING into these ridiculous vanity projects like the Airport Direct and delayed for nearly two years Quickline service.  The QL buses have been gathering dust for well over a year while Metro drags it's feet getting the poorly scheduled service together.  That's a bad INVESTMENT.  

Putting funding in place for a QL from TMC TC to the Palm Center is a bad INVESTMENT when there's NO DEMAND WHATSOEVER due to the fact that 26/27 runs the segment in a decent amount of time and without being close to capacity.  Yet Metro is dead set on this route but has no timetable for a much needed Richmond or Westheimer QL.

Pathetic.

Quess what?  Been to the SA VIA site.  Fredrisburg Road is to SA what Westheimer is to us.  And buess what VIA is going to put there?  BRT! Hybrid BRT!  Hybrid BRT Buses that flex!  (Odd, we want to get RID of the "A" bus.)  

Clone that, and put it on Westheimer.  (I can dream, right!)

Sorry folks but I have to take care of this problem here.  Unlike some people, I'll tell it like it is---as if I was to say it in person.  Here goes:

              *Off-topic Rant Mode On*

J. Liggins,

          Seems you STILL don't know how to think before PISSING ME OFF!  FASCINATING!  Are you that ABSENT-MINDED or are your comments getting about this off-topic, personal BS getting more dumber by the day?

Listen and listen good=>You don't know a **** thing about me so you need to get your facts and priorites straight before you say ****.  Maybe I should criticize what YOU say, how about that?

What are you---the Write On METRO blog police?  Since when this happen?  Problem?  IGNORE IT!  Try it for once.  Maybe it'll work---or maybe not.  Can't ignore it?  Do something about it.  No wait---you can't.  Sorry about that.  *ROTFLMAO*

Are you a friggin' child?  You sure are acting like one---always thinking you're the good guy wanting to worry about other people rather than  worring about yourself.  Try doing that sometime=>worrying about yourself.

Maybe it's your medication that I have since you're so concerned about it.  I'll return it to the 1900 Main location when I have time.  Sorry but I don't drink your "happy" juice---in case you was wondering.  Nice try, BTW.

Seriously, stay the **** off me because you do NOT know me like that and I will NOT let this get swept under the rug.  Still got a problem with me, e-mail me and we'll contine there.  PLEASE refrain from talking to me and I'll do the same.  I don't have time for your BS games.  THANK YOU!

             *Off-topic Rant Mode Off*

Now---back to the topic at hand---ONCE AGAIN.

Dominic,

       Yes you can dream.  I dream that METRO would still think about getting---YES---the "A" bus=>the HYBRID version, of course.

H's comment (PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY) saids it all and I 100% agree with what this person said.  In other words, AMEN to that!  My view?  Pay the fare or DON'T RIDE!  Simple---something a CHILD can understand better.

H and Cedric:

You forgot the PW option:  ride a bike!  (Long trip!  bike racks at IAH?)

Cedric, you've just proved my point.  Kudos to you.  You're the only person on this blog who can't conduct himself in a civil manner without resorting to cursing, caps locks, and typing like a 15 year old ghetto female.  Even Royko has improved.  

Anyway Mr. Collins, I do sincerely hope that you resume taking your medications as we do not want a repeat of what happened on another certain internet forum, do we?

People who live in Houston, pay taxes but

"DONT RIDE" METRO should be complaining too...

Everyone who has a brain should have a problem with this.

Once again I would like to express my disappointment with how much METRO charges for this fancy service (and how few people use it). Here is my suggestion regarding how fair fare should be calculated: If a family of four decides to take a bus to the airport, it should cost them not more than 50% of the cab fare. $5.00 per person, $20.00 per family seems about right.

And to all the people, who reminded me I have the right not to use this service if I do not like it or if it seems to me overpriced:

I know. We also may choose not to fly (or not to pick up our guests from the airport). Also we may choose to move out to a place where public transportation is better developed.

I think the route is great! The route is fast and the alot cheaper than taxis or other means.

Well, well, well.  Lookie what we have here, folks.  I see that this J. Liggins coward wants to go all racial here---and still wants to get personal.  If this---whoever this chump of a person is---wants to continue this BS crap, then I can go along with that.

In case anybody missed it, here's what was said, "typing like a 15 year old ghetto female"  What does that tell ya?  Looks somewhat racial to me.

Stop trying to act like Dr. Phil and start acting like yourself.  At least I'm showing my true colors instead of being afraid of people like you.

Sorry buddy but I choose NOT to deal with YOUR medicine-like substances.  You can be impatient all you want but maybe I should just throw those things of yours away instead of taking them to 1900 Main.  If you want them that bad, then you should of told me to give them back ASAP!

Furthermore, why are you soooo concerned about Royko improving?  Improving of what?  I still see the same stuff so what exactly are you implying here?  Is there something we all should know about?  Provide facts or something to back that up.

Seriously person, do something better with your life instead of thinking you're the king of stuff because guess what?  You're not!  LMAO!!!!

Maybe you're hard-headed or something because I specifically said something that I'll say once again=>"Still got a problem with me, e-mail me and we'll continue there.  PLEASE refrain from responding to my posts and I'll do the same.  I don't have time for your BS games.  THANK YOU!"

Now that I got that out of the way---AGAIN.....

Dominic,

       You forgot that people can put bikes in the same spot on those MCI hybrids as they can on those diesel MCI twins; therefore, the long bike ride may not be necessary.  *lol*

Bile Racks:

1. The 5K MCI's do have the front bay for bikes!

2. What I meant was bike storage at IAH (PW?)

Mary,

Does Airport Direct have space for luggage - i.e., 26" pullman?

I'm visiting Houston. If the endpoint is only in the downtown area, is it easy (is there space?) to carry luggage into the MetroRail to go to the Medical Center area?

Maru,

Yes, the Airport Direct buses have space for luggage, including a 26-inch pullman. Luggage is loaded into the belly of the bus by the concierge.

And if you are going to the Medical Center, you can easily walk to METRORail, which takes you directly to the Medical Center. If you have luggage on wheels, you can pull it onto the train, which is the same level as the platform. Parents with baby strollers roll onto the train from the platform all the time.

Good luck!

I tried this service. Was the only passenger on the 50 seater bus ride middle of the day. As suggested by others on this blog, might make sense to use Vans until there is enough demand to use new hybrid buses.

Another idea, how about Metro partnering with Supershuttle, so that passengers can continue to their final destination by Supershuttle from downtown ? Would help both Metro and Supershuttle to provide better service/value to customer. It would help customers minimize wait for Supershuttle on their way from Airport to destination.