What about taking the "Transit Backbone" tram for some ice and water?

Over 2/3 of all fixed routes dump the bus transit dependent at the transit centers (tram platforms), so why can't citizens just ride down to the "World-Class" tram to get supplies?

What!  The shoddily-built boondoggle will be out of service for a week, and METREAUX will be using BUSES to run along the tram line!

AGAIN, versitile, agile, buses with great utility running rings around wasteful urban rail.

When will our elected officials stop putting lipstick on the urban rail "Alligator?"

And to think METREAUX is trying to spend Billions upon Billions of our precious transportation resources on FIVE extensions to this miserable Lee. P. Brown legacy.

Houston needs more investment of transportation dollars in rubber-tired mobility solutions.

Hey Royko, thought maybe you had been washed out to sea but glad to see you're still here. I realy don't understand why it's taking a week to get 7 miles of rail back up and running either. The replacement busses are really a disgrace. Every one that I have ridden has been jammed with passengers and they seem to not have any kind of schedule.

don,

Someday, I very well may punch my ticket like the "Gaurdian," although I would be there in spirit to protect the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the METREAUX service area from bureaucratic abuse.

Royko,

     Are you OK, man?!  Do you realize that things will take time before things get back to normal?  NO, YOU DON'T!  The commment you made can (and should) make somebody sick.  If not, something's wrong with this picture.

I seriously hope you're not using this difficult time to lash out on METRORail.  Maybe you should of been washed out to sea.

As long as people can STILL get to where they can go on METRO, what's the problem?  It's not like they "magically" fix what's needed to put METRORail back in service.

Adding insult to injury, P&R riders will have to ride the bus on the mainlanes because the HOV lanes are STILL closed and may take some time before their bus can leave the Downtown Houston area.

(sighs)  Anyhoo, thanks to METRO for listing these POD places and which buses can take you there.

Mary:

Do those PODS need help with giving out the stuff?  Or other NGO's needing help?  METRO routes to match?

Info on the METRO responds site?

Mr. CoLLins,

The obvious point is that METREAUX squandered precious taxpayer resources on an unreliable "Transit Backbone!"

And what is more abhorant, they want to dump Additional Billions of taxpayer-backed resources on FIVE (5) extensions to the demented Lee. P. Brown Legacy.

With the emergency reliance upon the performance and utility of buses, it is clear METREAUC must focus resources on rubber-tired mobility solutions.

(Nomex on)

Some guideway systems use rubber tires.  The Paris Metro, Mexico DF Metro, the Seatle monorail and BRT use rubber tires.

A regular bus could be classified as a "guideway free rubber tired mode".

FWI:  Actually, the METRO red line is NOT the only electric rail system in town.  The COH has two.  Both are at IAH Bush.  One is the underground train, which runs from terminal to terminal.  The other is in the newer parts of Bush, which runs east of Terminal C, in the "secured" area of the airport.

I think one could call these "mini-metros" or "people movers".  I think both are "free".  (landing fess or high food prices pay for this?)

(Nomex off:  back to topic)  Seems the PODS have a high flow of traffic!

Royko,

     If you think METRO needs to spend more time with buses, try telling them to purchase a ship-load more than what they have now---yes---that includes the "A" bus.

Nobody's perfect around here so can we leave it at that?

I would like to ask a question to all bloggers here- how unreliable is the 102 if I were coming from Hobby to work out there and have to be there by 8:00 am?  Would it be reasonable to say I shouldn't apply for a job out there if I am going to have to be there on time coming from Hobby- (5, 88, 40) to 102?  How many times is that bus usually late getting there in your opinion?  

The 102 is usually on time BUT that’s if you ride between 8:30a - 4p... Outside of those times the route is overcrowded and METRO acts like dimwits when you ask them to add a few more trips between 5:30a and 8a.

The evening 102 trips have the same issue. 5p to 7:30 on the 102 is horrible

And the last trip from the airport is usually standing room from IAH to downtown.

You just have to pray there isn’t an accident on 45 or the bus gets behind some idiot that cant follow one lane on the HOV.

OR pay $15 and have a quiet trip up 59 on that Bush Express. You won’t have anyone to talk to though, unless the driver has something good to talk about.

Then if you’re riding 40 to downtown, good luck trying to make your connection. I ride that route home (because there are no evening trips from Monroe P&R) and there is no way drivers can follow the times on the schedule.

And the 56 detoured at Esplanade and went straight to Greenspoint Mall the first 4 days when people were trying to get to the POD at that church.

I appreciate your response C.  I needed responses to validate to the Unemployment Commission on why I could not interview for a job out there.  I like being a good employee and I felt that it would not be a good idea for me to even interview through this one agency.  That was just sorry for the temp agency to expect me to interview for thier client knowing I had car troubles.  Then the unemployment folks did not want to pay me because they think that in thier little utopian world that I could have made it on time from Hobby to Northbelt on time by 8:00am through Metro.  :(   Such is life. It was a great job too, but I knew I would not be a good employee by taking because I knew I'd be late everyday.

Thanks again C.