One of the firm weaknesses of at grade, in-the-street rail over fully grade separated transit.

Over one week without this "vital" transit service.  Seems that the buses are handling the load fine though.

Buses can operate when signal lights are not working.

I simply find it incredible that the absence of grid power has shut down the HOV lanes for a whole week.  It takes very little power to operate a traffic gate.  Anyone ever hear of gas powered generators?  Guess what - they're available at Home Depot (I bought one today, no problem).  How about taking some of the desk jockeys out of their air conditioned offices and put them at the gates with signs?

Bureaucratic excuses are plentiful these days.  Leadership is nowhere to be found.

They have started to log predictions on another blog as to when the tram actually will return to service.

My reply was "With any luck...never again!"

I had expected to read that the copper thieves running rampant in our "Sanctuary City" had stripped the catenary wire as it is easy pickin's.

I would like to counter that the buses are handleing the load just fine.  With the train I can get to and from work in about an hour.  Since the trin has been down the transite time has been increased by 30 to 45 minutes.  That is going by buses and in the case of the mornings, catching a bus that actually leaves EARLIER than when I would catch the train.  Feel free to tell me how I am somehow wrong... I will go back to wondering why a tree couldnt have fallen on some people here.  

Management is too busy patting themselves on the back. Maybe, as Mayor White said, they should look for "alternative employment".

don,

The urban rail robber barons at METREAUX seem to be too busy playing "Monopoly" with the "Windfall" sales tax revenue than to worry about making sure the buses run as scheduled.

I find it completely ridiculous that in a time where there are long lines at gas stations and the city is asked to help conserve gas while we work through this mess, Metro (and whoever else involved) cannot manually open the HOV gates.  Sitting in traffic for over two hours on 290 from Greenway Plaza is not acceptable when you leave work at 3:30.  

While I undertand there are larger issues at hand, how do you expect to get a city up and running if people cannot get to their jobs and homes in a reasonable manner.

Disgruntled wrote:  "I would like to counter that the buses are handleing the load just fine."

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

Not in my book - not by a long shot.  From Wheeler station to the Medical Center, and vice versa, it's poor.  I have had to let at least two shuttles pass each time before there's standing room - often right next to the driver - during peak times.  Metro can do way better than this.  Either send more shuttles, send them more often, or send bigger buses.  If the rail is not running Monday, then I'm going to find another way into work, since waiting nearly 30 minutes for a shuttle with any standing room is nuts.  Gee whiz Metro, the rail is FULL at peak times, so why are you only sending regular-size buses and not very often at that?  Geez.

Elizabeth:

"From Wheeler station to the Medical Center, and vice versa, it's poor."

"Gee whiz Metro, the rail is FULL at peak times, so why are you only sending regular-size buses and not very often at that?"

First, the Wheeler-Med Center flow is counter to "normal" peak flow.  Wheeler was made into a hub and bus runs were diverted to this point (as well as the TMC and downtowm 'hubs'

Perhaps Metro is not anticipating this fact in their scheduling.

As to the bus sizes, it is insane that they are not using the articulated large ones, just like they do on other heavy routes.

Based on the enoromous amount of buses sitting idle at the West side bus barn, they have ample buses to serve the needs.

The most important point though is, the rail CANNOT operate in 3" of water or without full power to not only it's drive system, but to the street signals.

Metro seems to be able to run the trains at 6 minute intervals but buses at 15-30 minute one's.  Strange.

The trolleys will ALWAYS have to have bus back up.  The buses do not need back up.

Question for Elizabeth and Disgrunted (save two posts):

Where do your trips originate from (General home area)?

One reason why we need the A bus!

"Metro Responds" section is old. What is HOV status for Monday the 22nd?

Noty allowing the busses to use the HOV is just a mess of bureaucratic BS.  Thye could easily get a warm body to open the gates and restrict the HOV to buses only.  

The excuse of emergency use is again BS.  While setting in rush-hour 290 traffice I saw a summ total of THREE vehicles use the lane.

I guess we can not expect puch out of Metro when they can not even manage to get the gates at the Park and ride lots open on a regular schedule when they have power.

I am tired of taking 2 hours and 15 minutes to get home.  Come on Metro...no excuses, more action.

Ken,

One would think that METEAUX has plenty of do-nut munching officers who could be deployed along the HOV lanes.

They have a S.W.A.T. unit, DHS terrorism unit, K-9 unit, Motorcycle unit, MAP unit in addition to the main operations force.  I wonder if they even have a nose count of all the officers?

http://www.ridemetro.org/SafetySecurity/MPD/Operations.aspx

I still have photos of a MPD officer, assigned to protect the tram line, sleeping on duty after picking up her laundry.

I agree with the guy that spent 2 hours getting home we desperately need the HOV lanes opened back up to alleviate the congestion on 290 as it is bad when the HOV lanes are working and miserble right now without.  It doesn't make sense that someone can't manually work the gates and put a police officer to work the traffic flow for the busses.

I also find it unbelievable that there is not a way to operate the HOV lanes without power.  There are "cattle" gates at the Northwest Transit Center and Northwest Park & Ride.  These can easily be opened by anyone.  If you need to station an officer at these locations, please do so...maybe it will cut down on a violator or two.  Having no power should not be an excuse for a "world class city" to lose a vital part of it's transportation infrastructure that does not run on electrical power.  Metro Police should be able to easily handle any logistical issues.  In my opinion...unacceptable!

It is RIDICULOUS, that METRO hasn't started to operate HOV yet on 290. I was stuck in sitting traffic last week for 3 straight days, morning and evening. METRO should STOP giving LAME excuses for power outage. If buses are running on major highways, which are without power, then they might as well operate on HOV lanes.

An their website http://metroresponds.org is a joke. Hardly any information on updates to traffic. I get better information from Chron.com. Pathetic.

At least gear up and start doing your job right as everyone else is.

Or at least discount the fare to $1 as 214 now operates  more like a stop-at-every-red-light service.

Metro is not responding.  Since the Red line is running again I sure hope all efforts are going to

open the HOV lanes.  290 to be exact.  It would take 5 metro police to open the 290 HOV 1 each at NWTC, Mangum/Dacoma, Pinemont, W Little York and Northwest.  Metro is about mobility but 290 was not moving this morning.  Traffic was backed up to Spring Cypress @ 7am.  Mary Sit please pass this suggestion on to operations, Metro PD or whoever is responsible for the HOV.  Thanks

Metro on a routine basis will have officers on the 290 HOV route anyhow so the excuse of lack of manpower does not fly, and gates can operated manually also.

Metro is being too stupid and lazy to adjust to the situation.

Beaurocratic balderdash !

It has been taking me 2 hours to get home everyday and today it took me 2 hours to get in.  Is there anything we can do to help Metro with this issue?  Is there anyone in our state department who we can call to complain about this?

Per Don G:  "Where do your trips originate from (General home area)?"

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

I take the 132 Harwin bus from the Westchase P&R lot to the Wheeler station and then catch the Fannin South to the Medical Center.  In the evening I do the same in reverse.

The rail was back in service this morning - hooray!  It was packed as usual, but at least I didn't have to let a train go by, or wait forever for the next one.

For what it's worth, I'd like to cast a vote to open the HOV on 59.  It's not too bad in the morning, but in the evening it's slooooooooooow.

While we're at it... don't forget about the Gulf corridor (specifically Fuqua).  The traffic is horrendous!!

Metro is a joke, even emergency vehicles can not use the HOV lanes. To blame that they can not open because of safety reasons is just as lame, since people do not pay attention to the signs anyway. The excuse for the gates is just as bad as I have seen them manually opening them at 5:30 most of the mornings anyway. It figures just when you need them most typical goverment lets you down.

METRO of course have the ability to operate and reopen the HOV lanes NOW or even LAST WEEK, but they need to protect themselves from being sued if HOV is not perfectly functional. Don't blame METRO, it is all because people like to sue over ANYTHING in this country.

Based on just looks, I do not see anything wrong with the 290 HOV lanes.  I understand Metro's desire to keep people safe.  However, I think 290 is more dangerous now because the lanes are being "shared" by more cars as well as the buses.

The HOV's need to come online quickly.  Metro can certainly post officers at each entrance like they normally do.

BNSF Railway is powering highway-rail crossins with generators....hint, hint...

Bosco:

1.  You need 6 on 290.  One needed to at the 1960 slit ramp an the end of the lane.

2.  Bosco--A syrup one put on ice cream when I was a child.  You took that product's name?

HPD is directing traffic since the lights are down. Where are Metro officers?  Why cant they monitor the access gates and ramps to the HOV lanes so people dont have to spend 2 hours in traffic.  I think management in Metro need to be held accountable by the public for NOT doing their jobs. Oh and by the way, the only places my coworkers have seen any Metro officers were are Starbucks.  

We need an update to the ridemetro.org website so we can see if progress is really being made.  I understand I-45 is an interstate but 290 is just as important and I-10 is closed til who knows when so HOT can evolve in.  Please update the website. Give us some estimate of when the HOV on 290 will reopen to buses and cars.

I agree that they can get a person out there to lift the gates for buses. There are usually 5 or 6 metro policemen at UH/D checking to make sure the train riders paid their fare. Why not have 1 do this and send the other 5 to the HOV lanes. I hope this mess goes to show our leaders that they didn't have Houston nearly prepared as they thought, and this was only a Cat 2 storm. What is Houston going to do when we are hit with a Cat 4 or Cat 5? We've had Rita and now Ike to learn from. Come on Metro ! Get with it ! Your excuses are over a week old !

I cannot believe that I have not seen a Metro police officer since the hurricane.  Maybe they are still evacuated, all lived in Galveston, or something.

But what a concept?!!?  Instead of nailing people for expired tags and inspections, have them GUARD THE ENTRANCES TO THE HOV LANES so we can actually USE THEM.  Hmmm.  No power required.

I'd prop the gates up msyelf if it's too much trouble.

Metro's organization (i.e., skills, not the entity) suck.  Where is the leadership?  Mayor white can organize cleanup crews before the storm, but Metro cannot figure out how to make traffic efficient on a closed lane system?  Ugh.

It has been 11 days since the storm Metro.  Get your act together now.

Please help me understand that Metro is exhausting all efforts to open the contraflow lanes?  It would seem that we would have a back up plan when electricity is out.  The back up plan should be to manually run the lane.  Please provide a timeline of when the I45 Gulf Corridor and 59 Southwest Corridorlane will be open.

Please help me understand that Metro is exhausting all efforts to open the HOV lanes?  It would seem that we would have a back up plan when electricity is out.  The back up plan should be to manually run the HOV lane.  Please provide a timeline of when the I45 Gulf Corridor and 59 Southwest Corridorlane will be open.

There is a POLICE SURVEY on the ridemetro.org main webpage.  I just filled one out.  In every text box, I cut and pasted or re-worded an entry that said "use Metro police to manually run the HOV lanes and guard them until the elec. comes back on"

I suggest everyone do the same.

If you look at how Civilized Cities/Counties manage HOV lanes you will see Far Left Diamond Lanes. Fort Bend uses them, as does Atlanta, GA.

You could tear out ALL of the concrete barriers and provide Diamond HOV Lanes BOTH ways 24 hours/day.

This increases the time they can be used from 60 hours a week (one way) to 168 hours/week both ways.

Plus, when the ill-repaired busses breakdown, you don't have to wait 2 hours for them to move a barrier so you can get out of the HOV.

I'm sure Metro would NOT like to lose their control. So, they would point out the Zillions of dollars it would cost to remove the barriers.

We should ask all METRO management to take the 290 highway for both morning and evening commute. I guess, then they will understand the pain which approximately 200,000 commuters are facing every day.

As someone mentioned METRO is afraid of getting sued, well.. put a small disclaimer before HOV starts. Or mention that disclaimer was torn by Ike... (stop giving excuses...)

This guy needs the calls - he's the dude.

Frank J. Wilson

President & Chief Executive Officer

713-739-4832

This guy needs a call too -- he's got the word "infrastructure" in his title -- and there is none right now.

John Haley

Vice President

Infrastructure & Service Devleopment

713-652-7993

UNBELIEVEABLE!!  Metro - get your act together and open the HOV lanes - where are the Metro cops??? Here's an idea - have them direct traffic so the buses can get off and on the HOV lanes.....it took 2 hours from Clear Lake to downtown this morning - and I had to pay for the privilege....if the executives at Metro had to use their own system, it would get fixed pronto!!!

This makes no sense at all.  Good thing this guy is not in charge of all Houston traffic.  Take the gates down and put an officer there if you really think you need it.  You think Mayor White shut down all the roads because "all" the lights were not working?  We are smart enough to navigate downtown without all the lights but we are not smart enought to go down a one-way lane without all the lights working.  This is another black-eye for Houston.

If I was Frank J. Wilson I'd resign.

I sure wish METRO would open the HOV lanes.  All these extra cars on the freeway are making MY commute even worse.  I feel for them, but does anyone feel for us non HOV users?

Dear METRO,

During my 2 1/2 crawl up hwy 59 last night on the 292, I couldn't help but feel like I may vomit from the incessant METROnome of stop and go driving.  

I understand it's unreasonable to ask you to open the HOV lanes, however would it be so difficult to supply barf bags to your loyal patrons?

Love,

Cynical Wallace

If Mayor White ran METRO, the HOV lanes would be open.

Until the HOV lanes are open, we should not have to pay for Metro.  CREDIT OUR Q CARDS!  We're not getting the full benefit, YOU should not be getting full fare.

Come to think of it, if METRO opens the HOV lanes, they CAN put a COP in there to give useless tickets (i.e., expired registration / inspection / no front license plate, etc.).  

WOW.  METRO cops love to give tickets for non-moving violations.  Hurry up and open the HOV lanes for their own benefit.  I'm sure they are going through withdrawal.

Question:

How many officials and METRO police officers does it take to open an HOV Lane?

Answer:

Nobody knows.  Apparently more than they have.

Anyone know how to cut and paste all of this into a fax and fax it to the management folks listed a few entries up?  Something to make sure someone is getting it?  I bet METRO never reads this.  Which is quite unfortunate.

Why is it that the bus operators cannot make the a/c on the bus actually work?

It's either off, or on.  Hot or Cold.  It's like there is no inbetween.  And it's either on max 10 blowing, or no blowing at all.  So the bus is hot, with max cold ac, and no air actually coming out.

If they, as part of training, made their operators ride in the middle of the bus for one day, they'd understand.

But then, if senior Metro officials used the park and rides, the HOV lanes would be open, too.  Somehow.  Even without electricity.

Call Those 2 numbers.  I did. Left Haley a message... Frank's secretary said call Centerpoint too.....

Here we go, they just don't get it......use your Metro police.......we KNOW Centerpoint is working on it....work your COPS!!!   Useless information from Frank's office.............

Oh, "IT'S NOT OUR FAULT -- CALL CENTERPOINT"

Of course, we have resources with badges and guns.  But blame someone else.

CALL THEM AND TELL THEM TO USE THEIR COPS.

Frank Wilson's office just told me to call back this afternoon and they would have more info on HOV closure/opening. Hopefully a recording won't kick in.

I don't think METRO caught enough flak for the nine-day rail outage. Once again, we heard that not ALL lights were working. The city had a solution for their important intersections: HPD officers. METRO...not so much. They could have AT LEAST gotten some portions of the line running, like within the TMC or downtown. Anything but that abysmal "bus shuttle" "service".

It has been over a week and the 290 HOV lane is still not operational.  How utterly ridiculous!  Metro should be forced to pay patrons for their WASTED time and gas on the freeways!  Come on - get those officers out there and open the gates!  I'm tired of spending 2 and half hours getting to work and home. And, stop blaming CenterPoint for your lack of leadership in getting Houston up and running.  If report cards go out regarding the handling of Hurrican Ike - Metro - and its leadership - get a big fat "F."

I appreciate hearing that Judge Emmet is taking steps to resolve HOV lane issues.  See latest article in today's chronicle at chron.com  Emmett seeks answers to Ike-related traffic mess website:  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6017721.html

I hope we see results today on the HOV Lanes...thank you Chronicle reporters.  

Sad Judge Emmet had to step in to get METRO to do something they COULD have done from day 2 or 3 at the latest.  Metro gets an F.   I totally agree.

I'm glad there are so many others who feel my pain. Last week we had the shuttle disaster and now this week the HOV horror is really kicking in, especially since most folks are back to work.

Metro gets an "F" for their hurricane recovery effort (or lack thereof).  They've done absolutely NOTHING, including communicate properly, to make the 4th largest city in the U.S. get back on its feet.  It's embarrassing.  It took me THREE HOURS to get from the Medical Center to my home in West Houston last night.  About 45 minutes of that was due to lights still being out.  The rest was spent waiting for a bus at Wheeler Station that was hopelessly off schedule due to the non-working HOV on 59 and the mind-numbing two and a half hours spent on the bus itself.

Metro, you should be ASHAMED of your sorry performance this past week.  Centerpoint, Comcast, AT&T, HPD, the City Public Works Department, etc., has put forth more effort than you.  You have made an already miserable commute absolutely unbearable.

At a time when Metro should be going that extra mile to get people out of their cars and onto public transportation, they are sitting back and letting the chaos take over.

It stinks.

How bad does it have to be before common sense kicks in?

To ad insult to the stress of just a normal ride on metro, I might ad that it seems that certain (not all) drivers either have had none or little driver training in piloting busses.. to wit:  

Driver A:  Uses both feet to drive a bus!...one on the gas and the other on the brake used alternatively.  What this produces is a sensation similar to a mono-hull sailing boat going through 4 foot waves...up and down, back and forth...so much so that riders were getting "green around the gills" and when coupled with disel fuel, exaust and fumes, it provides a prime opportunity for throwing up.  I might ad that it might be a way to get the attention of the driver!  Boy would I like to be riding behing that driver when I had to throw up. That would be called "driver training".  

Driver B:  Seems as though some one said it was too cold on the bus.  The driver turned on the heat!  Some one then said it was too hot...the driver then turned off everything....ALL VENTILATION.  Now can you imagine that!  

METRO?  Your interface with the public is through your drivers.  Not too succesfull at this point.  Probably never will be until Metro officials dress up in the costume of the daily commuter and experience it themselves. Yeah...right!  

IT Person said:  "I bet METRO never reads this."

I 2nd that!  If they do, I can bet MONEY they'll keep telling youse to call CenterPoint---which needs to HURRY up and get the power restored ASAP!

Transtar and Metro are stating 'The lack of electricity shuts down the HOV lanes, used by vehicles with two or more occupants, because their gates and signs are electronically controlled.'  On 290 the access is not electronically controlled... they have cattle guard type gates that are manually open and shut... wish I had some bolt cutters!  On 290 all lights and electronic signs were operational this morning however the lane was still closed.

Ditto that on 45 South.  Eastwood has no electricity.  Ok -- 1 in 3 or so busses hits the transit center.  So all should suffer because of this?

STUPID!

Lambert is an incompetent fool. Where are the METRO police? Station them at each HOV entrance to direct, monitor and police traffic entering and exiting HOV lanes. On the Thursday before Ike hit the Gulf Coast, the HOV lanes were opened at 1:45 pm with lines of cars waiting at each entrance. People are evacuating Galveston, Houston and the surrounding areas and these METRO idiots can't even open the HOV lanes to let traffic flow...!!! Kudos to the county for "opening" the toll roads to all traffic. It's time for a wholesale firing to occur at METRO. Start at the top and don't stop until the last METRO "dufus" is fired.

As of 2:11 PM, 941 page views on this thread and 65 comments. No comment from Metro on this here, to the Chronicle, or on metroresponds.org since Monday morning.

Simply unbelievable.

Having the 290 HOV lane is causing the city massive traffic and impairments to travelers. 290 is impossible to travel on, nevermind with all the HOV traffic included on the mainlanes. We need it opened ASAP and hope that metro is considering this a priority. I cannot believe nothing can be done. What about manual operations, e.g., having police direct traffic at entrance ramps to be sure no one enters an exit ramp, like they do when an intersection light is out. HOV lanes, like the main streets, are not something we can do without.

per Trek...

FYI…All HOV lanes are open today at 2:00 pm with the exception of the Gulf Freeway…

Robert,

      You can now up those numbers---thanks to me---and/or anybody else who beats me to commenting on here.

Coming from a person who supports most of METRO happenings, I'm unfortunately (don't get used to this, folks) going to have to agree with the lack of making P&R riders happy by at least manually opening the HOV lanes.  Totally unacceptable.

Yesterday, I rode the 214 (on an MCI coach---SWEET!) and IIRC, it took me about 30 - 45 minutes since the coach got on the freeway to get the actual P&R lot.  It would of been much less of a commute time if the HOVs were open.  Good thing we had a driver who knew how to "get on down the street."

METRO---get off your lazy butts and get those guys at CenterPoint to get the power restored ASAP---or---make alternatives to let use riders use the HOV lanes.

I also feel sorry for the people who have the use the mainlanes:  carpools, vanpools.

Grade:  D-

Trek rider...where did you get your information that the HOV lanes were open again?

Please open 290 HOV lanes, I hate to ride 2 hours to work and 2 hours back home.  The traffic is terrible on 290, the drivers are great; but, the traffic is terrible.  I hope metro don't start to lose riders because of this problem.

Never mind Trek rider, found the info on the Chronicle website.  Judge Emmett saves the day again!

Metro officials this afternoon announced that outbound HOV lanes on the Northwest Freeway, Eastex Freeway and Southwest Freeway will be open for the rush hour commute beginning at 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Those lanes will be open to inbound traffic Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

HOV lanes on the Gulf Freeway will remain closed indefinitely.

Seems Chron is reporting that 290 HOV will be opening today (09/23/08).

http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/hov_lanes_on_us_290_and_us_59.html

I guess you have to push something hard behind METRO to get it moving.

And for god's sake, can you take out metroresponds.org website. It is a SHAME that with such a big budget, you guys cannot even put status updates on ANY SITE.

Fire all your IT staff!! and management who hired them!!

"HOV lanes on the Gulf Freeway will remain closed indefinitely."

Ahhh, yes.  The complete and utter devestation of the Gulf Freeway HOV lanes.  What a crock.  I'm not buying it.  I think this is solely because Eastwood does not have electricity yet.  So what?  What about the CARS in the main lanes that don't need Eastwood.  Or most of the busses that don't stop there?

I'm thinking of some bolt cutters to open the cattle guards, and a piece of rope to open the gate coming into town.

Anyone with me?

Service updates on the 635-4000 number is still days old and reflects no current info.  Can't even get current info there unless you hold for a real person.

Did wait.  Talked to a real person.  "EXTENSIVE damage to the Gulf Freeway HOV.  Electrical."

Ok -- SO WHAT?  USE A COP.  Come on, Metro.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I agree with Royko.  There are a metric asston of Metro officers who could easily make a jaunt out to the gates with a generator.  I mean, the Metro cops aren't generally that taxed.  I'm sure the SWAT team could be spared for an hour or two a day.  

Hell, send some fifth graders out to the gates with batteries, paper clips, steel wool, and gym socks and I bet they get those gates running before a P&R bus makes the commute.

The canine unit dogs could probably figure out a solution faster than Metro has moved thus far.  It's flat out disgraceful and completely solidifies the reasoning behind Metro's reputation.

From the top of the blog...  "METRO Police Chief Tom Lambert says it's for safety reasons."

Tom -- You ARE the weakest link.

It would take about 6 metro officers to secure the entrances of the HOV to enable thousands of commuters a day use the HOV and remove them from the main lanes. What kind of Micky Mouse operation is this??? Lazy and lack of brains are two thoughts that come to mind.

"HOV lanes on the Gulf Freeway will remain closed indefinitely."

Now I'm REALLY gonna have to agree with Robert on this one.  All this and not ONE once of a comment from ANYBODY at METRO---even though it looks like things are FINALLY progressing nicely.

Anybody there at METRO care to speak up on this one?  We're listening............

The METRO Repsonds webpage is (unfortunately for many people here) updated.  Not good news for me and 290 because I may not get to catch the P&R bus today until AFTER 7pm.  DANG!

METRO Responds

Apologies for the misspelling.  *lol*

290 and 59 south HOV are open!!

To: while we are complaining!!

As an Operator, I would like to say.....You are lucky it works at all!  We are not mechanics, nor are we qualified to "MAKE THE A/C WORK" !!   as far as being cold...I am sure you see an Operator daily with sweater and/or javket in hand, long sleeve shirt.  we tag along all that gear for a reason some of them won't even go down its either on or off and OFF IS OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!!!!

when its not working, or barely blowing....guess what most passengers are on 30 minutes tops and we're on their all day aometimes with heater stuck in the on position and your legs and midsection is dripping wet in the seat!!  you've written it up on numerous occasions all to get that bus agin and to no avail its still broken what do you do?  do you drive it?  or refuse to drive it?  i am on the extra board i cannor refuse a run, if i do i am terminated!!  i have 3 kids and a mortgage......I DRIVE IT!!!!!

*****NO OFFENSE "WE HAVE A JOB TO DO AND SOMETIMES ITS NOT OUR FAULTS"!!!!!  IF ITS WAS UP TO THE OPERATOR, OR METRO WOULD EVEN LISTEN TO US REGUARDING SCHEDULING, BUS ASSIGNMENTS, AND ROUTE INFO THIS OPERATION WOULD RUN MUCH SMOOTHLY ALSO LISTEN TO MECHANICS AS WELL!!

This is so amusing.  Now the commuter elite are in a frenzy and they've only felt the pain for nine days.  Guys, I welcome you to the incompetence of Metro.  Your stays shall be short, but for those of us that rely upon non 200 series bus routes deal with Metro's incompetence, silence, and arrogance on a daily basis.  Metro is the Frank Burns of transit agencies, but the major difference is THIS IS NOT FUNNY!!!!!

My girlfriend just waited nearly an hour for the 81/82, two of Metro's flagship routes.  The bus was extremely late as is normal.  We report it on the blog, we report it to the utterly useless and unqualified "customer service" reps and nothing gets done.  Where is the scheduling department?!  Oh yes, sitting on their thumbs.  

Since the suburban commuters are in a frenzy I hope that they storm the next board meeting and pelt the brigade of idiots that run this agency into the ground with Ike rotten fruit.  Frank Wilson should be tarred and feathered and dunked in spoiled milk.  His rail centric policies have ruined and crippled this city's transportation system.  The only executive qualified for his position, surprise surprise, heads the rail department!  Meanwhile, the bus system is allowed to fester and decay like the stinking corpse it has become.  

Metro bungled the restart of local bus service after the hurricane with the inept and utterly stupid scheduling and operation of the 700 - Rail Shuttle.  Let me stop for a second and address something.  Why oh why do you not let people know where the rail shuttles are going?! Do we passengers have mind reading powers we're not aware of? Not having the destination of the bus displayed on a working destination sign is akin to someone being in front of a toilet and defecating on themselves.  Are you all not potty trained?  You're pathetic!

On Tuesday, I waited with over 50 people for over an hour for a 2 - Bellaire during evening rush hour while four EMPTY 292s mockingly passed us by.  The befuddled supervisor of course knew nothing.  As one Metro bus driver so eloquently put it, "We don't get paid to think."  

Frank Wilson, I challenge you and your cronies to ride the local service.  I challenge you to set specific time related goals and see if you can accomplish them using the same service you pat yourselves on the back for providing.  For every missed connection and failed goal you all should donate 54% of your salary to charity.  

I could round up a gang of 5th graders to run this agency better than you.  I'm disgusted with the whole organization.

I'm curious to find out, since METREAUX spent over $3 million in cameras and trickets, so as to fire the gaurds who only cost $1 million, how quickly the banditos figured out the Park&Pillage lots were again easy pickings?  Since it was too much for METREAUX to order the MPD out into the field to serve the citizens, what were the losses to parked vehicles?

J. Liggins, excellent post! You really said it all, and I couldn't agree more. I truly believe if not for Judge Ed Emmett's intervention, we still wouldn't have access to HOV lanes. Metro's inept communication and mind-numbing lack of response after this storm are shameful.

(Note:  Bus operators, however, have shown an incredible amount of patience during this time.  All of my criticism is directed to those at the top - the people who dropped the ball after Ike like a lead balloon.)

Mizz Porkie, sing it!  I always feel badly for the drivers who must suffer the arctic cold blast of a stuck AC system, though at least when it's cold, you can put on more clothing.  Even worse is when it's not working at all or is stuck on hot.  Bleh!!  

Anyone know just what the extensive damage to the I45 South HOV lane is?  

Keep wondering because there is no logic involved when it comes to METRO - there is NO extensive damage to the I45 South HOV Lane - the power is out at the transit center so the entire HOV lane is closed down....another 2 hour ride from Clear Lake to downtown this morning...and the lane is closed indefinitely........METRO - get some of your cops on this lane to direct traffic - - get a generator - - - do SOMETHING but get this open...... last night the bus I had the misfortune to ride had a driver that stayed on the access road........go figure.....what a nightmare - METRO gets a failing grade....5th graders could figure it out...........

Leave to Metro to save the day. Today on the 290 HOV it had all power yet they had police and Generator powered lights. Sorry Metro a little to late for the generator powered lights when the eletric was already on. Maybe next time bring those things in when the power is still out just a thought.

Leave to Metro to save the day. Today on the 290 HOV it had all power yet they had police and Generator powered lights. Sorry Metro a little to late for the generator powered lights when the eletric was already on. Maybe next time bring those things in when the power is still out just a thought.

When will an investigation be launched?  Metro's inept handling of the HOV situation is only the icing on the cake.  Local Metro bus riders deal with this sort of bumbling and sheer ignorance each and every day.

Metro sinks dollar after precious dollar into delayed and overpriced gimmicks and self congratulatory PR but does nothing to actually IMPROVE the system.  Since your useless phone reps don't actually report complaints and spend their time lying and being rude, you could have gotten the incompetent phone matron Kimberley Wells out there with a gaggle of them to operate the HOV lanes.  

You've screwed up now Frank and I hope you and your cronies are taken to task.  It is approaching the 30th anniversary of Metro and you'll be darned if you won't have us back to Houtran levels by then.  The only difference will be a uniform fleet of broken down buses instead of a hodge podge of much more interesting equipment.  You should resign with what little honor and dignity you have left and let the county run the system until someone with half a brain and an understanding of what a regional transportation system is found to replace you and clean up the soiled mattress that you have made this agency into.

P.S. pay your drivers more and stop trying to find reasons to fire them!  Improve their morale and working conditions.  Give them equipment that works right and schedules that are not impossible to follow and you'll watch on time performance go up.  Your drivers hate working for you Frank and we see it EVERYDAY.

"Sorry Metro a little to late for the generator powered lights when the eletric was already on. Maybe next time bring those things in when the power is still out just a thought. "

OMG -- DRAG IT DOWN TO THE GULF FREEWAY!!!!!!

According to the Houston Chronicle, Frank Wilson (Metro President and Chief Executive Officer) makes $312,260 per year.  I think there's something wrong there.

I also commute along the Gulf corridor and it has been terrible.  I cannot understand how the HOV lane is so badly damaged.  It looks fine to me!  They make it seems like a big chunk of the HOV lane fell from one of the overpasses.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil!  May everyone's voices be heard!

According to the Houston Chronicle, the HIGHEST paid bus operator makes $22,834, including $522 in overtime pay in one year.  That is roughly $10.73 AN HOUR!  Can you imagine having to navigate the horrible traffic we are having, being responsible for all the passengers, and ONLY making $10.73/hour?

And Frank Wilson makes $312,260 per year (roughly $150.13/hour)!

If the HOV, HOT, or Westpark TR is closed, for whatever reason, the fare should drop to local:  $1.00.  (METRO does have/will have access to the Westpark TR and the Katy HOT

Now, HCTRA:  Will the toll drop for the Kart HOT if Ike's brother cones.

Ms. Sit, you are a gas.  We're burning down the whole bloody edifice and you only pop in to make sure it's as clean burning as possible.  Get your boss in here to answer for his gross negligence and incompetence!

thanks J.Liggins, ms.pants and elizabeth and all others who see the operators are on your side in this mess!!

"mizz_porkie said:  

thanks J.Liggins, ms.pants and elizabeth and all others who see the operators are on your side in this mess!!"

Wow! Not much to add to all of the above statements..

I am overwhelmed by the negativity displayed here.

Oh wait... That's not it...

I am amazed that there hasn't been a necktie party.

Mizz_porkie is perhaps the operators unofficial spokesperson in this matter.

She has a very astute grasp of what goes on "behind the scenes" here @METRO. The most recent spit to hit the fan is even more reason that you can expect even greater apathy from your friendly operators.

Have a nice day...

wi11ie

Mary Sit said:  "Ahem, everyone...remember the "Living Room" rules, please."

HUH?!  Looks ok to me sooooo......

J. Liggins - Well said, although a little more "wet bar area" than "living room" for some people's sensitivities.

Ms. Sit - A thankless job you have I'm sure, but if the most you are able to do is jump in and ask that we limit our use of exclamation points, you may be best served to sit this one out. As they say at the zoo, do not taunt the animals.

Metro - It would seem to me that the re-opening of the HOV lanes on Tuesday afternoon was not that difficult after all, seeing as they were open within hours of a special meeting. I guess it took involvement from officials with an ear for what the public needs to start the correction of this problem (God bless you 45 south HOV-ers). This could have been done without the parents coming and refereeing, and it would have certainly given Metro a chance to help the community get back to normal, and maybe, just maybe, build some goodwill and support for the next tram boondoggle.

All - I hope everyone is safe and faring well through this devastating time. Hold your families close and be safe out there.

Cy Guy

wi11ie.....The Party is coming SOON!!

Cy Guy said:  "Ms. Sit - A thankless job you have I'm sure, but if the most you are able to do is jump in and ask that we limit our use of exclamation points, you may be best served to sit this one out. As they say at the zoo, do not taunt the animals."

Well put!  These days, there are more questions than answers and even to me, that's TOTALLY unacceptable.

METRO=>When questions are being asked, PLEASE answer them accordingly.

Thanks!

traffic after a major hurricane hit Houston?!?!  

welcome to the world of the car.

Cy Guy,

Ms. Sit is a well paid professional public relations official representing METREAUX; thus, she should be able to fade some heat, especially when it is clearly caused by a top-heavy bureaucracy.

I'm sure Mr. Wilson has electricity in his living room.  And since he has a most generous car allowance, he has no idea what abuse the bus transit dependent riders are being subjected to.

It would not surprise me to one day learn Mr. Wilson is being flown in by helicopter each day.

Thank you Royko. I was unaware of Ms. Sit's position and responsibilities. I thought she was just some sort of web administrator. I do hope she has the wherewithal to escalate the issues and concerns posted within these forums to the appropriate, although not necessarily useful, individuals. If she is not doing so, then shame on her.

The thing is, I wouldn't even mind Wilson being flown in by helicopter, if he was doing his job in an effective manner. Same goes for Lambert and the rest of them. Here'e the thing. We as a society know that those at the top are going to be well compensated and get the perqs that we don't here at the bottom. But with that comes a responsibility to take care of those below, whether it be the employees that are holding them up on that pedestal, or those of us they supposedly claim to serve who help pay for their salaries and pipe dreams.

All this just goes to show that anyone who argued for a single, reversible HOV lane was too short sighted and missed the boat way back when.  I have always complained that we should have built dedicated HOV lanes that can be entered/existed from the main lanes without barriers, gates, etc. as was done on the newer sections of the Katy freeway.  If that was the Gulf Freeway today, the HOV would never have even closed.

Oh well, I work from home so who's gonna listen to me anyway...

Cy Guy,

As a former Bell 47 chopper student, I believe we should all be able to take rotary-wing shuttles whenever it is cost effective to do so.

Although, even Mayor White seems careful not to invade Tilman's airspace when he goes aloft in the HPD Fox.