If METREAUX was truely serving the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area there would not be a four month continuous DECLINE in the fixed-route bus boardings as well as a four month decline in the glorious, Utopian "transit Backbone" tram boardings.

Blaming the decline on the price of fuel is baloney if the bus transit dependent do not have cars!

Mr. Wilson might want to try reversing the service cuts from as far back as 2004, and not force the majority of bus riders to ride the unsafe, unreliable tram, a scheme which has continually abused the bus transit dependent riders.

Mr. Wilson:

Could you please tell us when the Signature Bus service will start?

Thank you.

Royko, it's offensive to call people handicapped riders.  The correct term is riders with disabilities or persons with disabilities.  The point is that you should focus on the person first, not the disability.

Fuzz,

    At this point, Roykeaux doesn't care how to call people who may have to use METRO for their daily commute.

Roykeaux said:  "Mr. Wilson might want to try reversing the service cuts from as far back as 2004, and not force the majority of bus riders to ride the unsafe, unreliable tram, a scheme which has continually abused the bus transit dependent riders."

Roykeaux---...What scheme are you talking about, man?!  Without METRORail, many buses would be packed---especially those heading to the Med Center and beyond---among other places which may see a lot of bodies coming at it.  As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Wilson shouldn't reverse anything.  Leave it as is or try improving what's needed for the future of mass transit in Houston.

Anyhoo, Mary?  That makes two of us---Agatha and I---meaning---when in God's name will the Signature Bus Service start?

I was riding the 33 bus on Bellair and saw the signature bus go by.  

Mr. CoLLins,

The continuous decline in boarding numbers suggests something is amiss with METREAUX's grandious urban rail scheme.

What if METREAUX does not secure any pork or honey from Big Brother Barack's Socialist spending program?

I hope METREAUX gives up on the rail scheme and get back to providing improved bus service.

I did see some silver Orions at the Kashmire BOF.  I think they are getting ready for service.

Wake:

What numbeer was that QL bus?  A 3500 would be a New flyer, a 3600 an Orion.

That would be a question to ask:  When is the QL comind?

I've seen the silver QL buses cruising down Bellaire, too, but - alas! - with "NOT IN SERVICE" on the destination signs. They were New Flyers, which I would imagine will be assigned to Bellaire since they've been waiting for (how long?) for the service to start. One even had bird poop all over the side from sitting so long.

Hopefully I'll be there to ask this, but when can we expect the next groundbreaking? And, at what point might METRO admit that start-up won't be until 2013? The sooner they announce it, the more time we have for the disappointment to wear off. Can't wait to get some of this cleared up on Tuesday!

ROKYEAUX may consider me a lower life form or assign me all manner of undesirable labels for saying this, but I, too, believe Houston needs lots more urban rail. We can't keep spreading out into the prairie forever, so this city needs a framework of high capacity, high quality transit, the type of service that only trains can provide.

Question:

Maybe METRO needs to work out an arrangement with the HCTRA, so that when either the North or Eastex HOV's are closed, for whatever reason, that METRO buses can use the Hardy Toll Road.

There was an 18-wheeler MVA on IH-45 North, which caused that HOV to shut down.  At least the 202 and 204 could use Hardy to Richey and FM 1960. Buses would take a time hit, but not as much as if they had to use the mainlanes!

JamesL,

You are merely misinformed.  Urban rail, at grade in Houston, Texas is unsafe, unrelaible, and a wonton waste of precious transit resources which are better spent improving rubber-tired mobility.

The word you're looking for is "wanton".

Wonton is what you get at Chinese restaurants.

Happy to help. :-)

Maybe ROKEAUX and I can agree that noodles are yummy!

I have some questions/comments I'd like forwarded to Mr. Wilson.....

(1). Why is one of the busiest corridors in the Houston area, Westheimer, being subjected to such inconsistent and poor bus service?  The 82 - Westheimer is constantly overloaded (and late) during the Weekday off peak hours of 9am-2pm thanks to a ridiculous 45 minute headway.  Fix this.  Also fix the run time on select trips, example: the 6:56pm Saturday westbound trip takes 105 minutes to get from GRB to West Oaks Mall, 15 minutes short of two hours.  Why?  The bus arrives at the Galleria 5 minutes early and the trip towards West Oaks from that point is extremely cumbersome due to "breakneck" speeds of 10mph so the bus driver will not run hot.  Fix that.  The 53 -Briar Forest Ltd. needs to have a consistent running time to match it's designation.  Why does the 82 - Westheimer beat the 53Ltd. into downtown when the 53 takes the freeway.  The route is bogged down with excess time between Yorktown and Downtown. Fix that.  Also, extend the span of service beyond 7pm, that is utterly ridiculous.

(2). Why is Westheimer not slated for a QL?  You are going to throw money down the tubes for a TMC-Palm QL that is basically a glorified rail link for a rail line that is severely delayed as is.  The 26/27 also serves the exact route of the proposed QL adequately and expediently currently.  I'd love to see the ridership or demand numbers that support the need for the TMC-Palm QL (and the Tidwell-Northline QL for that matter) as compared to one along Westheimer.

(3). How is the Airport Direct coming along?  

ChloeMireille,

Thanks for the spellcheck.

Must have had a hankering for it.  My wife and I just had lunch at the Shanghai Inn, although I always order the egg drop soup, she get the wonton.

JamesL,

My wife thinks the chow mein noodles are yummy.  Now we are getting into common ground.

J. Liggins:

...---... ...---...

Discription of the service along the Westheimer Corridor.  (International Mose translation:  SOS SOS! OK, the dits "." are a little low, but this is just a blog.)

I think you have used VIA in SA.  At least some routes have "skip" service, that is, the bus stops only at important streets, connecting routes, and activity centers.  No special buses used.  (Example:  Fred. Road has 92 frequent stop, 91 skip stop.

Translation:  Do it.  Do it NOW.  If SA can do it, then......

WE NEED MORE BUSES FOR 163. THIS BUS HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AM SURE. AGAIN THE EVENING AND NIGHT FREQUENCIES FOR BOTH WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.THE WAIT IS UNBEARABLE. FIX IT NOW PLS.

I like to Travel by bus, It would save lot of money for people if everyone start travelling by bus, However I have a suggestion if you can increase the number of buses and frequency during Peak Hours like from 7-9 and 4-6, presently the bus runs at every 15-20 minute during this time, more over sometime the bus is full and the driver come late or the previous bus leave early, so if you could increase the frequency of the buses during office hours, it will save lot of time for the peple travelling by bus and lot of gas

Ya I travel by bus number 46 too, the frequency is not very good, so if you could Increase the frequency of 46 number bus, that would be a great help to me. It would be nicer though having more buses during morning hours as sometime the bus driver dont adhere to schedule or due to bad weather, anyhow 46 bus has a good crowed and great rush in morning hours atleast.

OKAY!

We know you guys need drivers (and new upper management) but advertising that on the destination signs IS NOT a good idea.

When the route serves 2 or 3 different areas it’s pretty hard to determine where the bus is going with your employment hotline on the sign. So make use of the Chronicle’s classifieds section…

I wouldn’t complain about it but when you have smart azz drivers that give retarded answers like “did you read the sign”. After you ask what direction they’re going the issue needs to be addressed.

But I did answer the drivers question… I said "yes, they’re trying to replace you".

Hi Mr. Wilson i used to 85 Antoine Ltd. sometimes of last year. If they need new orion transit onboard bus underway at anytime soon. And the New Motorcoach Hybrid Big Bus will aecept for 82 Westheimer for Rushhour every weekday regular morning midday evening and late evening. 46 Gessner Crosstown needs Hybrid big bus for every weekday rush hour. everybody don't want stand around infront of middle the bus the accidents will be involed. I meniton 4 beechnut will extend the new route to the State 6 anytime soon.

If metro plan new 79 West Little York Limited all the way to West Little York Park & Ride relocate layover from carwash place. They need new route limited on West Bellfort to State Highway 6, West Bellfort Park & Ride headed to Downtown will accept that.

Mr. Larry:

79 to the P&R.  Great idea.  Connectivity to the 216/219/286.  The 286 needs a shot in the arm!

Hold on guys, don't overload the chat with all of these awful BUS related ideas!  I'm just playing, give them hell!

Anyways, who does the scheduling?  Tell them they need to ride the buses and see their handiwork in action.  The 53 - Westheimer takes almost two hours to get from Westside High School to Downtown on a SUNDAY.  The bus was doing sub school zone speeds and still eased onto Louisiana street +8.

Meanwhile, "The Impossible Dream" (2 - Bellaire Sunday schedule) continues to run behind by 10 minutes or more on multiple trips.  Great job Metro.

Ditto the comments about the 46 - Gessner.  It's not 1997 anymore, feel free to schedule the bus based on the year 2009.  Heck, I'd even go for 2004.

Oh yeah, look it up, you guys turned 30 a month ago and usually you're all over the fluff pieces.  Afraid of people drawing similarities to the Metro of 1979 and the Metro of 2009?  Only difference is the buses are uglier now.

RE:  Southpoint 297 - Congestion

Are there any plans to add more buses for the 297 Southpoint route.  We've had an influx of new passengers in the past months.  I don't feel it's safe to be standing when a bus travels 60 mph on the freeway.

I have tried to leave as early as 4:30 or earlier, but still run into the same problem.  If I leave later than 5:30, then I am late for my evening activities.

Where is the link to get into the chatroom?

What is the schedule for the Uptown Line? Are you still planning to go down the middle of Loop 610 between Memorial and Post Oak? What will that do to the lane configurations and will some of the sign supports need to be moved?

What are the plans for a park/ride in Pearland

Here is my question for Mr. Wilson,

Has Metro ever considered about helping other transit agencies in the neighboring communites like the Brazos Transit District that offers Demand & Response service for several counties including neighboring Montgomery County to the north of Harris County,  by giving them some money or MetroLift vechiles (there transit vechiles are similar to the Metrolift)

More info about them is available is at www.btd.org

I have personally riden the Demand & Response Service for Montgomery County, and I could see where Metro could help them.   Some of the buses engines are loud, etc.