This should be interesting.  I can bet every last dime that a bunch of these critics will flood him with questions that even I can't (or better yet) WON'T answer.

Good luck to both sides---you'll need it.

Frank:

I know two things where buses and bunnies meet:

1.  Bugs Bunny ridding a bus.

2.  The METRO Quick Line Logo is a Rabbit.  June 1 for the 402, right!  Now, we need to see Bugs' relatives on WESTHEIMER.......

Mr. CoLLins,

That is a safe bet.  The sad fact is taht Mr. Wilson ignores or obfuscates the tough questions.

That's why it is so much more fun to depose METREAUX officials while under oath.

HA! A joke

I think the entire thing is staged. METRO pulls a few people to log in simultaneously and Frank already has the stuff ready to paste.

Uh-huh but still I say good luck.

A`waste of time.

He's palying the same game that was played on the Lee. P. Brown legacy boondoggle Main Street tram where they passed on tens of millions of costs to the TIRZ's and Downtown Management District.  Taxpayers still have to pay, just into other bureaucrat coffers.

"According to Wilson, the difference in the numbers is partially because the contract to build does not include real estate or financing costs. "

link to KHOU report:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou090423_mp_true-cost-of-light-rail.104bc3110.html?npc

It's time for the TX Legislature to shut these Urban Rail Robber Barons down...NOW!!!

I think that any forum whether it is pre-staged or genuine where we the people can have the oppurtunity to speak-out is a good thing.

Lest we not forget that no matter what the outcome of the final decisions this rail expansion will help the city during this tough economic time by bringing construction jobs to our city whether it is 60,000 or 600 any new jobs right now are good ones.

Well, I suppose I'll add a couple of questions since I won't be able to make the chat in person.....

(1). Mr. Wilson, do you think it fiscally prudent and socially responsible for you to have a $1000 per month car allowance when you are the head of a public transit agency?  I don't begrudge you a car, Mr. Wilson, as the inadequate transit system you helm is loathe to get anyone anywhere in an efficient and timely manner.  But, don't you think it is perhaps a slap in the face to finance a personal vehicle with public monies in the form of a perk?  You're compensated most handsomely as is, I'm sure you can dig into your own pockets if you want to cruise around in a bit of personal luxury.  Or, you could set an example for your agency by relying on Metro to get you to work, leisure, and misc. places.  Just a thought.

(2). I believe you are approaching your 5th year with the agency so I ask you this; have you had the chance to get a feel for the system?  Have you had the chance to take in every route from the 1 - Hospital to the 163 - Fondren Express?  Do you have any idea how these buses interact with one another and if you have, what have you been able to decipher from these journeys?  Mr. Wilson, I think your opinion of your own agency is extremely valuable and if you could understand the system from the viewpoint of the everyday rider, I think you'd be able to shape a better Metro for ALL and not just what might look nice to visisting yuppies.

(3). I think it may be time to upgrade certain transit infrastructure, namely your transit centers which lack the most basic of creature comforts.  If you've ever ventured out to one of these places, you'd notice they are often dirty, brimming with derelicts, and soaked with stale urine.  It would be nice if perhaps you could station a couple of MPD officers at some of the more dangerous locations (Downtown Transit Center) after dark and install restrooms at all of your freestanding transit centers.  How can this be a world class city without the basic facilities?

(4). Why has nothing been made of the fact that it is Metro's 30th anniversary this year?  Did you all forget?  And on a semi-related note, what prompted you to sell off the half a dozen or so buses that made up Metro's historic fleet?  Those buses were in much better shape than what I see on the road currently.  Was it too much to keep them in decent shape or did they not fit in with this post light rail era we are now living.  I know this means nothing to you, but that RTS-01 you sold was probably one of maybe a dozen still in existence.

(5). Why does it take so long to plan an implement simple bus route changes?  The delays in implementation of such proposed routes like the 22 - Bennington and 38 - Renwick equal the construction period of the Red Line three to four times over.

That's it for now, I'll have more later.