I can read it now.  Comments on another kind of green.

Can you tell the drivers on the 88 to stop getting lost and read the signs. Thanks.

We all have to cut back, yet METREAUX is squandering precious taxpayer resources on wasteful unsafe and unreliable urban rail.  The Urban Rail Robber Barons are just adding to the post office-like bureaucracy at 1900 Main St.

Repetition is no substitute for substance.

Here is a classic case of a trade organization (APTA), which is also a strong lobbying group specifically for Metro and other transit agencies, and METRO writing about how stimulus funds will solve all our problems.

Too bad that the articles we read lately do not mention that it is simply MORE taxpayer money (the debt payback will be MANY years from now along with heavy interest costs) being spent and is not anything close to "private investment".

Every time you see one of those 60,000 workers, please look at them and see that you, and I, are paying for all of this.

When it is all built, you can then look at simply a larger METRO and the need for more money to operate everything.

Those supposed 60,000 jobs are not even close to "green" either.  The construction of the actually lines as well as the vehicles is high energy consumptive jobs.  

In the end, we get a system that is on-the-ground, relatively slow transit that costs a lot more and adds to government run operations (AKA socialism).

Don,

If your socioeconomic position precludes your reliance on socialism (AKA public transportation), then you have absolutely no business participating in this forum.

Agatha,

Please do not be offended by factual statements and simply resign the author to having no business participating.

Public Transportation is indeed an essential part of serving the needs of the public at large.

It started out as providing necessary services for all those who could otherwise not afford PRT, who are handicapped or elderly.

When it becomes an assembly of governmental workers who move into real estate control and trying to epand on the original principals, all while using primarily tax revenue, then we have a problem.

As I have stated many times, the authors of the above facts (APTA) IS METRO, as well as all the other special interests.  People usually are unaware of how "reports" are done and how only things that enhance the members positions are used.

In the course of debate, never expect that your thoughts will be the only one's and allow for opinion to be shown.

"Sixty-seven percent of new construction and manufacturing "green jobs" from public transit capital investment usually fall in the category of "blue-collar semi-skilled (59 percent) and blue-collar skilled (8 percent). These jobs include manufacturing, service, repair workers, drivers, crew, ticket agents and construction."

What exactly is the definition of a "green job"? Based on this, it sounds like manufacturing, service, repair workers, drivers, crew, ticket agents and construction.  

I guess I am a litle confused.

I like the looks of those service changes for "more reliable service" (see the link on METRO's home page). Presumably that will mean more on-time buses. The new service is always welcome, too.

Either this was a particularly bad weekend for METRO or I just got unlucky. Friday a westbound 68 failed to show up at TMC TC. The driver of the next bus said it had broken down. Saturday, when the 33 runs on 40 minute headways, some buses were 20+ minutes late in both directions. Sunday, a 65 failed to show up at Wheeler. When finally riding on the next bus 45 minutes later, we saw the no-show running about an hour late. Good times.

I'm sure the six-figure, METRO kickback positions have already been filled. But these jobs are only temporary and I have a strong feeling who a majority of these "green" jobs will go to.

"May I see your work VISA?"

Off-topic, but...

Yay, the 32 Renwick is coming!!!!! This will make it so much easier to get to the Housing Authority now. That, and we desperately need crosstown service between Post Oak and Gessner. Maybe the Voss/Bingle crosstown will be next!

And thanks for getting rid of the redundant loop on the 44 because the 64 covers it now. I could be displeased about what you're doing with the 20, but I take the 131 to the mall anyway.

Ok, now back to this whole green thing.  

Hasn't someone on here mentioned that the 2 Bellaire Sunday schedule is flawed? Apparently it is not one of the schedules receiving modifications.

That was I who has complained about the 2 - Bellaire schedule for almost three years.  Supposedly the bus runs fine during the midday (according to a driver) so the two trips in the morning that cause 20-30 minute delays won't be fixed.

Oh.....

NEW SERVICE YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, the bus route equivalent of Chinese Democracy and Duke Nukem Forever will hit the streets this June.  It only took 12 years (I was a 12 year old going to 7th grade when I saw the rough drafts of the Renwick route) and a number change to bring the Renwick service to fruition.  Also, in an alarming show of forethought, instead of ignoring Fountainview for a later date, Metro has restored service along that street after the 84 was discontinued years ago! Awesome.

Eliminating the branches of the 20 is another one of Metro's "service improvements" that results in less options for the riding public.  I guess they are trying to "simplify" the route structure and push more riders onto the 72 - Westview.  Of course, if they think the 20 is complex they only need to look at the 1970s era 80 - Dowling, 44 - Acres Homes nee Studewood, and the epic 10 - Jensen which gave birth to most of the bus service on the northeast side as we know it today.

BTW, I saw a QL bus today.  Looks like they've dumped the silver and gone for a Blue scheme.

J. Liggins:

Yes, Bugs will be ridding BLUE buses.  where did you see the blue bus?

I think what killed the 20 MCM was the road construction at IH-10.  But that is over, with a small amount along Gessner.

MCM is growing into a larger monster than the Galleria....Now I could see some sort of circulator arounr the MCM/BW8-IH 10 area!

I do remember the 10 Jensen, but don't forget the south end to the Jensen family:  10 South Main and 66 Bellaire!

Now, when can we download the new routes and timetables?

I can see that a number of people are very happy about this new service---the 32 - Renwick---but I ask you---how much people will use this new service?

Will there be enough people to ride it so it won't be considered for a "pink slip" the next time METRO does their route and schedule modifications?

There are plenty of apartments along Renwick drive and Foutainview to support the service.  It is up to Metro to promote and get the word out.  If they do a fourth of the promotion they've done for the MAD this route will be a success.  

Fair enough, J. Liggins.

I haven't heard of anything (good or bad) regarding the 39 - Parker Circulator route so I can guess that route is going strong.  I mention this route because IIRC, this route is like the 32---meaning---"they" wanted METRO to put a route there so they can ride a bus and well---voila!  A route is born.

Hopefully (I 2nd the motion) METRO will really get in the swing of things NOW and NOT after in regards to promoting the route before it starts.

Also, the 32 goes right past the Housing Authority, so I'm sure that it'll get a lot more use than we think.

I just wish it could have been extended a little further north to Memorial instead of just stopping at Woodway like the 49 already does. I think the housekeepers would appreciate not having to ride the constantly crowded 33 when they transfer from the 70.

Cedric, the Renwick route has been in development since 1997.  The old TC Flyer bus used to run up Renwick but did not actually stop anywhere along the street.  There were a number of apartments along that portion of Renwick that Metro wanted to serve without degrading the non-stop segment of the TC Flyer, thus, the 38 - Renwick was born.  In the old plans, the northern terminus was the same as the 49, the bus did not run along Fountainview as the 84 was still around.  The southern terminus was always the West Loop Park and Ride via either Beechnut or Jason streets.

Metro has flyers on the buses announcing the arrival of the new service, but I think more needs to be done.  Mary hasn't even blogged about it and there was plenty of topics on the Aiport Direct not to mention the Metro Matters TV spots.

J. Liggins said: "BTW, I saw a QL bus today (May 12, 2009).  Looks like they've dumped the silver and gone for a Blue scheme."

I'm with Dominic on this one as we both want to know---where did you see the bus at?  Was it fully wrapped with the route map on it?

You're right though that METRO really needs to put more effort into it---110% or more---in promoting a new route or maybe even promoting a route that's on the chopping block before they really decide to give it the pink slip.  I say that because some people may want to ride the route but it's not getting much attention as METRO wants it to get.

OFF-TOPIC:  I FINALLY took a rather short ride on an MCI hybrid---and it WASN'T one of those Airport Direct MCI hybrids.  This one (5001) was on the 259 line.  Nice ride if you ask me.  Couldn't hear the engine much from the inside---even with the A/C on.  Still, nice ride.  I hope to do it again soon.

The blue bus was running tests on Bellaire.  I saw it at Bellaire and Gessner road.  It caught me off guard so sorry, no picture.  It was all blue except for the Quickline writing which I believe is still silver.  Didn't get the number either. :-(  Don't know if it had the map.

Mary is still silent on the new issue of service changes but we've had two bike related blogs within a week. No wonder this place is dead.  Let me take over the blog, I have ideas.

HA!  Mary is still silent on whether or not there'll be updates done to the Signature Service website of the METRO Solutions website.  It wouldn't hurt to post any info so people will read up on it before the service starts.

If anybody wants to know why I want to "hunt" down one of those Quickline buses and take pics of it, well---Dominic and Mary should know.  ;-)

CORRECTION:  Signature Service WEBPAGE of the METRO Solutions website.

The Renwick bus is running every 22 minutes!?  That's better than both the midday frequencies of the 53 and 82.

DominicMazoch said:  "Now, when can we download the new routes and timetables?"

Here=>http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/BusSched.aspx

In other words, your wish has been granted about wanting METRO to have these routes available for people to look at.

http://www.metrosolutions.org/go/doc/1068/220926/  It's about TIME!  Bus looks nice, BTW!

When will 102 get an earlier SB a.m trip? Ive submitted requests for 2 years.

That 56 schedule seems a bit off.

Usually the 1st few NB 56 trips start off the SB trips from Greenspoint TC. How is the driver going to make it from GreenspointTC to Airline & Aldine Bender in less then a minute?

Somewhat off-topic but---ummm---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0DyIjPxN3U&feature=channel_page

I'm at a loss for words here.  I'll let the rest of the bloggers weigh in on this.  BTW, I just found this vid while surfing YouTube.

That bunny is a bit scary. So does METRO actually provide equipment and pay people to make these ridiculous videos?

I would like it if METRO's Hollywood Division showed an actual passenger (actor or not) using the bus service and briefly explaining the benefits of the route.

The last Airport direct movie was sad and this one just

And they keep placing these things on the front page of METROs homepage.

Tofay, I saw that Metro appears to have wasted more tax money on a VIP (very important porkject).

New blue strips have been painted all along Holcombe and Bellaire about 1-1/2 feet away from the curb.

God help us if this is their way of showing everyone where the Blue Line travels.

I already can see the legal challenges if, or when, a bicyclist is hit while thinks they are riding in a new bike lane.

Mary, how much did Metro pay for that striping?

Don G said:  "I already can see the legal challenges if, or when, a bicyclist is hit while thinks they are riding in a new bike lane."

WRONG!  A bicyclist would have better sense than that (I hope) in regards to seeing whether or not they're in a REAL bike lane.

C:

The 56 can make it in less than a minute with the new warp engines they are experimenting with at FB....only way to do it with the roadwork behind the mall.