For too long, the Lee. P. Brown legacy boondoggle tram was touted as METREAUX's Utopian "Transit Backbone."

Now, seemingly after the FTA Title VI Civil Rights "Findings," the new spin is that BUSES are again the transit system's BACKBONE.

Maybe, if there were a larger shake-up of the BOD's we could effect a lasting change in ill-devised policy.

Roykeaux said:  "Now, seemingly after the FTA Title VI Civil Rights "Findings," the new spin is that BUSES are again the transit system's BACKBONE."

DUDE---COME BACK TO EARTH!!!!  How many times must I tell you---go to DC and possibly to the FTA is you have a serious problem with METRO.  I can bet money you have had a problem with METRO ever since it was created and I can't see how METRO can possibly put up with this.

You think that METRO can be a better transit agency if there was a new group of admin folks to run it, huh?  NO!  Not one friggin' transit agency in this country---including METRO---can be better than it is---especially if THEY have the last word on certain issues---NOT YOU!

I rode on a new 5xxx series bus last week on the 265 home bound run and it was nice.  Double pane tinted side glass that reduced the afternoon sun heat gain.

And Royko, your one man opposition to the train is admirable but I think that train has left the depot.  The time for Houston to have built a light rail system was the 1960's when there was a right of way down the side of old Katy road.  It's too bad that the last Katy Fwy expansion could not have included a LRT track down one of the lanes.

As I have opined before, Houston has such a high water table that an underground "subway" LRT would be very expensive to build and maintain to keep the water out.  The other option would be a raised elevation Tram which is not as expensive as a subway.  The 3rd option was a LRT at grade like we bought which is the cheapest to build and maintain but the worst one for efficiency since they share the road with the cars and people who are too stupid to keep out of the way.  The train can't run very fast because it has to stop for traffic.

Mr. CoLLins,

You would lose your bet.

When I was attending the UH-D, seeking a degree in Real Estate, I rode METRO buses often.

In 2000, when taxpayers were thrown under the bus by DeLibero, I joined the effort to force a vote on the COH allowing METREAUX to destroy critical thoroughfares with unsafe, unreliable urban rail, at-grade.  We never did get a vote on that petition.

Citizens need to turn off the "Windfall" sales tax and ad valorem tax revenue streams which enables the out-of-control, wasteful spending by ALL taxing authorities.

what issue was the rail line experiencing this weekend at the TMC transit center. The rail line slowed to less than 2mph when crossing from fannin to breaswood. Metro officials were parked at the abandoned fire house watching(enforcing) the slowdown. Was there the potential for a derailment that metro refused to share with the public? With the situation in DC(red line also), one needs to know if metro put the riders in harms way unneccesarily.

coug6666, I noticed that also. I also saw some METRO heavy equipment trucks poking at the tracks and workers holding some type of laser thing at the rails. My guess is they were testing the heat.

But with a name like METRO (or First Transit), why would any passenger have to feel unsafe.

P&R Rider,

Roykeaux would NEVER---I repeat---NEVER understand the fact that---well---what you said.  BTW, I agree with what you said 100%!

Roykeaux,

I don't know what type of brain you have in your thick skull but why the **** would you mention this=>("You would lose your bet.")?  Against who?  I hope not you because I would be rich right about now.

What I had recently said still stands and I will NOT take it back so what are you talking about?

Instead of whining about what METRO shouldn't be doing, you need to put in some input on making METRO better than what it is now.  Thank you!

Hey Felix and Oscar,

Instead of perpetually carrying on with each other perhaps a mutual truce could be forged.

I used to come here daily to see what was up and now it is the Felix and Oscar show, bickering back and forth.

Gentleman, the time to cross swords about the rail "experience" is long gone.

Yes rail sucks.

Adding in the MAD service and the Quickline and their respective hemorrhaging of cash, it seems that the problem does not exist in the IDEAS but their implementation.

Now to the problem of buses.

The MCI coaches recently leased by METHRO Bodine(like that?) have developed an annoying problem of crapping out due to heat or so I am told. Not gen lamps coming on and the no a/c etc...

Bus 5030 has been down for a week or so and it seems that 5032 is right behind it.

Our present fleet looks like they all came from Central America with the lousy dents and scratches that plague them and the electronic "add-ons" that METHRO has put in are non-functional on many units.

WHY you might ask?

Budget cuts in MAINTENANCE.

This should be where you gentleman(Oscar and Felix) should be directing your incessant carryings on...

Just a thought.

Perhaps if they were interested in MAINTAINING what we already are in the pan for,perhaps the service would then be back on track where it hasn't been since Shirley killed it ages ago with the idiotic rail plunge of most of METROs resources and credibility.

Just a thought!

wi11ie

thank you Mary for the update. its good to see metro on top of things.

Once again Metro has a good idea but poor execution.  I love the CONCEPT of the documentaries but the last two have been nothing but shameless self promotion and pats on the back for the current admin.

How are you going to have a documentary about buses and not include the RTS?  All I heard was incessant fawning over hybrid technology and "new buses" like a kid looking at the shiniest toy in the toy store. These documentaries have continued to trash pre-rail Metro while making the current Metro look like some Utopian agency.  I wonder if HCs superintendent was reprimanded for bringing up the "Rehabs" (the rebuilt 33, 34, and 36xx buses from the 60s and 70s). Fool, those long lasting buses weren't supposed to exist!!!!!!! They didn't run the glorified rail shuttle routes we all know and love today.  I weep for the 8 - South Main, I really do.  That's a prime example of what rail does to a route.  

And Willie, who cares if the bus runs?! Fool, it's a HYBRID and it's SHINY!!!!!!!! You will drive it, like it, and shamelessly promote it when we stick a camera in your face!!!!!!!

I must have missed the news about the train derailment since I rarely ride it.  Maybe the homeless are stacking pennies on the track to squash them flat to sell as souvenirs to the Houston visitors.  It also might have been a flock of pigeons on the track.

Here is the only news reported.  Metro seems like it will not publish anything on it on their website.

KTRH SAYS IT WAS ONE TRAIN:

Light rail car jumps track during training

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 | 6:23 AM

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Everything is back to normal on the light rail line after a train car came off the tracks overnight.

The train car was being used for training on the tracks near South Braeswood near Greenbriar when it derailed. There were no passengers on the train car and no METRO employees were hurt.

It took a couple of hours for the investigation and the train car to clear. The good news is the light rail service will be normal today.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6867077

FOX NEWS, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT STATES IT WAS TWO TRAINS INVOLVED:

Light Rail Trains Collide

Updated: Tuesday, 16 Jun 2009, 10:25 AM CDT

Published : Tuesday, 16 Jun 2009, 10:25 AM CDT

DOUG DELONY

HOUSTON - An accident involving a Light Rail train is under investigation after a collision on Tuesday morning.

A train was traveling on Braeswood when it hit the other train and pushed it off the track just after midnight.

No passengers were on board, and there were no reports of any injuries.

The accident was cleared a short time later and had no effect on morning traffic.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/traffic/090616_light_rail_trains_crash

HERE IS TEXAS CABLE NEWS:

Metro light rail train derails

10:12 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 16, 2009

By Kevin Peters/ 11 News

HOUSTON—A Metro light rail train derailed this morning near the Medical Center, delaying the first set of riders for a short period of time.  The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday during a training run, according to Metro officials.  

No passengers were on board, and no one was hurt.

The southbound train jumped the tracks and hit a power pole.  Metro crews worked for several hours to get the rail car back on track and to make adjustments to the electrical lines that power the system.  The rail line opened shortly after its scheduled time, which is normally at 4:30 a.m. during the week.  

Some early-morning Metro riders had to wait a few extra moments to get into work.  At least one Metro police officer gave a few riders a lift in patrol vehicles.    

“I need to get to work,” said Medical Center worker Ruth Buckles, who takes the rail line every day.  “(But) they’ll understand.”

There’s no word yet on what caused the light rail train to derail.  

http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/houston/stories/khou090616_nlc_metro-light-rail.874a404c.html

wi11ie said:  "Hey Felix and Oscar,

Instead of perpetually carrying on with each other perhaps a mutual truce could be forged.

I used to come here daily to see what was up and now it is the Felix and Oscar show, bickering back and forth."

...and this is why this blog is a total joke!  I know I'm not the only one who thinks that---no matter what.

Look---NOBODY'S PERFECT!  Sheesh---what do I have to do in order to get that through people's heads around here?

Oh---and sorry but I'll NEVER forge a truce with Royko.  I'll die before I do that!

Thanks anyway!

Again, this was the second reported derailment.  The first was in the yard, which went unreported to the public.

You might as well multiply this lunacy X 5, as one can expect the future lines to be rushed to completion, and likely will be as, or more shoddily constructed.  Heck it's only taxpayer money the Urban Rail Robber Barons are squandering.

Mr. CoLLins,

I will remain relentless, even after your demise.

Wi11ie?

At least the Old Couple TV show had some humor!

All:

Now, I did see something on some leased RTA buses in Corpus Christi.  They were some MCI's rejected by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  (Reason?)  But they had 2 roofs.  One was the regular roof.  The second was a "thermal roof".  The second roof keeps the heat out the the coach.  

Now, it would cost METRO some $$$$, but how about placing some on some buses (P&R would work best, I think,) and see if it reduces costs.

Whatever, Royko---whatever!  Good riddance to you!

Well, there might be a reason for NOT mentioning the RTS's.

HouTran was one of the "rool-out" customers for the RTS.  (I think SA VIA was one also.)

We had one slight problem with them.  The old Milby BOF could not handle them.  Actually, they were the buses they took the windoes out of because of A/C failuers.

On the first RTS', there was the engine section in the rear, then the side had a 45 degreeangle to the roof.  Once someboby (VIA?) squared off the back end, and put the AC away from the engine, then the RTS became a winner, er, runner.

I think the MCI hybrids will work.  It is just getting the bugs out.  But i think METRO could have gotten, say 50 4900 type and 50 HB's to tweek out the new concepts wihout endangering the P&R fleet.

Or have MCI lease METRO the HB's, with a service contract.  If the suckers turn out to be PODS, flush them away.

Now, the Aleen Parkway bike trail might be a too much of a grade for the HB buses!

We bought nothing. My sources say all METHRO buses are leased.

Therefore we care for them like a rental car.

wi11ie

wi11ie:

If they are leased, METRO should have gotton an MCI service contract, considering the new HB systems on them.  Then if they POD out, its MCI's problem, not METRO's.

Now how about this,  A HB tolley bus.  Runs on overhead, but it on overhead, it runs on bateries.  Great for areas you cannot put up overhead.

J. Liggins said:

And Willie, who cares if the bus runs?! Fool, it's a HYBRID and it's SHINY!!!!!!!! You will drive it, like it, and shamelessly promote it when we stick a camera in your face!!!!!!!

NOPE!!!!

If it's a POD I call them like they are..

Stick a camera in front of me and see if what i say about them EVER makes it to public address.

wi11ie

Wi11ie:

It might if Gordon Ramsey was doing the interview.  (HELL'S KITCHEN)

The older buses are still included in the "defeased lease" scheme.

Few realize METREAUX took facilities and buses, which taxpayers had already paid for. Then, in effect sold the depreciation to investors for a "lump sum" so as to squander on the Lee. P. Brown legacy boondoggle tram.

Congress banned these schemes in 2005, as they are a clear abuse of the taxpayers.

Just because a practice was not deemed "illegal" at the time, it was not in the best interests of taxpayers, and, it was the initial gambit employed by the Urban Rail Robber Barons, on thier quest to ram unsafe, unreliable urban rail, at-grade, down our throats.