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Hear What Experts Say on Regional Transit
Monday, July 13, 2009 4:08 PM  

Christof Spieler, Dr. Carol Lewis, Mike Barajas, and Robert MuhammadSummertime is beach time, and if you've trekked to Galveston wishing you didn't have to fight traffic on I-45, regional transit is the answer.

Just how we can most effectively connect Harris County to its surrounding seven counties with regional transit is an issue that affects all of us.

The documentary that airs tonight on HCCTV, Comcast Channel 19, takes an in-depth look at the various aspects of regional transit: what communities should be connected, what modes of transportation, and who should pay for it.

The panel of experts are: Dr. Carol Lewis of Texas Southern University, Robert Muhammad of NTE Planning Consultants and Christof Spieler of Citizens' Transportation Coalition.

Should one newly created umbrella agency run regional transit? What role should METRO play? And do riders really care who runs and operates these trips, as long as they get from Point A to Point B seamlessly with one fare card?

Hear more about these critical questions in this lively and engaging discussion moderated by anchorman Mike Barajas of Fox 26 News.

You can also view this roundtable discussion on our Web site by clicking here.

 

 

Posted by Mary Sit
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    • Comments

    kevin whited said:

    ** Christof Spieler of Citizens' Transportation Coalition.  **

    Well that alone doesn't seem like an "expert" qualification.

    Mary, perhaps you could elaborate on Spieler's employer and their background?

    # July 13, 2009 9:40 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Well, the METRO Star vans have been spotted in Galveston.  IH-45 and 61st.  That's Island Transit territory.   People use our HOV lanes from outside the METRO area.  (I used to live near Alice TX, and with a friend would come into/out of Houston as to use the 59S HOV.)  I would bet the most distant P&R's are used by people outside the METRO area.  The Houston area is more than just harris County.  The Chicagoland area is more than Cook County.  NYC itself consists of 5 counties (boroughs).

    This is a regional problem.  Needs regional answers.  But how to approach those answers?  Devil is in the details.

    # July 13, 2009 11:13 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    I do agree about one thing.  The base fare item should be Q!

    # July 13, 2009 11:14 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Test message

    # July 15, 2009 9:58 PM

    Mary Sit said:

    Christof Spieler has written extensively on transportation and planning in the Houston Chronicle, Cite magazine and on his blog, "Intermodality."

    A regular speaker at such groups as the Texas Economic and Demographic Association and the Greater Houston Partnership, Mr. Spieler also teaches at Rice University School of Architecture.

    He also serves on the Rice Design Alliance.

    # July 17, 2009 12:36 PM

    Ron J. said:

    That was a very nice show to watch. I was hoping that they talked more about heavy rail though and was wondering if they are actually considering that. I like the idea of commuter rail. But they need to be careful in doing that. Still I'm glad they mentioned many of the things I am looking for.

    # July 18, 2009 2:27 PM

    Royko said:

    It would be intellectually honest for METREAUX to also reference real "Experts" such as Wendell Cox, Randal O'Toole, and Ken Orski from time-to-time.

    # July 21, 2009 8:40 PM
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