Lost & Found is Moving
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:24 PM
Starting Oct. 1, if you lose an item and it's found, you will need to go to a new location to retrieve it.
METRO's Lost and Found department is moving from its current location at 1001 Travis to 1220 McCarty off I-10 East.
That's where our Central Distribution Center is located, and that's where all lost items - except for bicycles - will be stored. Bikes are stored at the bus operating facilities.
You can continue to call our call center to see if your lost item has been turned in. The number is: (713) 658-0854. The call center is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If we have your item, you may pick it at the Central Distribution Center during these hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
So why are we moving Lost & Found?
"We have very few people who lose items and even fewer who reclaim them," says Art Jackson, director of transportation programs. "Less than 10 people a day come in to pick up items. We have to staff the office. We also incur costs to have couriers pick up the items at the different bus operating facilities. We thought it would be a more prudent way to manage taxpayer dollars."
Once Lost & Found is moved, a METRO parts truck that normally visits each of our facilities once or twice a day will be able to pick up lost items on its regular run - and then deliver them to the Central Distribution Center, where the staff is already accustomed to taking inventory.
"People can still call the main number and still be able to speak with the same customer service representative to see if your lost item were found on the bus route or rail," says Jackson.
If you're driving east on I-10, exit at McCarty, then turn right on McCarty. You'll see a big METRO facility with a sign. If you take the bus from downtown, take the 48 Navigation to get there. If you're not departing from downtown, use our Trip Planner to find the right bus or call Customer Information Center at (713) 635-4000.
"Although we recognize that the new location may not be as centrally located, we have a responsibility to take a look at how we can handle business in the smartest, most cost-efficient manner possible," explains Jackson. "Considering the few number of customers impacted by this, it's just not fiscally responsible to continue operating in the manner we are presently."
The most commonly lost items? Small items such as badges, books, umbrellas and cell phones are left on buses and rail.