I think the Chron is right.  Place the whole bugdet on the web, say, 6 weeks before the vote.  Then, people can comment either at public hearing, fax or e-mail.

Peter Wang should be partly happy about the Energy Corridor Xtown.  But I think it should run north on the Addicks P&R>

Better yet, from Mission Bend P&R to Addicks P&R. That would enable a number of other connections. Plus, I, and I'm sure most people, prefer to wait for a bus in a transit center than on a street corner.

@JamesL

I'd rather wait on the street corner. Get Stabbed and Sue Metro.

Mary, what do you mean when you say that METRO will "strengthen" the 4 new routes established this FY? Do you mean that the hours of operation will be expanded, that buses will be more frequent, or something else?

Maybe weekend service...or faster run times due to new signaling?3

Mary,

Has Metro paid out ALL of the Mobility Fund monies to the participating cities such as Houston?

I'm most excited about the Eldridge Crosstown route. I hope that the rather short run between Westheimer and Memorial/I-10 is simply a starting point.

All the mayoral candidates are weighing in on Metro.  Not that any of you should quake in your boots or anything.  but never, ever, ever take your job with Metro for granted...

I hope you put some money together to fix the dilapated buses and the shelters you have on the some routes (81/82).  

Here is my experience this morning:

The bus stop at Woodhead and Westheimer leaks in two places; right in the middle at the seat and the right front.

Also, the bus leaks at the Emergency Exit so ALL the seats in the back two rows were wet.  In addition, it leaks next to the driver.  It's a shame!

Barbara, if you listen, the candidates are just blowing hot air. They criticize METRO in a vague way and then go on to say we need to do what METRO, incidentally, is already doing: improved bus system, more rail, etc.

And Don, "General Mobility" is really detrimental to the transit system. The city and county should give the money back since METRO is paying to rebuild streets, sewers, and other utilities along the new light rail that need rebuilding anyway. Cases in point: N Main, Scott, etc.

Linking the Eldridge route back to the Addicks P&R would allow for reverse commuting using the 228/298.  Especially now that they can use the HOV in the reverse direction.

Mary,

Maybe then I should rephrase my question.

According to your post above, this year has the General Mobility Fund as $152 mm, and the budget remains the same as last year.

In the past three years, has all the General Mobility Fund monies been dispersed to the various cities and and county?  If not, what amount is outstanding (still on the books) and why?

Looking at the budget that Mary posted, it appears that the "strengthening" of the 4 new routes simply means continuing them by including them in every future annual budget. Is that right, Mary?

Details/reactions to the budget:

The Renwick Crosstown will serve the Addicks P&R. New services are projected to begin in January 2010.

Will Airport Direct keep operating? One of the times I rode earlier this year, the driver made it sound like it might be in danger of being cut.

The 2010 goal for average on-time performance is 65%. That's pitiful.

There is almost $16 million for "Main Street Corridor Improvements/Expansion," broken down into "Vehicle Expansion," "Main St. Red Line," and "Siemens Vehicle Modification." Can you get us details on that, Mary?

A couple more things:

Is Tidwell Signature Service coming soon? It is mentioned in the FY2009 budget as projected to start in late 2009 or early 2010.

What is the status of the Missouri City/US 90A commuter rail line? Significant money is committed in these budgets, and the 2009 budget says a design/build contract would be awarded in early 2009.

Indirect service from Addicks to Galleria/Uptown.  32 to

either 25, 53 or 82.  (or 228/9 to the 33 at NWTC)

Pretty much what I thought. Thanks, Mary.

All,

What companies, particularly publicly-traded companies, will be starting these construction projects?  Any publicly-traded concrete companies, for example?  

Thanks in advance.

Whoa whoa whoa, how will the 32 serve the Addicks P&R lot?  That's a helluva trip down the Katy Frwy.

SMH @ 65% on time performance.  Pathetic.  Houtran and 70s era Detroit say hello.

J,

That's a typo. James meant the ELDRIDGE Crosstown, not Renwick. I think Dominic just kinda ran with it.

Yup, sorry, my mistake. Eldridge Crosstown.

Mary sais:

"METRO has a fiduciary responsibility to make certain that the General Mobility funds (25 percent of the 1 percent sales tax METRO receives) are spent on projects which conform to the state transportation code, explained Louise Richman, vice president of finance.

'We have to have support documentation before we disburse funds, and we are up to date on that. We’ve paid every invoice we’ve received to date,' she said."

Mary, I thought my question was quite clear and the answer received from Ms. Richman who it appears would be THE one to know the truth, doesn't even come close to an answer.  It seems to be another skirting of truth by METRO.

Again, my question was:

"In the past three years, has all the General Mobility Fund monies been dispersed to the various cities and and county?  If not, what amount is outstanding (still on the books) and why?"

In addition, please ask Ms. Richman to provide a breakdown of all non-spent funds and what amount is Houston's.

That information does not say anything with regard to my question Mary.  All that link takes you to is the SBA procurements or Small Business and in fact, is ONLY related to rail projects and has nothing to do with General Mobility funds?

Just tell us how much money has NOT been collected by the City of Houston and other entities.

In simpler terms, here is the statement you wrote:

"METRO receives 1 percent of the sales tax and allocates 25 percent of that to the General Mobility Fund, which finances transit-related projects for surrounding cities and Harris County."

You also posted that the amount for 2010 is $152 Million and also that the budget is flat.  Therefore, last year would have had roughly the same amount of funds available to all entities, including Harris County, Houston and all other cities included, to use for transit related work.

What we would like to know is exact how much of last years $152M is still available for projects (or how much of that sum has been spent?

This information would also be requested for the past five years.

A lot has been said that Houston is not taking the funds that they have coming to them for projects as well as other entities.  Everyone knows that it is very easy to find transit related projects to spend that sum on with ease.

This is exactly why people are not at all happy with the transparency of METRO Mary.  You all shuffle around or skirt the issues.

Is this the only strengthening that will take place for the 32 Renwick? Are there no plans for weekend service? Perhaps an expansion that will reach the West Loop Transit Center since one of the bays has no route assigned to it. The Renwick route was an excellent idea, but are there anymore improvements that they may consider making to it?

Wacky definitions you all have at 1900 Main, Mary.  In the real world, "strengthening" the route would mean to add service, tweak run times, extend the route north or south to open new markets.  What you all are doing to the route in real world terms is "continuing to operate it as is."  I know strengthening sounds better in a report but it's that type of creative wording that makes this blog and Metro PR in general a joke.  You ram through this light rail crap but it takes years to get an extension or Saturday service up and running.