Hahaha... A Hurricane is fit to reshape the face of Houston. Houston Metro is worse than Yellow Cab.

I wouldn't go if it were free. Hou"Stain". The funniest city on planet earth. If I had a nickel for every time someone ignored this place for Dallas; I'd be a Trillionaire.

If Dallas is so great, then why don't the Cowboys actually play within the city limits?

Is this legal for a person on the public payroll to charge us to hear what's happening with our tax dollars? The only people who would shell out $65 would be the contractors who are benefitting from all these billions of dollars worth of contracts.

Don y,

Great point.  Your question deserves an answer. Maybe METRO is serving a nice filet mignon lunch? However it does not say anything about food in the flier.  Mary?

Dominic,

You make an excellent point.  Thanks!

To add to Dominic's statement, Dallas is a NOBODY city---if you catch my drift!

Again, thank you Dominic for making an excellent point.  Hopefully, you'll get the answer you seek.

@DominicMazoch and Cedric Collins

With so much going on(Debatable), they were forced to build their stadium in Irvin. Now, Why can't Houston win anything other than Tropical Storms(A-Z) bids on who gets to hit "The Broken Bowl"?

@don y and Lunk

Metro is crooked. Honestly, Who blogs as Mary Sit?

@Mary Sit

Metro gets a Grade F from me.  

Then they should be called the IRVING Cowboys.  Or the MEYTROPLEX Cowboys.

Could I volunteer to be chairman of

Metro?

Dallas's influence is to great. How about Houstonians stop being optimistic pessimist. Houston is H***!!!

@don y

New York MTA!

New York MTA!!

New York MTA!!!

To explain why there was a fee to see David Wolff give the State of METRO speech, Raequel Roberts used the "everybody does it" excuse.

http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2009/10/hearing-state-of-metro-speech-will-set-you-back-65/

Judge Emmett's communications director challenged that, saying that when the judge gave the State of the County speech at the GHP, there was a free area set aside for the public and media who wanted to hear the speech   Will METRO now back down and have an area for media and citizens to view Wolff's speech at no charge?

Mary Sit IS Mary Sit...A real person with a family.Nuff said..

Whom I have been neglecting in my weekly phone calls(sorry Mary).

As to Wolff and the "board members" they are little more than a rubber stamp for whatever Frank dreams up.

After the change of the guard at the Mayors office perhaps we can get some new blood in there that will challenge some of these hair-brained schemes that have dang near bankrupted our funds and morale and get back to non-political business as before Shirley came on board and killed the real reason that we are here.... MOVING PEOPLE!

P.S. Vote for Parker!

wi11ie

@Anne Linehan

Now the Media and Public can hear some more Metro B.S.

@wi11ie

I question the validness of “her” existence.  

@Mary(Doesn't Really)Sit

A Wolff in sheep’s clothing.

wi11ie said:

"As to Wolff and the "board members" they are little more than a rubber stamp for whatever Frank dreams up.

After the change of the guard at the Mayors office perhaps we can get some new blood in there that will challenge some of these hair-brained schemes that have dang near bankrupted our funds and morale and get back to non-political business as before Shirley came on board and killed the real reason that we are here.... MOVING PEOPLE!"

Wolff is simply getting to notch victories on his personal resume' in life.

As long as METRO is controlled by a left leaning Mayor (who controls the destiny and direction of the Board, we are doomed to left leaning desires to "Smart Growth" this city with slow moving at grade choo choo trains that decreas4e all other movement for the sake of "tying together urban centers".

With all due respect willie,  I believe that Annise also is pro METRO in their quests.

The ONLY candidate I have read about who absolutely stated that the entire METRO board would be dropped and reseated is Morales.

I also take the stand that most of whome the Chronicle endorses is who people should vote against.  They endorse Parker and Locke and made the statement that Conservatives are favoring Brown.  

God help us if Brown wins.

Vote for Morales means that five of the nine members would be replaced and new directions.  

P.S. Vote for Parker!

HoustonHater,

Nice excuse.  Now---New York MTA is no better (and I seriously mean that, BTW) than any other TA and if HoustonHater thinks so, please back that up.

I said this many times before and I guess this falls on deaf ears---NOBODY'S 100% PERFECT!  Y'all act like METRO (or even Houston in general) can get better overnight and be the best there is tomorrow.  WRONG!  As long as people support change at METRO and Houston (in general), then maybe later on down the road, things can get better.

I can wait to see what the future lies ahead, are you?

@Cedric Collins

The only thing that lies ahead is debris from another tropical storm.

"Nice excuse.  Now---New York MTA is no better (and I seriously mean that, BTW) than any other TA and if HoustonHater thinks so, please back that up."

The fact that it's located in New York City. New York has a Diversified economy, harbors the Headquarters of the United Nations and has a populace that fully embraces Mass Transit; pretty much backs up my dislike for Houston.  

HoustonHater,

What in God's name does the UN have to do with mass transit?  Have you ever asked people in NYC anything about transit there and whether or not they like what they see?  Heck---the MTA can't even fully protect their drivers during Halloween---especially on Staten Island.

“What does the UN have to do with mass transit?”

<The UN signifies that New York is truly a "World" city. Not just a city with different people residing in it from around the world.>

“Have you ever asked people in NYC anything about transit there and whether or not they like what they see?”

<Once I get there I will.>

"Heck---the MTA can't even fully protect their drivers during Halloween---especially on Staten Island."

<Didn't a Houston Metro Bus driver get raped?>  

"<Didn't a Houston Metro Bus driver get raped?>"

Elaborate.  I'm talking about NOW---not the past.

Read:

The Bronx=>http://www.subchat.com/buschat/read.asp?Id=171272

Staten Island=>http://www.subchat.com/buschat/read.asp?Id=170916

"<The UN signifies that New York is truly a "World" city. Not just a city with different people residing in it from around the world.>"

  (buzzer!)  Read=>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations

Now---tell me---where does it say that NYC is a world city?

"<Once I get there I will.>"

If you do get there, don't come back.  Thanks much!

@Cedric Collins

"Elaborate.  I'm talking about NOW---not the past."

You Read This:

Hou"Stain"=>http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x544560

Hou"Stain"=>http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=5479878

Hou"Stain"=>http://www.beloblog.com/crimewatch/2009/01/metro-bus-passenger-stabbed-in.html

"Now---tell me---where does it say that NYC is a world city?"

<Are you serious? New York is known, while Houston isn't. The Big Apple or The Broken Bowl?>

"If you do get there, don't come back.  Thanks much!"

<Trust Me, I won't.>

One other thing---NYCLover---"You just got pwned!"

@Cedric Collins

Take an International Poll!!! New York City is known, Houston isn't. I hate to say it, But Google it. The fact that the U.N. Headquarters is located there pretty much validates it as a WORLD CITY!!!

HOU"STAIN" get's pwned every day simply because it exists.  

"The fact that the U.N. Headquarters is located there pretty much validates it as a WORLD CITY!!!"

False.  That STILL doesn't prove anything.  Nice try, BTW!

"HOU"STAIN" get's pwned every day simply because it exists."

False.  Perhaps you do but not an entire city.

"Take an International Poll!!! New York City is known, Houston isn't."

False.  Polls won't mean a thing.  If somebody wanted to come here because they wanted to, SWEET!  All cities in this great nation are known in their own right but I should point out that you don't believe that.  Oh well---your life!

@Cedric Collins

Ask any one who’s somewhat knowledgeable about U.S. cities. I assure you they'll mention New York before Houston.

"False.  That STILL doesn't prove anything.  Nice try, BTW!"

<Does Houston house the U.N. headquarters?. Nope>

"False.  Perhaps you do but not an entire city."

Um, isn't Houston overlooked? Yep>

 What the **** does the UN HQ have to do with anything?!

Anyhoo, what METRO needs to do is to focus more on bus purchases than anything else, IMHO.

"Secured federal funding in President Obama's FY2010 budget proposal."

How about securing funding to purchase more buses---especially the ones with that "thing" in the middle.  Dominic should know what type of bus I'm talking about.

@Cedric Collins

"How much more FALSE can you get?!  What the **** does the UN HQ have to do with anything?!"

<Apparently you're to wrapped up in this city to logically think.>

"Anyhoo, what METRO needs to do is to focus more on bus purchases than anything else, IMHO. AND,  

How about securing funding to purchase more buses---especially the ones with that "thing" in the middle.  Dominic should know what type of bus I'm talking about."

<40ft buses will do. METRO needs DE40 and C40LFR buses. Maybe throw in some NABI 40-LFW buses too.>

"<Apparently you're to wrapped up in this city to logically think.>"

Apparently, you're too light-headed to realize that you don't belong here.  GET OUT!!!

"<40ft buses will do. METRO needs DE40 and C40LFR buses. Maybe throw in some NABI 40-LFW buses too.>"

FALSE!  Not only do METRO need to be more diverse as far as who to get buses from but also in regards to the length of the bus.

@Cedric Collins

"Apparently, you're too light-headed to realize that you don't belong here.  GET OUT!!!"

<Don't hate me for realizing what this city really is.>

"FALSE!  Not only do METRO need to be more diverse as far as who to get buses from but also in regards to the length of the bus."

<40ft(Local) and 45ft(P&R/Limited) buses are a solid fit in Houston.>

Ms. Sit,

I have not been able to find a transcript or video of Chairman Wolffe's speach before the GHP.

Is one available, and can it be posted for the public?

Sorry for the typo error:

Ms. Sit,

I have not been able to find a transcript or video of Chairman Wolff's speach before the GHP.

Is one available, and can it be posted for the public?

Sorry for the typo error again, distracted watching CSPAN House debate right now:

Ms. Sit,

I have not been able to find a transcript or video of Chairman Wolff's speech before the GHP.

Is one available, and can it be posted for the public?

As long as the Metro baord is filled with persons that have made HUGE profits from sales of property to Metro,this whole thing will suck.

A bit more scrutiny of Frank Wilson and his "consulting" cronies from across the country that we just can't seem to live without would benefit us more than any plan to increase rail..

MORE buses is the answer!Replace this aging fleet (average age of 8.08 years) with newer fuel efficient models,pay the maintenance personnel and operators a living wage,and remove the associate VP positions that are now paying over $100,000 a year and Franks $300 an hour cronies from the payrolls...(has anyone ever seen these alleged consultants do anything except to pick up a check?)

Whatcha got?

A working force of properly compensated maintenance personnel and operators and an actually working administration.

BTW Frank... NO ONE is worth $340,000 a year if the system is failing...

john

"<40ft(Local) and 45ft(P&R/Limited) buses are a solid fit in Houston.>"

FALSE again!  Why use a 40' bus on routes where you would better see a SMALL bus at?

Royko,

Where have you been?  No more going AWOL.  Thanks!

@Cedric Collins

Houston Metro needs only 40 & 45ft buses.

HoustonHater;

I talked with a manager at Metro a few years back and they say that's the route they're going.  40ft buses for local routes and 45ft buses for limited and park and ride routes.  It saves money and labor.

Well---Houston METRO is making a HUGE mistake---and I stick by that.

"It saves money and labor."

How the **** will it save money and labor?  So they can waste more of that money worrying about the future of METRORail and NOT about the future of buses and possibly new routes?!

It saves money because they don't need to inventory as many different parts and it saves on labor costs because it's easier and more efficient to work on two or three bus types as opposed to ten.  MetroRail has nothing to do with this discussion, BTW.  This is about why Metro is phasing out mini and artic buses.

"It saves money because they don't need to inventory as many different parts and it saves on labor costs because it's easier and more efficient to work on two or three bus types as opposed to ten."

Too bad.  Your best friend (and buddy in the whole wide world), HoustonHater, LOVES New York City and at last check, they have several bus types.

"MetroRail has nothing to do with this discussion, BTW.  This is about why Metro is phasing out mini and artic buses."

Your point?  Don't want to talk about certain things?  Ignore it.  Chairman Wolff is talking about the future of METRORail so............

My user account is banned Ms. Sit?  Yet you allow Cedric to troll these board endlessly because he helps carry your pathetic propaganda banner?  This blog is a disgrace and your salary could be better put to use as bonuses for HARD WORKING bus drivers.  Minister Goebbels would be proud of your tactics.

@Cedric Collins

At least see it from Metro's point view.

"It saves money and labor."

<Exactly>

"New York City and at last check, they have several bus types."

<It's New York.>

@J. Liggins

"My user account is banned Ms. Sit?  Yet you allow Cedric to troll these board endlessly because he helps carry your pathetic propaganda banner?  This blog is a disgrace and your salary could be better put to use as bonuses for HARD WORKING bus drivers.  Minister Goebbels would be proud of your tactics."

<Mary I hope you're reading J. Liggins comment.>