Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

Dominic Mazoch — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:44:04 GMT

I think this HOT stuff is going to make people Hot! I can see new facilities going HOT (Katy), but to convert the old ones?

Remember what happened when they wanteds to convert th mainlanes of SH 249 from free to toll! Or the Westpark?

New stuff yes, but not what is in place now. That's changing rules in the middle of the game. Is this not POST EX FACTO?

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

don — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:02:10 GMT

I have another name for the HOT lanes. It's called "gouging".

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

Robert Wade — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:25:32 GMT

Is anyone aware of a cost analysis on hybrid commuter buses?

Since Metro's express commuter buses run primarily on the freeway, where does it expect a cost savings from energy-regenerative braking?

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

DominicMazoch — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:34:08 GMT

Oh, I don't mind the concept of HOT. Katy is a good start. But I just don't think anything which was not toll or HOT from the get go, being converted, unless it is rebuilt, like the present Katy or future 290.

Sorry I was not clear. What you get after blogging after a late shift.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

nodrama — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:15:04 GMT

HOT is long overdue. One the main disincentives to mass transportation in Houston is that it simply takes a lot more time to get there in a bus than in private cars. Congestion controlled pricing to keep the current HOV lanes clear should substantially mitigate this problem for the P&R routes.

Unless/until some form of urban development control is implemented in Harris County (I'm not holding my breath) to concentrate residences along defined mass transit routes, the primary mode of mass transportation in Houston will remain bus-centered. It's time for the public to wake up to the fact that a well funded and managed mass transit system benefits everyone, riders and non-riders alike by drastically reducing oil consumption.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

Elizabeth — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:06:03 GMT

Dominic Mazoch said:

"$30.00!!!!!What is a cab between these two points?"

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The last time I took a cab from Alief to IAH, it was well over $100 (including tip). That was at least 3 years ago. I don't know what it would cost from the Downtown Transit Center to IAH, but I would guess it's way more than $30. Cabs aint cheap.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

Elizabeth — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:59:24 GMT

ChloeMireille, wow, that's a lot less than I used to pay from Alief. I just remember that meter kept clicking from zone to zone to zone; plus there was the toll road fees if they went that way, which was almost always faster.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

Cedric Collins — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:30:07 GMT

Robert Wade,

You may want to re-read what I said. The key word is "WAS." Here's the comment again for a refresher=>"There WAS already a service like that where a bus would take you from Downtown Houston non-stop to IAH."

The route number was "112." I can't think of the CORRECT name but that was a while back. Sorry for any confusions that I have made.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

nodrama — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:06:41 GMT

A. Hatcher said: "Just last week the majority of single driver violators were taken off the 290 HOV Lane. What used to take Line 286 45 minutes to commute took 30 minutes! By taking these violators off the HOV lane it made travel to/from work more pleasant."

_________________________________________

Yes, I'm on the 286 too and there has been a big improvement in the 290 HOV transit time. I just didn't know there had been a crackdown on violators. GOOD!

Nevertheless I don't see the HOT concept as a substitute for enforcement: ANY system that restricts access to the HOV lanes is worthless w/o enforcement. It just seems to offer a time-flexible way to manage the traffic flow that would be effective even beyond the point where single driver vehicles have been cleared off.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

The Global Traveler — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:17:29 GMT

$30 is a ridiculous price for this service. Let's review options though...A cab from downtown Houston is about $55 with the tip and the Blue van shuttle service is $25.

By the way, this service existed before as the 101 I think and the cost was the normal fare, if I am not mistaken. I know it was not used as the times were odd and it actually did not operate on weekends, which I think was a big mistake.

I am not aware of any other city where a public bus charges that much to get from the airport to the city! I suggest that if Metro do not want this service to fail like the first one, they should lower the price to something more reasonable. I would actually pay $5.00 each way for the service and I'd like a transfer to my bus to/from my house as well.

How come they never ask customers before they start these services? Or maybe they do. I really don't think a tourist will pay $30.00 each way to visit Houston while waiting for a flight.

As a 102 bus rider, I see lots of tourist on the bus who are laying over from say Mexico and going to Europe and want to kill time. They pay the $1.00 or $1.50 depending on the time of day as it is cheap, I am pretty sure they wont pay $15!

I hope the President can address my concerns in his chat.

re: Next Web Chat: Hot Lanes & Airport Express Bus

DominicMazoch — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:30:29 GMT

I think this service could be provided cheeper by cabbies who have contracts like METROLift. Or the contracts can be extended to cover the service. Mabe these METROLift/Airport units could be painted a different color, or something like that.