Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Cedric Collins — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:11:01 GMT

Big mistake by talking about anything that has to do with METRORail because Mr. Roykeaux will most likely pounce at this.

Good luck, METRO, on doing what you need to do for transit in Houston.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Royko — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:13:20 GMT

Ms. Sit,

Was Parsons involved in the "Big Dig" boondoggle, where it has been leaking from day one, and, seemingly had something to do with the improperly bolted concrete ceiling panel falling on cars, killing a taxpayer in the main tunnel?

I need to research where there were stories over the past several years about Parsons being involved in problems associated with other transit projects around

the nation.

Why would anyone think Parsons would be any better than Siemens? We are stuck with the shoddilly-built 7.5-mile tram, and now, if one listens to METREAUX, taxpayers are clamoring for more of the same.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Cedric Collins — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:04:23 GMT

Yeah---OK---Mr. Roykeaux--and now onto my better life at riding buses and trains.

"We are stuck with the shoddilly-built 7.5-mile tram"

Train, son---train. That's what I call it and if it was too poorly built, then how come many people are faithfully riding it?

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

DominicMazoch — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:54:01 GMT

Actyally, I DO call the trains along the LRT "Trams"; I've been doing it from the time the line opened. I am going to have to look at the history of the word, but I do think it is a common word in Europe for LRT.

And was not the "Big Dig" the moving of IH-95 underground? (Just asking!)

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Royko — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:33:06 GMT

Mr. Collins,

I merely wanted to know if Parsons has had any unpleasant outcomes with prior transit projects. If so, why are we to believe the work in Houston will suddenly be free of design flaws, and latent defects.

METREAUX rushed the first tram, and they are anxious to fire up the steam-roller, seemingly to flatten any opposition to the tram extensions.

The costs are significantly higher than they were in 2003, when they duped the voters into approving the "solutions" scheme. If corners are not cut, they will have to exceed the level of bonds approved in 2003. There are some nagging questions.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

DominicMazoch — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:20:33 GMT

I think the Curtiba Brazil BRT system is run under a partnership system. And they run BI-articulated units.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Cedric Collins — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:30:57 GMT

Roykeaux said: "The costs are significantly higher than they were in 2003, when they duped the voters into approving the "solutions" scheme. If corners are not cut, they will have to exceed the level of bonds approved in 2003. There are some nagging questions."

That was five years ago. What's done is done and METRO should move forward---NOT BACKWARD---with what they have planned for the future of transit in Houston. Just comply with the feds and there won't be any major delays.

Now---BRING ON THOSE NEW BUSES (lots more than what METRO is currently purchasing) AND GET MORE TRAINS (that way, we can see more two-car trains), WILL YA?!

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Cedric Collins — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:20:10 GMT

Mr. Roykeaux,

Your point is? Disregard what promises to what public? If yould read the fine print (whatever you're reading) and listen to any sudden changes that may look different from the original "fine print," then maybe---JUST MAYBE---things would go a lot smoother around here.

I have already explained in my way why METRO is getting rid of routes that people so-called "REALLY NEED" so I need NOT to explain again.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

DominicMazoch — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:08:22 GMT

Derrick:

In this country and Canada, your "trolley" is called a "trolley bus".

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Royko — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:33:29 GMT

1) METREAUX STONEWALLED THE MARCH DATA, RELEASING IT VIA SNAIL MAIL, SEEMINGLY SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT KNOW THE NEGATIVE INFORMATION FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. I HAD FILED A FOLLOW-UP COMPLAINT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE TEXAS AG!!!

2) According to the Texas Comptroller, METREAUX sales Tax for May 2008 is 7.5% ABOVE May 07, and is 30.99% greater than May 2001. At the current rate, METREAUX will collect over $515 Million in "Windfall" sales tax revenue, allowing the urban rail robber barons to continue to play MONOPOLY with our precious sales tax resources, yet they will continue to abuse the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area.

3) METREAUX Bus Boardings for March 2008 are -8.98% BELOW the May 07 level! A significant decline in spite of all the press and media hyping the $3.50/gallon price of gasoline, and, after the media was featuring Houstonians subjecting themselves to being herded like "Sheeple" from buses to the boondoggle tram!

4) METREAUX Fare Box revenue was up, yet the January-March period, when compared with 2004 is still -10.26%.

5) METREAUXRail TVM revenue for March 2008 is -8.55% off from March 2007!

6) METREAUXRail estimated "forced" Boardings declined -4.02% from March 2007. Contrary to the propaganda, and where the tram boardings are up +99.01% for the first four months of 2008, when compared with the same heavily promoted start-up in 2004, Houstonians do not appear to enjoy being herded like "Sheeple" onto the Dystopian tram.

7) METREAUXRail TVM Revenue/Boarding for March 2008 is $0.235. FY2008 is -5.95% below FY2007, and FY2008 is -22.22% below FY2005!

METREAUX appears to be trying to steam roll the Consent Agreement, and seemingly does not want any negative information released which could cause the public to realize the tram extensions are not going to be as glorious and wonderful as METREAUX want us to believe.

re: Houston METRO Touted as Model for Transit Solutions

Royko — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:33:42 GMT

Mr. Collins,

Here is a link to a cortoon on PARSONS which I hope some might enjoy:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?id=350