Ride the rail to visit one of the nation's top five "must see" museum exhibits, as rated by Time magazine.
It's the Houston Museum of Natural Science exhibit, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor.
Often considered one of the eight wonders of the world, these life-sized terra cotta replicas were built to protect China's first emperor throughout eternity.
Qin Shi Huang was only 13 years old when he commissioned the army of 8,000 soldiers, built to stand guard over him in a vast necropolis. This exhibit of 14 life-sized soldiers is the biggest display of warriors and tomb artifacts to travel to the United States.
METRO has teamed up with the Houston Museum of Natural Science to offer a $10 discount off an adult ticket. Brochures with a coupon will be distributed on buses, trains and our RideStore in the next few weeks.
The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and continues until Oct. 18.
Tune in to HCCTV, Comcast Channel 19 tonight at 6 p.m., and you'll hear real stories from riders who love taking METRO to get them where they need to go.
From a young man who says a METRO bus is like a party bus when he and his buddies go to football games, to an executive who hasn't stepped aboard a bus in 30 years but tries it for the first time, meet commuters who prefer to leave the driving to someone else.
Bottom line: Taking METRO is convenient, cost-effective and easy.
You'll also discover some jewels you can visit within walking distance of the Red Line, such as The Menil Collection or The Contemporary Arts 
Houston.
Watch the I Ride documentary tonight and every weeknight this week at 6 p.m.
If you don't have Comcast, click here to view it on our Web site. We'll have it up by 5 p.m. tonight.
METRO promised a Signature bus service that would be quick-as-a-bunny, and so far, in its first 16 days of operation, it's delivering.
The 402 Quickline Bellaire has an average of 97 percent on-time performance.
"It's doing really well," said Pat Porzillo, associate vice president of commuter rail at METRO, and the go-to guy for Quickline operations. "Our on-time performance has been really great."
The 402 Quickline has 53 scheduled trips a day - and only one or two buses a day have been late. "The single biggest cause is the freight track," explained Porzillo. "There's a UP freight train that comes and blocks the crossing."
If you're at any of the Quickline transit stations, you can see next-bus arrival times for northbound and southbound buses. You can also check it out from your smart phone by accessing http://www.ridemetro.org/.
Click on "services, then "bus," then "402 Quickline Bellaire." Then go down to the lower two-thirds of the page to "Click here for next bus service." Both Airport Direct and the 402 Quickline offer next-bus arrival information.
Our ridership goal is 1,000 riders a day after one year of service - and in the first two weeks, we've passed the halfway mark, averaging 600 commuters a day. We expect those numbers to increase once summer break is over and students return to school.
Porzillo says he's heard positive reaction from our riders. They like saving 20 minutes of travel time, enjoy sleeping later in the mornings, and appreciate the fact that the local $1.25 fare remains the same on the Quickline.
"If they miss the bus, they can jump on a Quickline at the medical center, jump off at any station and switch to the local bus they missed - and it counts as a free transfer with a Q card," said Porzillo.
The Quickline makes eight stops, but METRO is planning to add a ninth stop - the Stella Link station - by late December, said Porzillo.
"We're coordinating it with road construction at Southside Place. Right now, the road is split and we can't access the site," said Porzillo.
If you haven't ridden one of the distinctive blue, bunny buses, hop on for a quick ride down Bellaire.
"One of the things we've always thought was that this was the type of service that will prove itself. If we operate it reliably, if we run on time, people would move over to this service," said Porzillo. "We're pleased, and we're excited about moving the program forward with an integrated Quickline system."
Tune in tonight to HCCTV, Comcast's Channel 19 to hear how buses are the backbone of METRO's system.
In this documentary, meet the men and women who work hard behind-the-scenes to make sure METRO's buses are safe, clean and reliable.
Called "Precious Cargo," this documentary showcases the transformation of METRO's fleet over the decades to one of the youngest fleets in the nation, with 100 hybrid-electric buses added every year.
Learn about METRO's commitment to making the buses accessible to the disabled and its initiatives to making the system safer.
You'll hear from employees who have worked here for 25 or 30 years - and are still passionate about what they do.
If you don't have cable, you can watch the documentary on our Web site at http://www.ridemetro.org/. Click the yellow button that says, "We're ready for our close-up."
If you're a marketing professional, winning a Crystal Award is a big deal - almost as enviable as capturing an Oscar in the movie industry.
Well, METRO's marketing department recently won the American Marketing Association's 2009 AMA Crystal Award for its "I Ride" campaign.
The "I Ride" campaign hit the airwaves and print last year and featured local celebrities encouraging Houstonians to ride METRO. The celebrities were heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, fashion designer Chloe Dao and Carlos Lee, outfielder for the Astros.
The ad appeared on broadcast, print, bus cards and train wraps and trumped a Bank of America ad, two Wal-Mart ads and a Centerpoint Energy ad.
"It's not like regular advertising awards in which it's a beauty contest, and the coolest spot wins," said Rob Fritsche Jr., senior writer/producer who wrote and produced the ad. "In this competition not only were you judged on the quality of the ad, but the results from the campaign counted for twice as much as the aesthetics."
METRO met or exceeded nearly all of its proposed campaign goals. If you missed the commercials, you can watch them on YouTube. George Foreman starred in two spots for us - "Battles" and "Dreams."
Chloe Dao, fashion designer who won the Bravo Channel's "Project Runway" (season two), features her designs on METRO's rail platform. Carlos Lee urges Houstonians to get on board while on the playing field.
Brian Rogers, the graphic designer responsible for the print aspect of the campaign, says the image campaign tried to show "everybody and anybody can ride and should ride public transit when they need it. George Foreman himself rode METRO as a child to get to the gym and work out. It was a good testimonial to see how public transit played a role in his life."
And of course, beating out major firms was icing on the cake. "It's huge to show we can run with the big dogs," said Rogers.
In the photo above, Fritsche (left) displays the Crystal Award with Rogers (right).
If you subscribe to Comcast, check out HCCTV, Channel 19 tonight at 6 p.m.
"Houston: The Road Ahead" is a documentary that traces METRO's humble beginnings, its rocky middle years before the 2003 referendum was passed and its current state of affairs - from its modern, hybrid-electric bus fleet to its plans on building five light-rail lines.
Learn how METRO inherited a dilapidated bus system where buses could barely pull out of the garages. When the air conditioning broke down, windows in the front and back were removed to create an air flow.
Hear METRO's first chairman of the board, Howard Horne, talk about the early days. Dr. Carol Lewis of Texas Southern University describes the energetic opponents to the METRO Solutions referendum and analyzes how METRO has carried out that mandate.
Dr. Stephen Klineberg of Rice University discusses his 28th annual survey, highlighting what respondents said about mass transit and how important rail should be in a mass transit system.
The documentary will repeat every week night this week at 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
METRO's vanpool program has a whole new look - it's been rebranded as STAR vanpool.
David McMaster, director of customer service, says it's a convenient and cost-effective way to get to and from work.
Click the link below to hear his interview on METRO Matters.
http://www.ridemetro.org/News/Broadcast/METROMatters.aspx
You can also watch it at on Comcast's Channel 17 at these times:
Sun 6/14/09 10:40 p.m.
Tue. 6/16/09 12:30 p.m.
Thu 6/18/09 5:30 p.m.
Sat 6/20/09 8:00 p.m.
Tue 6/23/09 4:30 p.m.
Thu 6/25/09 10:00 p.m.
Sat 6/27/90 9:30 p.m.
Tue 6/30/09 6:15 p.m.
METRO introduced the agency's signature bus service to the media and public officials today at a special event that showcased its new blue-wrapped buses, along with a dance from local elementary students.
"The icons of American businesses are lining up to ask for bailouts. At the same time, METRO is rolling out...a premium service," said Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, at the event. "The right thing to do is what we're doing today."
METRO's 402 Quickline Bellaire service starts Monday, June 1.
For the same price as a local ride, commuters will be able to save time while riding in comfort on a new hybrid-electric bus.
The 402 Quickline - which travels from the TMC Transit Center to Ranchester on Bellaire Blvd. - includes only eight stops in either direction. Pictured above are METRO board member Burt Ballanfant and Wilson watching students dance at the event.
Quickline bus shelters feature up-to-the-minute notices for next-bus arrival, improved lighting and benches. The buses are also equipped with security cameras inside.
John Kajander, senior vice president at the Texas Medical Center, said moving people to, from and around the medical center was essential - and METRO's new Quickline service would help meet the transportation challenge.
"We worked very closely with METRO. We really needed some innovative solutions...and it's our hope that these bunny buses will take a significant step toward that," said Kajander. 
A human-sized bunny joined the crowd after the speeches, following a dance performance by students from nearby Pat Neff Elementary School.
"What we're doing here today means better and faster service for more people than anywhere we have on line (in METRO's system)," said Ballanfant, a long-time user of METRO transit.
The nine-mile Quickline route cost $9 million to $10 million to construct. We have 1,000 boardings a day now on the local Bellaire route, or 360,000 boardings every year.
The Quickline will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a total of 26 westbound and 27 eastbound trips. The trip time for the route will be 38 minutes, compared to 52 minutes on the 2 Bellaire.
Pictured below is Gerald Griffith, supervisor of the Quickline buses, who will monitor the buses by laptop computer to ensure a smooth operation.
Dan Nip, founder of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, said it was a lucky day for Chinatown residents. He praised METRO's persistence and diligence at developing this Quickline service, and said the bus stations were so beautiful and modern - especially the one at Bellaire and Ranchester - that "you won't want to go anywhere, you'll want to just sit there."
Finally. Everything is in place for METRO to forge ahead and make real progress building transit in the region.
That's what the Houston Chronicle said in an editorial published on May 22.
The editorial lists the ways METRO is ready to roll with its plan for five light-rail lines and beyond:
Federal funding. The Obama budget sets aside $150 million for light-rail transit in Houston in the fiscal 2010 budget.
- Political unity among the area's congressional leadership.
- Good timing. President Obama's push for high-speed rail will depend on intercity rail lines to connect the network.
- Favorable public opinion on transit. Stephen Klineberg of Rice Univesity says support for public transit is growing. More respondents to his 28th annual survey cited mass transit as a preference to this region's traffic woes.
"While no one is about to proclaim the end of the automobile in Houston, many local minds clearly are opening up to other transportation possibilities," said the Chronicle."It is now possible to envision a city, region and state linked by an efficient rail system that will help ease the load on our streets, freeways and highways. METRO deserves recognition for persisting."
Click here to read the entire editorial.
On National Bike Day, 10 members of Team METRO, along with other Houstonians, joined Mayor Bill White, biking from Memorial park to city hall downtown.
About 300 cyclists pedaled the 15-mile route, making it a leisurely and conversational event. The ride began at 7:30 a.m. when the day was still refreshingly cool.
"It was fun. The weather was great," said Nicole Adler, a METRO bike team member. "This was an opportunity to see how easy it is to bike to work. It encourages you to do it."
Tom Pham, a ride leader of Team METRO, said this annual event helped trigger the creation of METRO's bike team.
"We're supporting the mayor's efforts to extend bike trails all over the city, and we're also promoting our bikes-on-bus program. It's a fun thing to do - it's a national event. It's awesome. I wish more employees would attend," said Pham. 
Team METRO poses with Mayor White in the photo on the right. From left to right, first row: Hao Le, Armando Trevino, Mayor White., Lovie Miles, Tom Pham. L to R, back row: Reginald Giles, Marjorie Carter, Brian Rogers, Charlene Lewis, Nicole Adler, Randy Frazier
Hao Le, Team METRO's vice president, said he hopes today's event will convince people that traveling to work is feasible.
"I think one event over a period of time will spread the message and convince people," said Le, who bikes to work four out of five days.
For one day at least, the bikers who joined the mayor chose a healthy, environmentally-friendly way to get to work. Bike advocates are hoping this will become a habit for workers, who will trade four wheels for two on a more regular basis.
For the past two years, Hao Le has traded four wheels for two to get to work four days out of five. It's a 90-minute, 20-mile ride, but for this passionate biker, the commute is pure bliss.
Le, a METRO senior attorney, is a competitive racer who says he bikes from his home in the Memorial City area in west Houston to downtown as "training for races, stress relief, getting to work quickly and overall enjoyment of getting to work."
May is National Bike Month and this week is Bike-to-Work-Week, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists.
For commuters like Le, biking to work is extremely doable, despite Houston's year-round humidity. "When I get to work, I use baby wipes and the bathroom to wash my hair. I towel dry it," says Le. "I have a change of clothes in my office."
Le says he used city of Houston maps to find dedicated bike lanes - and 60 to70 percent of his ride occurs on those lanes.
He said drivers tend to immediately change lanes, giving cyclists the entire lane, or they brush up against the cyclist. Instead, Le advises: "Don't freak out when you see a cyclist riding in your lane. Take your time, slow down a little bit, and go through. You don't need to change lanes," he says.
This low-cost, environmentally friendly way to commute isn't as daunting as it may seem, says Le. "It's just not as hard as you think it is logistically. You're just giving yourself excuses. If you really want to ride to work - when there's a will, there's a way."
If you can't bike all the way to work, try a bi-modal solution. Ride your bike and ride METRO. Many of our riders are already doing that.
Take a look at the numbers.
Since we launched our bikes-on-buses program in April 2007, we have had 56,092 bike boardings.
The numbers of bikers using our buses has mushroomed.
From October 2008 to April 2009, we had 29,014 bikes on buses compared to 6,420 buses the same period a year ago. That's a 352 percent increase in bikes.
If you have commuted to work using a combination of bike and bus - or bike and train - let us know what your experience has been like.
We'd love to hear from you.
When money is spent investing in public transit, the result creates jobs that put the people who have been hit hardest back to work.
A new study by the Economic Development Research Group, commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), shows that two-thirds of the jobs created by capital investment in public transportation replaces lost blue-collar jobs with "green jobs" in public transit.
Sixty-seven percent of new construction and manufacturing "green jobs" from public transit capital investment usually fall in the category of "blue-collar semi-skilled (59 percent) and blue-collar skilled (8 percent). These jobs include manufacturing, service, repair workers, drivers, crew, ticket agents and construction.
White-collars skilled and semi-skilled make up 33 percent of the new jobs, and include positions such as clerical, managerial and technical engineers.
The study indicates that an investment of $1 billion in public transit supports and creates 30,000 jobs in a variety of sectors. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) offers $8.4 billion for public transportation projects, which will create 252,000 jobs.
"The ultimate goal in any economic recovery plan should be to not create just any type of job, but rather to invest in and focus on areas particularly hit hard by the economic downturn," said Wiliam M. Millar, APTA's president, in a statement. "The investment in public transit not only produces green jobs but also provides for a more sustainable transportation system that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lessen the transportation sector's impact on the environment."
Click here to read the entire report.
Here at METRO, the $1.46 billion construction contract we signed with Parsons Transportation Group last month is projected to generate some 60,000 direct and indirect jobs before the four light-rail lines - about 20 miles of rail - are completed.
If you've driven downtown lately around the Red Line on Main Street, you've noticed strips of blinking red lights set in the pavement.
The flashing markers light up when the traffic signal turns red - alerting drivers that intersections along Main Street are not typical.
We've had these flashing makers at 16 intersections, and they've been so successful at cutting down accidents, that we have installed them at four more intersections:
- Preston @ Main
- Rusk @ Main
- Polk @ Main
- Lamar @ Main
The photo above shows the pavement strip at Main and Preston.
This experimental lighted pavement marking system (LPMS) was pioneered by METRO and established to increase visibility at train crossings, cut down on drivers running red lights and reduce crashes.
It's worked.
A study performed in 2004-2005 comparing data to a study done in 2006 - 2007 indicates the illuminated pavement markers have reduced the number of accidents caused by running red lights by as much as 50 percent at some intersections.
The pavement markers have also helped stem right-turn-on-red violations. No right turns on red are allowed on Main Street.
METRO received permission from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to expand the lighted strips along the 7.5 mile rail on Main Street. The FHWA sets standards for traffic signs, signals, designs and safety features.
We maintain and operate 70 traffic signals along the rail line with 20 of those intersections now paved with these strips of blinking red lights. Our goal is to get the technology approved by the FHWA as a standard traffic signal device.
Phoenix, New York and Los Angeles are among the cities that have expressed interest in installing red pavement lights.
A family of bunnies has been making its home in the grasslands at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center.
These are no ordinary bunnies.
They are topiary bunnies designed to catch your eye and remind you of our new Quickline Signature bus service - the 402 Quickline Bellaire - we are launching June 1.
Four seven-foot bunnies dot the landscape at TMC Transit Center, along with three baby bunnies which stand four-and-half feet tall.
"We've had some positive feedback from customers out there," says Pat Porzillo, associate vice president of commuter rail. "People are taking photographs of themselves with the bunnies."
Each bunny has its own sprinkler head built in it - and that sprinkler taps into our existing sprinkling system at the TMC Transit Center. The large ones weigh at least 200 pounds and are anchored into the ground.
JoAnne Lingenfelter, manager of marketing at METRO, came up with the idea of planting topiary bunnies to market our new Quickline service.
"It was something different, something kind of fun - and something most people wouldn't object to," said Lingenfelter.
Porzillo played landscape designer, positioning the bunnies in areas that would have the most impact on our riders. "One bunny looks like he is trying to bring people in - waving to people at the TMC. And there's a baby bunny next to him. They're saying, ‘Ride us.'"
Another small bunny is positioned so that when a bus swings around a curve at the TMC, riders will easily spot it.
The leaping bunny faces the direction of exiting buses, so passengers will glimpse it on the way out of the TMC. 
And except for the leaping bunny, all the bunnies face toward the Quickline bus station - a distinctive station with a blue Quickline bus sign, columns wrapped in blue and a blue curb.
"We think the bunnies are cool, and this is going to be a great route," said Porzillo.
The route will have eight stations: TMC, Kirby, Bellaire TC, Hill croft, Sharpstown Center, Fondren, Gessner and Ranchester. We're planning to add a future stop at Stella Link.
The 402 QL Bellaire will feature bus shelters with up-to-the-minute next bus arrival info, improved lighting and better benches. The buses will be hybrid diesel-electric and will sport high-end interiors.
The cost to ride? Just $1.25 - the same price as local buses.
Enjoy the bunnies....and get ready for our fast-as-bunnies Quickline service coming next month.
Government agencies are always looking for ways to cut costs and to do more with less. Now there's a new way to save money on fleet vehicles.
FastFleet by Zipcar was introduced last month for public sector agencies and universities, and the company says it will save taxpayers money, reduce risk and promote sustainability.
This new service leverages the same technology that Zipcar uses for individual consumers who rent cars by the hour or day.
Employees use a reservation system over the Web, phone or mobile device to reserve a vehicle. They swipe a wallet-size access card to unlock the doors of the vehicle, courtesy of an integrated card reader mounted under the windshield.
FastFleet mirrors Zipcar's car-sharing model, but the government agency or institution owns the cars. Using technology, FastFleet enables managers to help employees share the vehicles - and at the same time, reduce the fleet and still have enough cars available on demand.
"It's a much more convenient way - an easier way to manage and dispatch the fleet," explained Luke Schneider, general manager at FastFleet and chief technology officer at Zipcar, in a phone interview. 
"The primary reason people do this is they can save enormous amounts of money. Most fleets are built to meet peak demand. This reduces the overall utilization of the fleet - a handful of cars are used only during peak periods. What FastFleet does - and this is the beauty and elegance of car sharing - is it opens up and makes visible the vehicles so that people who drive can plan their trip accordingly and reserve their vehicle for the time they need and no more. It flattens the demand curve."
For example, with online reservations and this "visibility" into the fleet, agencies could reduce a 100-vehicle fleet to 60, said Schneider.
Washington D.C. has used this now for four months and says it has saved more than $300,000 during a four-month pilot. It estimates it will save more than $1 million in the first 12 months of use. About 1,400 employees in 28 departments are using 60 cars in FastFleet now.
Pricing ranges from $65-90 a month for basic service, plus the cost of the hardware. Washington, D.C. spends $115/vehicle/month. The subscription service is priced per car.
"I believe that technology can be used to create efficiency and save taxpayer money," said Adrian M. Fenty, mayor of Washington, D.C., in a statement. "FastFleet has allowed us to better optimize our fleet, and we will continue to evaluate our existing fleet and look for additional cost saving opportunities."
About 4 million vehicles are leased nationwide within local, state and federal governments, estimates FastFleet. Since fleets are typically sized to meet peak demand, most of the cars sit idle most of the time. FastFleet, with its wireless connectivity, prevents that.
"This is carving out cost structure," said Schneider. "If you get rid of 30 cars, that car costs between $6,000 and $10,000 a year to keep up with finance, insurance, gas, maintenance and gas - that turns into real money."
The World Health Organization said today that the number of confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide is 331. The total here in the United States is 141, including 28 cases in Texas.
As you're riding the rail and buses, confined in close spaces, you may be wondering what METRO's response is to this outbreak.
Rest assured we are monitoring the situation constantly. We have had meetings to discuss a possible swine flu outbreak, and we are in touch with state and public health officials. We will take the necessary steps to protect our riders.
While our daily headlines news tells of more local school closings and cases here in the Houston area, please bear in mind that most of the cases have been mild and most people recover without treatment.
Protecting your health while on METRO buses or trains is the same as when you are in any public space. How many times do you hang on to a pole or brush up against a seat? Practice good hygiene.
Here are some steps you can follow, recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner when hand washing is impractical.
- Cover your mouth/nose when you cough or sneeze with tissue or your sleeve. Discard the tissue, then wash your hands.
- If you are having flu symptoms, avoid contact with others as much as possible. Don't go to work or school.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or become severe.
For more information, check out the Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services or the City of Houston's Health and Human Services Department.
You can also call a free hotline, 24/7, staffed by Harris County nurses. 713/633.2255.
In the photo above, Shanghai doctors who have experience with SARS study a case of possible swine flu.
Thanks to all of you who joined our Web chat today at noon. METRO's President & CEO Frank J. Wilson hosted today's chat, where questions ranged from light-rail service to both airports to our new Quick Line Signature Bus service to debut in June.
We ran out of time and couldn't answer all of your questions - but keep reading this blog. We will try to get answers to your questions and write about those topics in future posts.
Pictured here is Wilson, me typing his answers and chief of staff Joanne Wright in the background.
(12:03:36 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Welcome, everyone. Thanks for joining our Web chat today. Looking forward to a lively conversation. |
(12:10:27 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q. : Bugs Bunny ridding a bus. The METRO Quick Line Logo is a Rabbit. June 1 for the 402, right! Now, we need to see Bugs' relatives on WESTHEIMER?
A : Good question. The first signature bus line goes into operation in June on Bellaire. The second one is scheduled to operate between the Palm Center and the Medical Center, along Old Spanish Trail. That's scheduled at least probably more than six months from now. Westheimer is on the drawing board and not likely to begin until mid 2011.
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(12:12:06 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : What's up with the University Line? I thought it was to be the first new line built. Now it looks like it will be the last. When will construction start and when will it be completed?
A : The University Line from the very beginning was scheduled to be the last of five light-rail lines to be completed. The original schedule and the current schedule have the University Line construction start-up approximately one year after the current construction plans (first four light-rail lines). And at this time, we're right on schedule.
|
(12:12:39 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : I'd like to ask about Metro's service during inclement weather.
A : Yes, we operate during inclement weather. Go ahead, ask a more specific question.
|
(12:14:56 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Is the Uptown Line still scheduled to have groundbreaking this year? Or is it contingent on the University Line?
A : In many respects, we are scheduled to begin work as a function of when the street and utility work is completed. The current plan is to have the Uptown Association manage that work. When that work is completed, METRO will come in and build the light-rail related facilities.
As you might imagine, construction along Post Oak is highly dependent on the retail sales cycle. So, little or no construction will happen between November and January each year. So this is a tricky task to specify the exact timetable for the METRO construction work because we are dependent on the schedule for the roadway work. |
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(12:18:22 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : There were no morning 82 when it rained on Tuesday, so I had to walk to get the 42. I did see the #53, so I don't understand it
A : The storm front that hit us Monday night and Tuesday morning created havoc with our ability to run a normal schedule. Just to state the obvious, flooding on local streets, as well as the major thoroughfares, prevented our operators from getting to the garage and to take the buses out in service on time. In at least one case, our buses were flooded in and couldn't get out of the garage. So we had to deal with the same miserable weather, roadway, and traffic conditions that plagued everyone else. We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we worked real hard during the day on Tuesday to ensure a normal afternoon rush hour.
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(12:21:43 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Thank you for scheduling this Web chat. The community appreciates your accessibility. My questions are, what are the plans for future alignments for light rail? Specifically how will the line connecting downtown to the Northwest Transit Center be determined? How will the affected neighborhoods' input be taken into account?
A : The alignment to the Northwest Transit Center has essentially been decided. It will run from the Hillcroft Transit Center in the south, north along Post Oak Blvd. to the 610 Loop where it would operate in some configuration along 610 exit onto local roads, and into the Northwest Transit Center.
The effect on neighborhoods and property is essentially limited to the commercial properties along Post Oak and of course, in the interstate freeway. We've been working for the last two years with those commercial property owners and expext to reach mutually agreeable alignment decisions with them before construction starts. |
(12:24:38 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Looking forward to the Quick Line service. Why are 2 Bellaire customers segregated from 402 Quick Line customers? We have been without shelters for 8 months and the stops were moved up to a block away from the old stops. This has been very confusing and many riders who wait at the shelters are left confused when the buses pass them without stopping.
A : The Quick Line is designed as an express service with limited stops for those who are traveling longer distances. In effect, it is a new service overlaid on top of the existing service. There's no intention to degrade the quality of the existing service, and if we need additional shelters along the current Route 2 service, we'd be happy to entertain any requests that our customers might have. Granted, that any time you introduce change where there has not been any for many, many years, one can always expect some confusion. But we'll do our best to minimize that confusion until the service patterns are completely understood by our customers. |
(12:24:58 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Also, is the Uptown alignment still in the middle of the West Loop between Memorial and Post Oak?
A : At this time, it is. |
(: | |
(12:27:51 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : I ride the P & R 244/247/249 off and on, may I ask why local/express busses such as the 88 do not go to P & R locations, they would be a great connection and back up to get to the south side of town...other cities do this why Houston does not? Makes no sense....
A : Thanks for the suggestion. You're quite right that many cities used their Park & Ride lots and transit centers as a place for convenient transferring from one type service to another.
I am forwarding your question to our operations planning department primarily to send along your good idea, and then secondarily, to have them give you a more detailed, analytical reason for why we don't do this today or why we will do it in the near future. Let me know how our guys do. Give us your e-mail on the blog, and we'll be able to give you some answers. |
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(12:28:50 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : The current bus schedules as published on your web site in PDF format do not work well on mobile devices as many do not have PDF readers. How about putting the schedules up in more mobile-friendly form like just plain HTML tables?
A : Our information technology services is looking this now, and is looking to implement this in the coming year.
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(12:34:55 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Mr. Wilson, which local routes do you ride most often? How reliable do you find them to be?
A : The service I use frequently is the light-rail line on Main Street - extraordinarily reliable and rarely have to wait more than two or three minutes. There seems to be a train always in sight. More importantly, you ask which routes do I find reliable.
I can offer to send you a new report that we've created that shows the top 13 routes in our system. They're top routes because they carry almost 70 percent of our riders. As a sneak preview, I will tell you that you might be startled to see the reliability level in the 65 to 69 percent on-time category. But why I say this is a surprise is that most transit systems report that all their buses are running between 88 and 98 percent on time. I've worked in five transit systems in my career across the nation, and most of them were among the largest in the country. And I can personally say this: The 80 to 90 percent level of performance in those systems is fiction. What we report, like it or not, is accurate. We'd rather know the truth and do something about it (obviously improve it), than attempt to fool our customers and ourselves by publishing bogus data. In the future, if you like, I'd be happy to return to cyberspace and have a deeper discussion about this topic because at METRO, we don't duck tough issues. We deal with them. And while we're not proud of our record to date, we are proud of the improvement plans that we're implementing now that should have a dramatic effect on our on-time performance. Thank you for asking. This is an area that we are providing serious attention to. |
(12:36:44 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : You have the #102 to BUSH I A H LIMITED/WAYFOREST/VIA HOV and the #102 to BUSH I A H LIMITED/WRIGHT ROAD/VIA TERMINAL C/VIA HOV. But the one to Wayforest does not to IAH, so why is BUSH IAH in the description of the route? Why not call that bus the 103 or some other number? This naming caused me to have to take the 500 and pay $15 as I was late!
A : Sorry that our route designations have caused you so much difficulty. We'll examine a better way to label the routes and try to get them redesignated by our next service change.
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(12:39:19 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Thanks for the answer on the #82 situation, but I am confused as Westheimer was fine in certain parts and you were able to run the #53 which runs almost the same route as the #82. Also, if you had an alert system I could sign up for it and you could have told me the bus was not running. Please do better next time the weather is bad as we depend on the Metro bus to get to work, rain or shine. Thanks.
A : Good suggestion, and we are using a new prototype information system on our Signature bus lines. This technology will tell you exactly how much time until the next bus arrives, and if there's no service for whatever reason, it will tell you that, too. Eventually, by using your cell phone and knowing the number for a particular bus shelter, or intersection, you'll be able to retrieve the same information. Try riding the Route 2 Bellaire if you get a chance because we will preview it there, starting in June.
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(12:42:45 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : A Light Rail question: Will we ever have service to the airports (IAH and Hobby)?
A : I live in hope that we will see some form of rail service to both airports some day, but I must be honest and tell you that it's not likely that we will see the type of rail service (light-rail service) that we have on Main Street taking you to the airport. The reason is it would not be very customer-friendly for an airport customer. No place for luggage, too many stops, hopefully crowded conditions. This is not the kind of service that would be successful. We would need a rail line that would have limited stops, maybe two or three would run at high speed, maybe 80 mph and would provide more accommodating seating and space for luggage. Then it's possible for light-rail service.
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(12:44:34 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : May I also suggest that METRO publish rail schedules, especially for early mornings, late nights, and weekends? 20 minutes is a long time to wait for a train in the dark. I also have almost missed flights at Hobby because the first southbound train to arrive at Fannin South is almost an hour after the published start of service.
A : When you run the service every six minutes, a schedule is not necessary. However, you make a good point. When the service gap gets to 20 minutes or longer, we should provide scheduled times instead of frequencies. Look for a change in our publications, hopefully with the next service change, which comes in June.
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(12:45:34 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : As a follow up to my previous question, I was referring to light rail service directly from downtown to the Northwest Transit Center, not the currently planned route through the Hillcroft Transit Center, and how it would affect the neighborhoods along Washington and through the Heights?
A : I assume with this clarification you're talking about commuter rail service from downtown to Northwest Transit Center, not light-rail. Yes or no?
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(12:47:31 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Are the new, hybrid buses in service now the 2008 purchases? When will the order for 2009 start coming in? And are seats with slightly more padding under consideration?
A : We have about 120 hybrid buses in service today. We expect by the end of this year, early 2010, we should have in excess of 200 in service. The 2009 purchase of 100 more hybrid buses are not likely to be in service for at least a year.
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(12:54:35 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : You seem to appreciate the high frequency of service on the Red Line, so I think you'll understand that we local bus riders would appreciate more frequent service, too. Some routes, like the 34 Montrose and 18 Kirby, aren't given a chance to succeed because a bus every 45 minutes isn't convenient for anyone.
A : You are touching on the chicken-and-egg phenomenon that has plagued the transit industry since the wheel was invented. Which comes first? Frequent service or massive numbers of riders?
The Main Street rail line carries 45,000 people a day. We don't have any other route in the system that does that. But we understand that sometimes you need to put the service out, advertise it, of course run it properly, educate the latent customers (potential customers) that the service exists and try to build ridership at all times during the day, so that making service more frequent makes more sense. We try to do this. Sometimes the ridership responds, sometimes it doesn't. When the frequency of service gets to the level of 30 to 45 minutes, it often feels like we're fighting a losing battle with preciously scarce resources. And while service is our Number Two goal, only behind safety, it becomes a delicate balancing act to decide whether we are using our financial resources wisely. If we don't run METRO as a successful business, we may not be in business to provide any service. Witness the unfortunate plight of so many of our businesses today. Because of bad business decisions, they're facing extinction. So what we do run, we have to run economically. Therein lies the long-standing challenge of what comes first. Service or riders? |
(12:55:22 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : Thanks for looking into the #102 situation. How do I get a credit for the error?
A : Are you open to negotiation?
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(12:56:58 PM) Frank J Wilson: | Q : What is going on with the Fuqua park & ride? Yesterday when myself and my carpool arrived there we were informed that we could no longer park there. This is very unfair, and the alternative lot where we can park will cost us about 15 minutes in our commute, and almost makes using the HOV lane worthless.
A : Parking at this Park & Ride lot is extremely oversubscribed. Our first priority is obviously to our bus customers. As much as we appreciate you doing the environmentally preferred way to travel in a car, we'd love to have you on our bus.
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(1:02:22 PM) Frank J Wilson: | My time is up now. Thanks for joining us today. Wish we could do it every day, but let's promise to do it again soon. For those we weren't able to get to, we'll try to find answers from our other more knowledgeable staff and answer you on the blog. |
A reminder to join us today from noon to 1 p.m. for a Web chat with Frank J. Wilson, our president & CEO.
If you can't stay for the whole hour, drop in and ask a question, then grab lunch. Wondering about the construction on our light-rail lines....or maybe you've seen some green bunnies around the Texas Medical Center Transit Center. What do bunnies have to do with buses?
Or perhaps you have question about the historic contract we recently signed with Parsons. All questions will be moderated.
Here's your chance to ask the man at the top all things METRO. See you at noon!
METRO Matters is currently airing on two cable TV stations: Houston Media Source (Ch. 17 on Comcast) and HCCTV (Houston Community College's Ch. 19 on Comcast).
Our latest show with Kim Slaughter, associate vice president for planning, has been airing on Ch. 19. Now here's the schedule for the show on Channel 17.
If you've ever wondered how METRO plans its routes - and whether your suggestions make a difference, be sure to catch this show.
Click here to watch the show. Or tune in and watch it on TV at these times:
Fri. 5/1/09 8:30 p.m.
Mon 5/4/09 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 5/8/09 7:40 p.m.
Tue. 5/12/09 6:30 p.m.
Thu. 5/14/09 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 5/16/09 10:00 p.m.
Mon. 5/18/09 12:30 p.m.
Wed. 5/20/09 8:30 p.m.
Fri. 5/22/09 8:30 p.m.
Mon. 5/25/09 10:30 p.m.
Wed. 5/27/09 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 5/29/09 7:30 p.m.
Melvin Riley was driving the Park & Ride 204 Spring bus on the HOV lane when a scream pieced the air.
A gentleman had suddenly suffered a seizure.
"My first thought was to get the bus off the HOV lane," recalls Riley, 54, of the March incident. "The reason being there was no way we could help him on the HOV. We had to get him off there. Then I notified dispatch to have someone meet us at the Park & Ride."
Riley asked dispatch to call an ambulance and meet the bus at the P&R lot.
Was he tempted to speed down the HOV lane?
"While driving a bus, you should never get in a hurry because speed is what causes accidents. And always think before you react. When you're on the HOV lane, you're going pretty swiftly, anyway. The main thing is safety."
When Riley arrived at the P&R lot 10 minutes later, the ambulance had not yet arrived.
"At that time, I got all my passengers off the bus. Two other ladies stayed with me and attended to the guy. I talked to him and kept him awake and tried to keep him conscious till the ambulance arrived," says Riley.
Riley said his passengers stayed calm in the midst of a life-threatening moment - and he did, too.
"I've been driving for so long. I'm just a laid-back person. I don't get excited that quick," says Riley, who has driven a bus for 19 years and works out of Fallbrook Bus Operating Facility.
When Riley isn't driving a bus and handling the day's crises, he enjoys sports - from basketball to baseball. "I watch them more than I play them," says the married father of three.
When Sgt. Richard Sauseda first started at METRO as a police officer, he dressed in a coat and tie.
METRO didn't have police uniforms - and in fact, there was no official police department. That was back in 1982 when the Metropolitan Transit Authority had just been formed.
Last weekend, Sauseda officially retired after 27 years at MPD - and the department he leaves behind contrasts sharply with the one where he launched his METRO career.
"When I first started, I was wondering within six months if I had made the right choice. We had only one facility - and that facility was so full of holes and potholes, you couldn't even drive a bus in and out, much less a patrol car. It was pitiful," recalls Sauseda, 59.
Chief of Police Tom Lambert recalls that Sauseda was one of the original officers when MPD was formed. "He's been a true leader from Day One," says Lambert. "We're thankful for his service to the organization and the community, and wish him nothing but success in his retirement."
Back in the early years, Sauseda responded to calls on buses - and riders didn't realize they were dealing with police officers. "We were just running around with a coat and tie," says Sauseda. "Luckily, that was only about two months, and then we went into full uniform."
Sauseda says it was difficult to start everything from the ground up at MPD - but the challenges were also rewarding.
"It was hard at first, trying to get legislation. In other states, transit police officers are regular police officers," explains Sauseda. "Here in Texas, the public didn't know any of that. They thought, ‘Are they police officers, or are they security guards?' It took time for the public and other agencies to realize what we were."
Sauseda said MPD felt like a stepchild to other law enforcement agencies back in the early years. "Until we started doing accidents on the freeway, and did it better than HPD did - they didn't respect us," says Sauseda, adding that he has a lot of friends at HPD.
"It changed. We had only our patrol units taking care of citizens - and also working with the sheriff's department and HPD with accidents. Now the rail has come along. And we have so many departments officers can go into now," Sauseda says.
MPD has grown to five divisions: homeland security/support operations; field operations; Houston TranStar; system safety; and management services. That means in addition to patrol officers, MPD's specialists include the K-9 unit, the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) unit trained to handle bomb threats and terrorist threats, and a boat rescue team for hurricanes and floods.
MPD is also among the 3.4 percent of agencies accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in North America, one of 30 in Texas and one of five accredited transit agencies in the United States.
MPD has also garnered prestigious awards. Last year, the department was recognized by the Transportation Security Administration for our transit security system and for the leadership of Chief of Police Tom Lambert.
As a "Carrier of Distinction," METRO was in the top 5 percent of all transit systems nationwide for emergency preparedness. 
More recently, one of our finest rescued a woman who fell on a Washington D.C. train track during the Presidential inauguration - making national headlines.
MPD was one of about 18 transit agencies invited to help with security and crowd control during the inauguration events.
While Sauseda is retiring from MPD, he won't be sleeping in late or spend his days playing golf. He's got a new job as security guard to a wealthy River Oaks family.
His advice to younger police officers starting out at METRO?
"This is a great organization to work with. Start now to think about advancement. Be patient when it comes to the department, as far as the rules we have. We're still young. A lot of things will be starting and opening up for our department, especially with rail," says Sauseda.
METRO officially signed the agency's biggest contract in history, a deal that was announced at yesterday's board meeting by Frank J. Wilson, METRO President and CEO.
Early last month, METRO's board of directors approved the $1.46 billion construction contract with Parsons Transportation Group. This project is expected to generate some 60,000 direct and indirect jobs before four light-rail lines - about 20 miles - are completed.
This week, the contract was inked.
"We're now poised to show this region what it expected since 2003," said Wilson at the board meeting. "We're going to be proud of the terms we finally negotiated."
The budget for the agreement is divided as follows:
Development agreement $16 million
Design & build $ 1.28 billion
Vehicle supply $148 million
Operations & maintenance
(preliminary work only) $16 million
TOTAL $1.46 billion
As the facility provider, Parsons Transportation Group will be responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining the four, new light-rail lines: North Line, East End Line, Southeast Line and the Uptown Line. PIctured above is the type of train METRO is ordering from CAF USA.
METRO will spend $632 million for the initial phase of the contract. We expect this phase to generate 25,000 jobs and will include:
- Utility work for the North and Southeast Lines
- Building and completing the East End Corridor, including an overpass at Harrisburg for light-rail and construction of a service and inspection facility.
- 29 rail cars from CAF USA, Inc.
- Final alignment and station configuration for the Uptown Line.
Local small and minority business owners will get 35 percent - or $335 million of work - under the contract.
What do bunnies and buses have in common?
Find out the answer to that and all things METRO at our next Web chat scheduled on Thursday, April 30, from noon to 1 p.m.
Here's your chance to ask Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, anything about METRO - from the progress of our light-rail lines to the effect of the federal stimulus package on METRO to the innovative way we are purchasing our new trains.
All questions will be moderated. If you can't stay for the whole hour, drop in and ask a question, then leave. Or you may pre-submit your question here on this blog in the comment section. Live questions will have priority over pre-submitted ones.
Please join the conversation on Transit Talk. We'd love to hear from you.
Last night's METRO partnering with the Astros at its Go Green night was a fun event. say METRO's community reps who worked the event. Astro fans were introduced to our Airport Direct shutttle service, along with STAR Van, our vanpooling service.
Photography by Ernest Chou, senior community relations rep.
Want an easy way to go green on Earth Day and all year long?
Ride METRO.
Commuting on public transit can reduce your carbon footprint by 4,800 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
That's according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA),which has calculated that switching to buses and trains from your car will cut daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds.
So how much carbon dioxide emissions are 20 pounds/day or 4,800 pounds/year? It's more than the combined carbon emissions reduction that results from using energy-efficient lightbulbs, adjusting thermostats, weatherizing your home, and replacing an older refrigerator with an energy-efficient one.
Here at METRO, we have also been celebrating Earth Day by participating in various companies' employee events. Today, METRO community reps were at the AIG Green Day EnergyTransportation Fair.
At these corporate green fairs, METRO promotes its bikes-on-buses program and explains how our 100 new hybrid-electric buses a year use less diesel, save on fuel costs, lower maintenance and operating costs and result in cleaner NOx emissions by 50 percent.
We also recycle the water we use to wash our fleet of buses, reducing the number of gallons used per bus by 14 percent.
Inside our administrative building at 1900 Main St., we use green-tipped florescent lamps, which containlower levels of mercury.
"From the buses on the city streets to the buildings we operate, METRO makes a consistent effort to efficiently use materials and minimize our impact on the environment," says Karen Marshall, director of community outreach.
And today, we have an incentive for you to ride METRO. We have teamed up with the Houston Astros to offer fans a discount if they ride green.
You can get half-price tickets to the 7 p.m. game tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers if you show your fare item at the Minute Maid Park Box Office on Texas Avenue. The box office is open until 7:30 p.m.
Public art enhances public space, and here at METRO, we want to make sure the artwork installed at our new light-rail stations embraces our city's diverse cultures and gives the neighborhood residents something they will enjoy.
We're one step closer now with a final list of artists who have been chosen - after an almost-year long process that involved numerous meetings and input from local residents and art critics.
Station art is vital, says Paul Mok, METRO's project director/architect, because it reflects on the community and lends a human touch to transit.
"It's an important link that transforms just a regular METRO station to a community METRO station," says Mok. "We want the residents to say, ‘This is our station,' instead of just saying, ‘This is a METRO station.'"
More than 260 artists applied for consideration - including from around the world - and it took almost a year to match artist to station. Forty artists were selected to be the finalists, and 36 submitted specific design proposals. Ultimately, 22 artists were chosen by the communities to produce specific artwork for the stations. Artists reshaped their proposals after listening to feedback from residents. Some of it was very specific.
For example, Mok says one community told an artist their streets used to be lined with magnolia trees - but today, only a few dot the landscape. The artist went back and incorporated a sea of magnolia trees, sandwiching the art in the windscreen at the station, a glass panel that blocks the wind.
The residents were pleased.
"The artists all seemed very receptive and responsive to the community's input," recalls Mok. "Even when the community expressed something negative, all the artists were very responsive and very respectful of the community's input."
Transit art keeps a train station from being generic, giving it character that reflects the neighborhood. It also gives an opportunity for local artists to showcase their talent and be compensated, says Mok. METRO's goal was to have 75 to 80 percent of the artists selected be local ones - and we achieved that goal with 86 percent local participation.
But perhaps the most important aspect of transit art?
"The process helps bring the community together," says Mok. "It gives them a common cause and facilitates further dialogue between the community and METRO. That is a very constructive medium to conduct a conversation."
Here are 19 of the 22 winning artists who have been assigned stations:
For the East End Corridor: Ryan Geiger, Jesse Sifuentes, Dan Havel, Mary Lucking.
For the North Corridor: Dixie Friend Gay, Rolando Briseno, Arielle Masson, Leticia Huerta. 
For the Southeast Corridor: Carroll Parrott Blue, Leamon Green, Jesse Lott, Paul Kittelson, Floyd Newsum, John Runnels, Sharon Engelstein,
For Uptown Corridor: Alan Krathaus, Roberto Cervantes, Dixie Friend Gay and Bill Davenport.
The pictures on this post are works by Floyd Newsum, Arielle Masson and Mary Lucking. These are not what will be at the stations but rather, pieces representative of their style.
Monday morning rush-hour traffic just got a whole lot easier for west Houston residents who take the Katy Freeway.
For those with EZ tags on their windows, you were able to slip into one of the Katy Freeway Managed Lanes today - and speed by the clogged traffic for a price.
The managed lanes are two lanes in each direction between Texas 6 and Loop 610. The 12 miles of roadway were opened on Saturday by The Harris County Toll Road Authority.
These lanes replace the single, reversible high-occupancy vehicle lane.
The Katy Tollway is free for carpoolers and vanpoolers who use the lanes during peak times. Single-occupancy drivers can use the lanes if they have an EZ Tag or TxTag and will be charged electronically.
Pricing will vary, depending on traffic conditions and time of day. This dynamic pricing is based on supply and demand. Toll fees are adjusted to keep traffic flowing optimally at all times.
Click here for the rate schedule. 
Wondering where to enter and exit these managed lanes? Click here for an interactive map that tells you precisely what streets work with various entrances and exits.
Click here to apply for an EZ Tag online.
In Italy, students take a "walking bus" to school.
The bus doesn't actually have an engine or tires - it's a bus made of students who walk to school in a piedibus, which literally translates as "foot-bus" in Italian, reports the NYT.
Here's how it works. Lines of students walk along the streets of Lecco, Italy, while paid staffers and parent volunteers in florescent yellow vests guide them in a modern-day Pied Piper scene. It's a bus route with a driver but no vehicle.
About 450 children travel along 17 bus routes to elementary schools - using their feet. Routes are usually less than a mile long in this city located at the southern tip of Lake Como.
The walking bus idea cropped up in 2003 to combat three major issues: the growing problem of childhood obesity; local traffic jams; and an increase in global greenhouse gases.
Only 13 percent of kids here in the States walk to school, compared to 40 percent in 1969, according to the federal government's National Household Travel Survey.
Other towns in Britain and France have also created "walking buses" for kids, although those are not as extensive as Lecco's. Closer to home, Columbia, Mo., Marin County, Calif., and Boulder, Colo. launched smaller walking-bus programs. They were part of the Safe Routes to School, a national program which gives states money to encourage students to walk or ride bikes.
What do you think? Would a program like this work in Houston?
This fall, you can wear footwear that's green - and be an environmental steward.
Timberland Co. of New Hampshire is becoming the first shoe manufacturer to use recycled rubber from discarded tires to create two shoe collections that will debut this fall.
Timberland is working with Green Rubber Inc., a subsidiary of the Kuala-Lumpur based Petra Group, to make "a new source of rubber compound made from waste tires through a non-toxic, environmentally conscious devulcanization process called DeLink," according to Timberland's Web site.
Vulcanized rubber is created by adding chemicals - including sulphur - to virgin rubber, makes rubber stronger and more durable. But the process also makes the rubber almost impossible to recycle.
Now Green Rubber has an eight-minute process that devulcanizes the rubber, allowing the rubber to be recycled into new products. With more than seven billion tires sitting in landfills worldwide, discarded tires is a huge environmental issue.
Timberland says it hopes to make rubber a more sustainable resource working with Green Rubber.
The New Hampshire boot maker will be the first shoe manufacturer to commercialize Green Rubber technology, using the recycled rubber in the outsoles of more than 200,000 pairs of shoes. The shoes will be a combination of the Green Rubber compound and virgin rubber compound for an outsole that is 42 percent recycled tire crumb.
"Green Rubber is positioned to have a major impact on the global rubber industry; managing tire waste can now become both a commercially viable and eco-conscious process," said Jeffrey Swartz, Timberland's chief executive in a statement. The photo on the right is from Timberland's Web site. 
What does METRO do with its old, non-usable bus tires?
We lease the tires, so when they go bad, they go back to the leasing company. Leasing saves money over buying tires.
For all other vehicles that are non-revenue - for example, police cars or fleet vehicles - we pay a contractor to pick up old or threadbare tires that can no longer be used. METRO is required to punch a hole in these tires before having them picked up by a contractor, so those tires can't be sold as new.
Just as consumers pay a fee to dispose of car batteries, METRO pays a fee to dispose of these tires.
Up to now, there's never been a market for discarded tires, say our operations folks.
Recently, a customer sent in a Web suggestion about the use of cell phones on our buses, asking if we could post bus placards reminding folks of apparently not-so-common courtesy when using cell phones.
"It is becoming increasingly common for one or two people each day to talk at length on the phone about personal matters that the rest of the passengers shouldn't be hearing," wrote the rider. "Yesterday, a woman had an argument with someone for 20 minutes. Many of us consider this our quiet, relaxation time. I used to enjoy the quiet ride, but it's becoming an annoyance. I may start driving it if gets worse."
OK, riders. We love the convenience of our cell phones -but let's be aware that we're in a public space when we're commuting via bus or train.
Why not text your message instead of calling? Your conversation stays private that way.
Our neighbor to the north, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit encourages commuters to Respect Your Ride with a list of tips to make the trip pleasant for all riders.
The top of the list: "Keep the volume low on music, conversation and cell phones. Respect the people around you, and remember you're not the only one riding."
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has a 25-second TV clip on its Web site with cell phone courtesy tips. It states the obvious - but something we all need to be reminded of: Avoid unnecessary calls, keep your voice down, set your phone on vibrate, Click here to watch.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York has launched a courtesy campaign called, "Don't Be Cell-fish" and lists these courtesy tips:
- Keep calls short and to the point.
- Move to the vestibule of the train if you engage in an extended call.
- Use silent or vibrating ringer options.
- Don't accept incoming calls when possible.
- Use caller ID to screen incoming calls.
- Let voice mail manage non-urgent calls.
The photo above is from the MTA's Web site and is part of its courtesy campaign.
Following these simple tips can make the commute more pleasant for everyone.
Two four-legged creatures stole the spotlight at last Saturday's annual Walk Like MADD event.
They were METRO's K-9 police officers, Roxy and Shadow. They, along with their handlers, Officer Chris Obenland and Officer Nancy DeMartin, joined the Mothers Against Drunk Driving fundraiser, a 5K walk that not only promotes awareness of the group's goals but is the only major fundraiser for the Southeast Texas MADD office.
"We provided the dog demonstration - on how they apprehend suspects," said Obenland. "The idea is to make it fun for kids to come out here to see other angles of law enforcement. Our main purpose was just to show law enforcement support."
Television host Deborah Duncan of KHOU-TV's Great Day, Houston, appeared at the event and had her photo taken with our furry celebs - Roxy and Shadow.
"The dogs are the sexy ones," texted Duncan when asked her reaction to Saturday's event.
Duncan has been very involved with MADD since her brother was killed by a drunk driver. She is a member of the local advisory council, as well as a MADD national board member.
The walk was held at McGregor Park on Calhoun, where about 450 to 500 people attended, said Andrea Schmauss, a volunteer with MADD and member of the local advisory council. 
"It gives families and friends an opportunity to honor their loved ones who have been killed or injured by a drunk driver. We provide a tribute area where families can display photos of those tragically taken through this senseless crime," said Schmauss.
In addition to MPD's involvement, the Houston Police Department also participated with DWI vans, which are mobile blood-drawing units. This van can drive to the scene of an accident, and someone can draw blood from the alleged drunk driver and "haul him off to jail," explained Obenland.
Walk for MADD organizers said it's important to have law enforcement agencies participate in an event like this.
"For some, it is an opportunity for (families) to interact with law enforcement in a comfortable, fun setting. And for others, it is an opportunity to say ‘thank you' for risking their lives for us each day," said Schmauss, adding that she hopes more law enforcement agencies will join in future walks.
"We cannot win the fight to eliminate drunk driving without law enforcement. They are the primary defense until technology can, one day, come up with a way to make the vehicle smarter than the drunk behind the wheel," said Schmauss.
And as far as METRO's representation there? Well, Schmauss said Roxy and Shadow not only stole the show.....they stole the hearts of many.
Ever wonder why METRO designs certain routes that end 10 blocks from your favorite store?
METRO carries some 108 million riders every year. Our 1,200 buses drive in an area of about 1,285 square miles.
So what goes into planning our routes? And do your suggestions come into play?
Our guest on this edition of METRO Matters is an expert on transportation planning. Kim Slaughter, associate vice president for planning, has more than 20 years in transportation planning in both the public and private sectors.
Click here to watch the show.
You can also view METRO Matters on Comcast's Channel 19,HCCTV, Houston Community College's channel. It airs every week on the following days:
Sunday 11 a,m.,
Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Thursday 2 p.m.
With unemployment soaring to its highest level in 25 years, you or someone you know may be interested in a part-time job.
We're hosting a job fair here at METRO at our headquarters on Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Come find out why being a part-time bus operator may be just the ticket for you. Your starting pay: $15 an hour.
Part-time bus operators can work up to 33 hours a week. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license and be able speak, read and write in English.
If you're bilingual, that's a plus.
We'll give you free training for your commercial driver's license. A high school diploma or GED is preferred but not required.
Apply in person or online at http://www.ridemetro.org/. Or check us out at the job fair in three weeks.
It's not unusual to find drivers who have been working here 15, 25 or even 30 years. If you like meeting the public and enjoy a job outside the office, driving a METRO bus may be just the job for you or someone you know.
This morning, if you commute by train, you noticed that some of our trains are partially wrapped with a vinyl ad, showcasing our Airport Direct service.
Three of our 18 trains made its wrapped debut on Saturday. These mobile billboards are meant to spread the word that our nonstop shuttle service from downtown to IAH's Terminal C is a convenient way to get to and from the airport.
This is the third time METRO has wrapped its trains. The first time was advertising the Lucy exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The second was the I Ride campaign with celebrities George Foreman, Astros' outfielder Carlos Lee and fashion designer Chloe Dao.
Other transit agencies are wrapping trains to put a message in motion. Detroit's airport People Mover, an automated light-rail system that operates over the city's central business district, carries a wrap.
Here at METRO, we have advertised only our own services or a non-profit organization with whom we are partnering. Industry analysts have said that mobile media billboards have a 97 percent recall rate - but those stats are not train-specific.
But check out the wrap - and try out Airport Direct. The wrap will be up for 90 days.
Instead of contending with unpredictable traffic, paying for parking your car at a nearby airport lot, or persuading a friend to drop you off at the airport, METRO's quiet coach buses can whisk you to and from the airport. 
It leaves every 30 minutes and costs $15, one way. A concierge service at Passenger Plaza (located at the corner of Pierce and Travis) will help you with your luggage, call ahead if you need a taxi, or help you load money on a Q Card. Free coffee, flat-screen televisions, clean restrooms and comfortable seating areas are inside.
Since METRO launched this service in August 2008, growth in ridership has been steady. In March, average daily boardings were 98, exceeding original projections.
The next time you need to go to the airport, give Airport Direct a try.
Starting next Monday, Pasadena residents who need to go to downtown Houston or the Texas Medical Center can take a METRO Park & Ride bus for a carefree, cost-efficient trip.
METRO, Harris County Precinct 2 and the city of Pasadena have partnered to give new Park & Ride service from the Pasadena Town Square Mall to downtown Houston.
This is the second Park & Ride service that METRO and Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia have opened in East Harris County. The first one was Baytown Park & Ride, which started in October 2007.
Today, this new service was announced at a press conference at the parking lot of the Pasadena Town Square Mall, where Garcia and METRO officials praised the partnership.
"We've proven this model of interagency cooperation works," Garcia said in a statement. "By joining in an inter-local agreement with METRO, we are giving Pasadena-area residents the ability to plug into an established transportation system that can take them to downtown, the Texas Medical Center and other important destinations."
METRO's Explorer bus, a mini-RideStore on wheels, was also on hand to offer METRO Q® Fare Cards to customers. The one-way fare will be $3.75. Customers who use a METRO Q® Fare Card will get five free trips for every 50 paid trips.
The 244 Monroe/Pasadena Park & Ride will offer four trips every weekday morning and five trips every weekday afternoon. Service runs from 5:48 a.m. to 7:23 a.m. and 4:05 p.m. to 5:58 p.m.
The bus will stop at the Monroe Park & Ride lot before heading into downtown on the regular 244 Monroe route. Click here to see a detailed schedule. From the Monroe Park & Ride, you can transfer to the 297 South Point to go directly to the Medical Center.
This new Pasadena Park & Ride service, along with the Baytown Park & Ride service, is an important step to creating an integrated transit system for this region, said Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO.
"Creating a seamless system is more efficient and cost effective than a scattershot approach to mass transit," said Wilson in a statement. "It's important to remember that the people who ride transit also pay for it - not just with fares, but with tax dollars."
China has announced it intends to become the leading manufacturer of hybrids and all-electric cars.
Already behind Japan and the United States in making gas-powered vehicles, China is turning its liability into what it hopes will be an opportunity by jumping over the current technology and diving into the next, reports today's New York Times.
Japan is the current leader in hybrids with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, while the United States has limped behind. General Motors' Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid, is expected to be in showrooms next year.
China says it wants to not only create jobs and produce exports, but also cut pollution and lower its dependence on foreign oil.
Taxi fleets and local governments in 13 Chinese cities are being offered subsidies of up to $8,800 for every hybrid or all-electric vehicle they buy. Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin are setting up car charging stations with its state electricity grid.
The latest models of electric cars in China sport a top speed of 60 miles an hour and a range of 120 miles between charges. That's not much of a problem since most commutes in China are short and low-speed, due to traffic gridlock. Plus, first-time buyers, who comprise 80 percent of the market, aren't used to powerful, gas-powered vehicles. 
But most Chinese live in apartments without driveways, so the Chinese would need to create more public charging centers.
Pictured on this post are two Chinese electric cars.
China says it wants to produce 500,000 hybrid or all-electric cars and buses by the end of 2011. Japan and South Korea combined are expected to produce 1.1 million hybrid or all-electric vehicles by then; and North America 267,000, according to a forecast by CSM Worldwide, an auto consulting firm.
If you build it, they will come.
That's the voice an Iowa corn farmer heard in the movie, "Field of Dreams." He believed that if he built a baseball diamond in the corn fields, fans would come.
At METRO, we have had mid-day and late-night service on our Park & Ride routes - on some routes since the early 1990s. We were offering 7,400 seats on 131 daily trips in six freeway corridors. So we had created the routes - but no one came. Most of those seats were empty because few riders knew about this service.
Last October, we launched a marketing campaign to change that.
A customer awareness survey indicated that a sizeable portion of existing riders who were using Park & Ride lots weren't aware of our midday/late night options - and many of the respondents said they needed service during this time period.
We sent an e-mail blast to all our RideSponsors - the companies that have corporate accounts with METRO and whose employees ride METRO.
We also wrapped narrow banners on Park & Ride kiosks, promoting the midday/late night routes. Those banners topped downtown kiosks, as well. We filled buses with fliers. Our Web site soon sported a feature on the home page, informing readers of this, too. Plus, our community reps talked face-to-face to Park & Ride customers.
It worked.
Before the marketing blitz, 20 percent of the respondents surveyed said they were unaware of our midday service. After the blitz, 6 percent were unaware.
"METRO's informational and promotional efforts contributed to an increase in awareness," said Jim Archer, METRO's manager of ridership analysis/service evaluation.
Despite a fare increase last fall, we recorded higher boardings than what we had expected between November 2008 and February 2009.
"We're being more efficient and more effective," said Archer.
Click here to see all our midday and late night routes.
In the midst of gloomy economic news day after day, it's nice when you run into something online that makes you smile. Check out these fun and odd 
photos from the collection of Marco Folio.
Here are three that are transit-related.
Click the link below to see more of Folio's funny photos.
http://www.marcofolio.net/imagedump/
If you have any humorous, transit photos taken on METRO, e-mail them to me. (click "contact us" on the navigation bar on the left). We'll post the best.
Trade in your old gas-guzzling car, buy a new fuel-efficient one - and get your own personal bailout from the government.
A measure being considered by the House - and another version by the Senate - would give vouchers ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to car owners who shed their clunkers for cars that get 27 miles per gallon, reports the New York Times today.
President Obama has endorsed the concept of a big cash incentive for trade-ins, but wants to use money already allocated in the $787 billion economic stimulus package. That means other programs would have to be cut to pay for this one.
The House measure would offer a $4,000 voucher for a new car rated at 27 miles per gallon and assembled in the United States, while vehicles assembled outside the U.S. would qualify only if the vehicles were rated at 30 miles per gallon.
The Senate measure, designed more to protect the environment than to spur car sales, would offer $2,500 for trade-ins older than 10 years; $3,000 for cars eight to 10 years old; and up to $4,500 for vehicles up to seven years old.
Almost a dozen European countries have a similar program without restrictions on where the vehicles are manufactured.
Here in Texas, a "cash for clunkers" program exists - but only for low-income drivers, who can receive up to $3,500 to trade in cars that fail emissions tests or are more than 10 years old.
Click here to read more about the Texas program.
Bus operators and maintenance employees who play it safe have been recognized for their outstanding safety records at METRO.
About three percent of our maintenance employees and bus drivers earned METRO's 2009 Safety Award.
"We want to give our employees an incentive to work safely. It's very important because the safer the employees we have, the safer the buses, the safer the drivers, the more people will ride the service," said Reggie Mason, associate vice president and chief safety officer at METRO.
The awards are given annually, recognizing safe drivers and hourly maintenance employees who achieve 15-year safety records. Seventy-three employees who had posted at least 15 years of safe service were honored this past Saturday at METRO's internal rodeo competition.
Hourly maintenance workers and drivers are offered a cash incentive and awards, such as a windbreaker, belt buckle - or a leather jacket for 25 years of safe service. The windbreaker jacket says: "METRO Safety: Five Years of Safe Driving" on it. Hourly maintenance workers include mechanics, cleaners and storeroom attendants.
Maintenance employes must have at least 15 consecutive years of injury-free service and no safety infractions to be eligible for an award. Bus operators must accumulate at least three years of injury-free service, no preventable bus accidents and no safety infractions. Bus drivers do not have to have consecutive years of safe driving to be eligible, but can "bank" safe years until they achieve three years of safety, for which they receive a bronze belt buckle.
"These awards work tremendously. We've seen great results by giving them safety awards. They're recognized by their peers and the public," said Mason, adding that it was difficult to earn a safety award in Houston's hazardous traffic.
METRO conducts safety training every two years for drivers and every year for mechanics. 
"It's a very good program. It gives them something to work towards - just staying safe on the road," said Willie Mae Richardson-Kirks, who administers the program. "If they can see they're going to be recognized for being safe, that may give them something to think about when they pull out of the bus facility every morning. From the operators' standpoint, they feel they are appreciated and agree that it takes determination and staying focused on safety to achieve this award."
Congratulations to all those who earned a 2009 Safety Award. Thanks for staying safe on the job - and keeping our streets safer, too.
To find out if your driver has been honored for his safe record, click the link below.
Download pdf file: METRO 2009 Safety Awards
Meet Mr. Solomon. He likes to travel - and he does it with style. 
One day, he's jetting to Miami, another day to Georgia. Find out why - and discover METRO's new Airport Direct service.
To spread the word about our direct service from downtown to Terminal C at IAH, we created a commercial, producing it in-house, using METRO employees as actors.
We went for the YouTube effect - sort of funky with a homemade quality. YouTube is one of the most popular Web portals in the world where people can post and view thousands of videos. Watch it and tell us what you think. And the next time you fly out of Bush International Airport, consider using Airport Direct. It leaves every 30 minutes, gets you to Terminal C in 30 minutes - and costs $15. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cAw1rw3PUU&feature=channel_page
You're on a rush-hour train, exhausted from a busy day at the office. The last thing you want to hear is someone chatting on his cell phone about info you don't care to know.
Now, for Philadelphia-area commuters, there's a respite from cell phone talkers and noisy kids. Starting April 6, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority rush-hour trains will have a designated "Quiet Ride" car.
No cell phones can be used, except for texting. No crying babies or groups of school kids. 
A "Quiet Ride" car will be the first car of every peak-period train. Most rush-hour trains have three cars.
The transit agency tested the concept in January and was surprised at the interest and enthusiasm by passengers. The quiet car was an immediate success, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a survey of passengers who ride lines with existing quiet cars, 84 percent said most of their fellow passengers abide by the quiet rules. When they don't, conductors pass out cards that say, "SHHHHH - You're on a Quiet Ride car."
METRO Matters, our mini-talk show, is now airing regularly on Houston Community College's TV station, HCCTV, Channel 19 on Comcast Cable.
You can catch the show at these times:
Sunday, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 2 p.m.
In addition, you can watch the program on Houston Media Source, Channel 17.
And of course, you can always view it on your computer by logging to our Web site. Right now, the latest show features Art Jackson discussing METROLift, our service for people with disabilities.
Look for our new show next month that explains how we design routes, where buses go and how frequently they go there.
Free food, live jazz and springtime on the plaza – what better way to learn about clean air and what you can do to make our air cleaner?
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is hosting Fresh Air Friday: A Picnic on the Plaza this Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The sixth annual outdoor picnic and concert promotes clean air programs and shows Houstonians how to keep our city beautiful. The event will take place at Jones Plaza on Louisiana between Jones Hall and Bayou Place.
METRO will participate with a new Orion VII hybrid-electric bus on display.
Some of the benefits of hybrids include:
· NOx emissions reduced by as much as 50 percent
· Expected fuel savings of 15 to 20 percent from standard buses
We expect to acquire 100 hybrid buses in 2009 – 50 Orion hybrid transit buses and 50 MCI commuter hybrid buses. This is part of our fleet replacement plan based on acquiring 100 buses a year, or replacing one-twelfth of our fleet every year. The expected life span of a bus is 12 years.
In addition, we’ll be promoting our bikes-on-buses program with many of METRO’s bike team attending.
“As the transit provider in the city, it’s important for us to be out in the public. We’re changing our fleet – getting 100 new hybrid buses this year. We have a good story to tell. That’s what this program does –to promote all clean-air initiatives,” said Karen Marshall, METRO’s director of community outreach.
METRO will also be showcasing its Star van for vanpooling and will have a Star van on exhibit. METRO has 760 vanpools and 8,200 riders as of September 2008.
“We’re exposing the public to our services,” said Ernest Chou, senior community rep. “METROVan plays a huge role every year. We are trying to get clients who cannot use bus routes and live in outlying areas.”
Airport Direct will also be featured – METRO’s nonstop service from downtown to Terminal C at IAH. It runs every 30 minutes and cost $15, one way.
We’ll be giving away bikes-on-buses brochures in four languages (English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese), decals, and packets of peanuts to promote Airport Direct.
H-GAC hopes each participant will sign a pledge to reduce our ozone footprint by committing to one action. It can be as simple as turning out unused lights to using public transit. Even if you ride the bus or train one day a week, you can make a difference.
Click here to make a pledge toward clean air.
If you attend, you’ll have a chance to win a photography package, a week of yoga and four tickets to Dominic Walsh Contemporary Dance Theater. If you make a pledge, you will be automatically entered to win a bicycle, helmet or skateboard.
Hope to see you at Fresh Air Friday.
Two minutes after bus operator Jacqueline Cooper pulled out of the Townsen Park & Ride lot, her 17 years of bus driving skills were about to be tested in a life-or-death incident.
She had just loaded about 40 passengers on the 257 Townsen P & R when she noticed a motorcyclist trying to enter the HOV lane from the Park & Ride lot.
The entrance ramp has a gate with a mechanical arm that goes up for drivers. When it failed to work, the motorcyclist detoured through the Park & Ride lot, planning to use another ramp to enter the HOV lane - the same ramp cars and buses use.
Cooper saw him behind the bus on her left and knew he would try to pass her. As he passed, he hit a cement median from the top of the ramp. 
"He lost control of his motorcycle. He and his motorcycle fell right in front me in my lane. They were rolling and tumbling down the HOV lane - about 12 feet in front of me," recalls Cooper of the incident last September.
"Passengers were screaming. I had tunnel vision. All I could see was him and his motorcycle. All I could hear within my spirit was, ‘Don't hit him, don't kill him, don't run over him.' I didn't even hear the people screaming on the bus. I was deaf. I was focusing on the guy, making sure I was stopping the bus," says Cooper.
The motorcycle hit the retainer wall to the right, bounced off and hit the motorcyclist - and both continued to tumble down the HOV lane southbound.
About 10 to 15 seconds later, Cooper successfully brought the bus to a stop in a straight line, before reaching the breakdown lane. "The bus was sitting over the skid mark where the motorcycle had skidded," says Cooper.
Cooper says the motorcyclist was an experienced driver. She noticed that when he tumbled, he tumbled from shoulder to shoulder, never touching his face on the asphalt. He got up and tried to get out of harm's way, one pant leg ripped off, exposing a bloody leg. Two sheriff deputies who were passengers on Cooper's bus ran to help him.
Cooper's supervisor picked her up, and passengers transferred to another passing bus. She and the motorcyclist never spoke to each other.
"I was shaken up. I was nervous. I couldn't drive for a while because it was in my head. I could see instant reply over and over," says Cooper.
The single mother says she became a bus driver because she grew tired of scrubbing down and changing gowns from her previous job as a certified phlebotomist - someone who draws blood - before she could hug her three young children.
During this near-miss last fall, everything she learned about safe driving came into play: aim high in steering, look ahead, be aware of surroundings.
"Things we were taught over the years from the safety department...all those principles fell right into place," says Cooper, a hero to her riders and the unnamed motorcylist.
By the next day, Cooper was back driving her shift. "I was still feeling somewhat nervous, but I had it under control," she says.
When she's not driving a bus and keeping her passengers safe, Cooper enjoys shopping and going to the movies.
Step outside, and take a deep breath.
You have just inhaled the nation's second most polluted air when it comes to ozone. And if Houston doesn't clean up its ozone level, it stands to let millions of dollars in federal funding slip away, according to a report today on KUHF-FM.
But improving our city's ozone level isn't something that is solely the mandate of manufacturing firms or government officials. Every one of us needs to do our part. That's the message from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC), which has launched a clean air awareness program, during ozone season from March 1 to Nov. 1.
H-GAC is asking individuals to commit to one clean-air action to reduce Houston's ozone footprint.
Suggested actions include:
- Drive the speed limit.
- Turn off lights when not needed.
- Upgrade home heating and cooling system.
- Take your lunch to work or school.
- Avoid drive-through lanes.
- Don't use gas engines such as lawnmowers until after 6 p.m.
- Combine errands on one trip.
H-GAC has an on-line pledge to fill out - and when you do, you're eligible to win prizes - from a bicycle to a free week of yoga.
Of course, here at METRO, we encourage you to ride the bus, train or vanpool to help cut back on ozone output. We offer a $35 a month incentive to eligible vanpoolers. Our "Guaranteed Ride Home" will pay for a taxi when emergencies require you to leave work before your vanpool's normal departure time.
METROMatch will also use its extensive database to match commuters in an eight-county region who live and work near each other.
KUHF's report features a Katy resident who turned to vanpooling when gas hit $4 a gallon last year. Veronica Baxter-Lamb not only helped the region's air quality, she felt the difference in her pocketbook.
"I went from spending maybe $400 a month on gas to only spending about $100 a month on the monthly bill for the vanpool," she told KUHF. Click here to listen to the report.
H-GAC is sponsoring its sixth annual Fresh Air Friday - an outdoor picnic and concert at Jones Plaza in the center of the theater district - to promote more ways to keep Houston clean. METRO will be there, too.
Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, has worked on both coasts - but it's the Gulf Coast he calls the final frontier for transit - the land that transit forgot.
In the nation's fourth largest city with three downtowns and where more than 2,000 people are moving every year, building transit is a challenge - but one METRO is ready to tackle.
"Can we build fast enough to influence where they go, or are we going to have to catch up to the location decisions they make? One's easy to serve. The other is really difficult to serve," Wilson told Mass Transit, a monthly industry publication.
In a wide-ranging cover story of the March issue, Wilson discussed with Mass Transit the success of our one rail line, what we're doing to prevent rail accidents, our fleet replacement plan, hybrid buses, Signature bus and an innovative way to buy trains.
On Main Street rail line's success:
"Before there was a rail line on Main Street, Houston didn't understand what rail was. And the first year after it was here, it was a curse that was sent here by the transit gods," said Wilson.
"And now it's irreplaceable in five short years. There's no here who's going to say we should roll it up and give Main Street back to the automobile," he continued.
It succeeded because of the locations the 7.5 mile line connects - the financial district, downtown and the Texas Medical Center.
"There is no other place that connects all that...Now people use this as a horizontal elevator. It's like a cable car but flat - on and off, on and off, on and off," said Wilson.
On off-the-rack procurement:
Traditionally, transit agencies give train manufacturers a long list of specifications. But when METRO set out to buy its new light-rail vehicles, it told the 
prospective vendors there was a short list: no specs.
Wilson asked the vendors to select the car they felt the most comfortable with and pitch that. There had to be at least 10 vehicles running and METRO would send its staff to evaluate them.
"It was their car on their terms at their price. I'm just selecting the one that looked best price-wise," said Wilson. "We're not dictating the terms. We're accepting the terms from the marketplace...Just give me your best offer on your best car. I'll either accept it or reject it," said Wilson.
It was an unconventional way to buy trains - but one that shaved time and money from the standard process. On the left is a photo of the CAF USA train we expect to have in 2012.
Click here to read the complete article.
Today, we conducted our monthly Web chat, Transit Talk, with Andy Skabowski, associate vice president of operations.
The hour flew by with lots of good questions from you. Skabowski typed his own answers - he was the fastest two-finger typist I've seen. He's pictured on the left.
Here's the transcript.
(12:01:56 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Any word on the double deckers?
A : We are still evaluating the use of double decker buses on specific Park and Ride routes. This evaluation will continue as we explore the possible use of double deckers. |
(12:02:10 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I got dibs on first ride on front seats on the upper deck! (Cedric gets the second?)
A : Cedric asked for the seat months ago |
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(12:03:05 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : The bicycle community wants to use mass transit for part of its travel. If the entire fleet of buses does not have racks, we cannot depend on them for a timely commute.
A : As we continue our fleet replacement plan, we will move to having our entire bus fleet bicycle-ready. |
(12:03:34 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Also, will the new rail cars allow bicycles at all times of service.?
A : At present, bikes are allowed on trains during off-peak hours due to high passenger loads during peak hours. |
(12:05:50 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Andy, with the changes in maintenance, will there be accountability on a technician level ?
A : We address mechanic accountability and completeness of repair every day and will continue that. We are also working with the first level supervision staff to review work |
(12:07:13 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why is it that when a bus is broken down or is in an accident downtown, that word is NOT relayed to people standing at the bus stops in downtown?
A : The timing involved with getting the word out to bus stops in most cases is longer than the actual event. That being said, we always attempt to improve our communications with both the operators and patrons. |
(12:07:37 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why does the rail not go to UH Central campus but goes to the rinky dink downtown campus? A: Hold on to your hat, and read up on METRO Solutions. |
(12:10:50 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : My next question has to do with fleet longevity. Recently, METRO has been retiring buses before they hit the age of 12, or very shortly thereafter. Some of the GM New Look Rehabs (the original 33xx, 34xx, and 36xx buses) of the 80s lasted 20+ years with the last being retired by the influx of the Hungarian Ikarus models of the early 90s. The RTS lasted until 2001 after 20 years of unmatched quality of service and even the infamous Grumman rebuilds limped into their 18th year in 1997. Meanwhile, the New Flyer minis, a number of the Neoplan Transit Artics, and the older (1400 series) Neoplan Suburban Artics suffered or are suffering oddly early deaths. A number of Stewart and Stevenson buses from the early 90s were retired along with the RTS in 2001. A number of 10-11 year old Ikarus buses were also stored at this time. Is fleet longevity no longer a priority at Metro? Can we expect a replacement cycle of 12-13 years from now on?
A : Buses can be retired based on two criteria. One is age (12 years) and the other is miles. As buses get past that age, they become more costly to maintain. If I could buy a GMC bus I would, but the bus is no longer manufactured. |
(12:11:10 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Are the Neoplan 3700s finally retired?
A : All but five and the last five are due out the door by month's end. |
(12:12:25 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Do buses have GPS tracking?
A : All METRO buses are equipped with GPS tracking devices that allow for a buses location to be broadcast at TranStar. |
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(12:13:51 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : If I see people get on the rail without paying, do I have to pay to get on the rail?
A : Patrons are expected to tap or pay before getting on the train. MPD officers randomly check the platform for fare evasion and you can get ticketed. |
(12:14:40 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Perhaps they were before your time at Metro, but the GMC RTS-04 series (1901-2188) was without a doubt the most durable, efficient, and dare I say beautiful bus to ever be rostered by the agency. Given your background in the industry, do any of the current fleet measure up to the raw strength and reliability of these venerable beasts? Personally, I think the 4000s could do it (though 4124 broke down on me yesterday) as they seem to be the most "solid" of the NFI D40LF fleet.
A : I ran GMC buses while at New York City Transi, as well Philadelphia Transit. The GMC RTS bus was the best bus ever built |
(12:15:07 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : When and where do the buses fill up for gas?
A : Buses are fueled with diesel daily at the bus operating facility. |
(12:15:56 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Are customer services reps able to track buses?
A : Customer Service reps can if needed call TranStar to track a bus for emergency situations only. |
(12:18:45 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : What is the big issue with the artic concept? Does it cost more per mile than a regular bus? Odd we are getting rid of the concept after 25 years of service in the area. And the S-70's have TWO articulations per rail car!
A : Artic buses cost two to three times more per mile for maintenance than a standard 45-foot commuter style bus. As of 15 yrs ago, 45 foot- buses were not available, and the only options for a transit property were either 40- foot or 60- foot artics. |
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(12:19:57 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Is that a yes or a no, Andy? And what about the homeless getting on the rail?
A : Yes, you have to pay ,and MPD actively works to address fare evasion on our trains. |
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(12:20:35 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Are the METRO police real police?
A : Yes, they are a certified transit police agency and one of the few accredited ones in the country. (See comment below for more explanation by Chief Tom Lambert). |
(12:22:22 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Unlike many on the blog, I hope that you all do away with the failed Articulated bus concept. Three times these buses have been ordered and twice they have suffered early retirements. Many of the old 1400 series Crown Articulated buses never saw their 12th year of service and the 44/45xx series Neoplan artics are nearing the end. Bus 4559 had such a worn bellows you it could double as a sun roof. The only artics that held up well were the 1400 series Neoplan buses retired in 2006/07 (a little too soon in my opinion). Is Metro looking to replace the current fleet of Articulated buses with more articulated, 40ft. buses, or perhaps Double Decker coaches?
A : Presently for Park and Ride service, we are looking at 45-foot commuter style buses. For local service, we are purchasing 40-foot transit buses, and we are presently considering the possible use of double decker buses in the future. |
(12:25:04 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Will the new rail be elevated? How fast can a light rail travel?
A : Plans and final designs for the new light rail alignments are still under development. |
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(12:26:42 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why is METRO Houston's service so bad compared to other cities' mass transport systems?
A : Houston METRO's service performance levels are measured by industry standards, and our service levels and perfomance are equal to, if not better, than other major cities. |
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(12:27:25 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Who determines that needed repairs are properly performed on buses?
A : Needed repairs are promptly performed on buses and managed by local maintenance management |
(12:27:55 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : METRO will not purchase articulated buses in the future?
A : As of now, METRO will not purchase articulated buses in the future. |
(12:28:22 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Is there a website available that discusses future rail expansions? What sort of master plan is in effect for rail? Suburb service availability, etc?
A : Please go to our Web site and look for the METRO Solutions tab. http://www.ridemetro.og/ |
(12:29:57 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why do METRO buses do not have restrooms like normal coach buses?
A : Restrooms can be found on over the road charter buses that typically travel more than an hour or so while in use. Since the trip length on our Park and Rides is below an hour, the interior is maximized for seats, and no restroom in included. |
(12:30:58 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Who makes the buses for METRO?
A : The new buses being procured are either manufactured by Motor Coach Industries or Orion Bus. |
(12:31:48 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Will bus routes terminate at the intermodal transit centers?
A : The Intermodal Transit Center is still under design but to answer your question, yes, bus routes will terminate there. |
(12:33:24 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : During the preview of the double decker bus here, I noticed that its height was almost prohibitive on many if not almost all local streets. .Usage on a P & R would seem impossible due to height restrictions available on HOV lanes that have overpasses.. Is this the major restriction to their purchase?
A : Height restrictions due to low overpasses, trees and structures is a restriction to the use of double deckers, and is part of the evaluation presently occurring to consider their use in Houston. |
(12:34:17 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why does METRO keep raising its prices, how are people expected to continue to ride the bus?
A : METRO has not raised fares in 14 years, despite increasing and improving service levels. |
(12:35:17 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : How many bus hubs are located around Houston?
A : If you mean Bus Operating Facilities (BOF's), METRO has six BOF's in the Houston area. |
(12:36:21 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Why do Park and Ride drivers only drive a route for a certain time frame, and then a new driver takes over the route?
A : Operator job picks occur a number of times a year (service changes) based on seniority, causing you to see different operators. |
(12:36:25 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : What size are the tires on a metro bus?
A : 22 inches |
(12:37:43 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I noticed a lot of METRO buses (especially local routes) with broken or defective destination signs. Are there any plans in the future to try to repair or fix these signs?
A : Changes have been made recently to improve the state of repair of our destination signs. You should already start to see a marked improvement. |
(12:39:47 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Articulated buses are much easier to operate. However, maintenance is costly. Using this thought, is it better to have newer buses and is it more cost effective to replace at a shorter lifespan?
A : Our fleet plan replaces 1/12 of our fleet annually. This allows for a level purchase plan. Federal dollars used to purchase buses require their use for 12 yrs. Buses are designed for that life span. |
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(12:40:27 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Does METRO plan to expand service into the 1960 area?
A : We are reviewing a number of service areas that include 1960. |
(12:41:28 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : When will construction commence on the proposed north, southeast, and uptown lines
A : We are close to getting FTA approvals. After that point we will be better able to define exact start dates on the various lines. |
(12:42:57 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : The talk lately about the new rail cars is they will hav esix doors and all-level seating. Will this affect the seating capacity of each train?
A : Six doors allow for better entry and egress into the train,especially in large crowds with a minimal effect on seating. |
(12:44:23 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : As I recall, the operator's compartment was designed with comfort and ease of reach of all equipment. Can a configuration be produced that allows this same ease of operation on the Orions and future coaches?
A : The Orions have been designed with improved ergonomics over previous bus designs. The movement of the Press it screen was done to improve line of sight for the operator. |
(12:45:12 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : What is the reasoning behind having more #25 Sharpstown buses than #25 Mission Bend buses?
A : Passenger loads and demands are consistently reviewed and routes modified based on those demands. |
(12:45:46 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Do longer Park and Ride routes have the "hybrid buses" due to the distance they drive on a daily basis? i.e. the kingwood route
A : Newer commuter-style, MCI hybrids are used in Park and Ride service. |
(12:46:18 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : What are the possible headways for the proposed rail lines?
A : Check the blog later and we will answer that. I am the rubber tire guy. |
(12:46:47 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Does METRO plan to convert the HOV lanes into bi-directional toll lanes?
A : This, along with other ideas, are presently under consideration. |
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(12:48:50 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : What are the chances that we can see a marked increase in the number of buses on major routes instead of less buses doing more trips per day? Does this not increase the wear on units and contribute to their early demise?
A : Better bus fleet utilization allows for a transit property to better use its assets which are capital expenses. All Maintanance management plans are based on both a 12 yr bus life and the miles run by that bus. |
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(12:49:22 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : A recent blog post talked about the expansion of existing Park and Rides, Such as Townsen Park and Ride. Does anyone know when we can expect the new parking spaces (It's crowded!)
A :We will find the answer to that question and post it on the blog later. |
(12:50:08 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I ride the 33 bus quite often. The "Stop Requested" sign is almost always lit on the new buses running this route. Is Metro aware of this flaw with these new buses?
A : I am not aware of it but will look into it and provide the blog an answer. Thank you for pointing this out |
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(12:51:26 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Will you also look into or forward a message to the person/people in charge that the 2 - Bellaire Sunday schedule is nearly impossible to run. I and others have called in on this issue numerous times to no avail. How often do you all check into these issues?
A : Service Supervision evaluates this and other routes daily. That being said the 2 Bellaire is a very busy route on a very busy street. I will pass this concern on and see what we can do. |
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(12:53:36 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Is METRO still conforming to guidelines regarding emissions standards? I noticed that the emissions stickers are missing from buses per the "Shirley days."
A : All METRO buses meet the required EPA emission regulations. New equipment purchases exceed these requirements since they are utilize hybrid technologies as part of METRO's green initiatives. |
(12:55:17 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : Can you tell me more about the Orion VII buses? How much fuel are they saving, and how much less pollutants do they emit compared to the regular, non-hybrid buses?
A : Experience is showing us a 15 to 20 % fuel economy savings. Emissions reductions are 75% lower NOx, 90% lower Particulates (black smoke) |
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(12:56:06 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : About how much water is used to wash the buses each day? Do you reuse the water to help the environment?
A : Not sure on how much is used daily but a large majority of it recycled and reused. |
(12:56:50 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I really think it is time to review the 53 - Briar Forest Sunday schedule to modify the running time.
A : I will pass this on and welcome any suggestions. |
(12:57:30 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I noticed on the newer buses that you have an electronic sign that reads "Stop" and lights up every time the bus applies its brakes. Will this be added to all of the buses?
A : These signs will be added to buses over the next couple of years as part of a planned maintenance functions. |
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(12:59:38 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : . I've seen bus drivers talk on their cell phones while on duty. What is Metro's policy on that?
A : We do not allow them to have their cell phone on them while driving nor use it. If you see a Operator do this please take the bus number and time down and report it to customer service. |
(1:00:08 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Q : I have been gone for a time.. When would it be possible to see and check out the Orion buses? Give it the ol' hands on experience?
A : Willie, you know how to reach me. |
(1:02:29 PM) Andy Skabowski: | Goodbye, and thanks for chatting with us. As always, I love to talk about buses. |
A reminder: Join us from noon to 1 p.m. to chat live with Andy Skabowski, associate vice president of operations.
Here's your chance to ask one of our top experts about operations and maintenance issues at METRO.
If you can't stay for the whole hour, drop in, ask a question and leave. You still have time to pre-submit questions on this blog before noon.
Hope to see you soon.
In January 2008, METRO achieved something no transit agency had done before: It changed the way riders paid, and it restructured the fares simultaneously.
Today, at the 2009 Fare Collection Workshop in Houston for industry professionals, fare revenue experts nationwide learned more details of METRO's conversion to the METRO Q® Fare Card. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is sponsoring this three-day conference, hosted by METRO.
A unique aspect of our smart card system is the Back-of-the-Bus Reloader (BBR). Many of you have probably reloaded your METRO Q® Card using this device in which you can reload the balance on your card by inserting cash into the machine. Patrons can reload their cards using bills from $1 to $20.
The BBR is installed on our entire fleet of local buses. About 84 percent of all reloads are done on the BBRs.
This BBR gave customers a way to load money on their Q Card in the amount they could afford that day - and still be able to take advantage of the benefits of a Q Card, such as the loyalty program offering five free trips for every 50 paid trips; and free transfers within a two-hour window of time.
Joseph C. Simonetti, a consultant in revenue management technologies from Willowbrook, Ill., called the BBR a great device. He is pictured above with METRO's Jeff Linton, director of revenue.
"I think that's what your customers need - to be able to load at the back of the bus," said Simonetti. "When you have a reload system, you are going to have a system throughout the city or on the bus. It's better to have it at the back of the bus than at the front because you don't want to delay boarding."
Scott Rodda, chief executive officer at Booz Allen Transportation Inc. in San Francisco, agreed that the BBRs were wonderful. 
"In San Francisco, we don't have it. And we're suffering from people saying they don't have enough places to go to add value to their cards. So having it on the buses is very advantageous," said Rodda, who consults the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a regional planning agency in San Francisco.
Simonetti said he thinks other transit agencies are interested in installing BBRs for their smart card system. "When you look at the numbers of reloads here, how can you argue with that success?" he added.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called today for all political parties to work together to build America's infrastructure, including light-rail projects in Houston.
"If we really want to get something done, work together," he urged at a news conference at the UH-Downtown business building, where METRO's future North Line rail corridor will run. "Set aside party differences and work together."
LaHood was in Houston on a whirlwind, all-day tour of various Houston shovel-ready construction projects. The tour included a visit to Texas Southern University, a high school of engineering students - and a ride on a METRO train down Main Street.
He was here at the invitation of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston), who is chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
LaHood said that of the $750 billion economic stimulus package that was recently passed by Congress, about $40 billion to $50 billion will go to transportation.
"That helps us jumpstart the economy and signal to America that light rail is very important to the transportation system" of the nation, said LaHood. "We're trying to get this money out the door and get it spent in a way that reflects the values of our department."
Before the news conference started, Mayor Bill White, METRO Chairman David Wolff and LaHood chatted in the lobby of the UH-Downtown building, a warm retreat from the light rain and chilly temperatures outside where the conference was held.
White told LaHood that METRO's light-rail projects were ready to go, urging that some of the federal dollars from the stimulus package be directed here.
"Yes, sir. Got it," replied LaHood.
Jackson Lee called today's tour a "visual" for LaHood so he could better understand how transit is a "vibrant energizer of this community."
"New transportation and infrastructure projects in Houston will create new jobs and revitalize our distressed communities. The federal stimulus money is not only important, but essential for the people of Houston in order to rebuild and recover from these difficult economic times that we face," she said.
If you ride the train regularly, you probably have noticed that METRO has added more pedestrian fencing alongside the rail at most of our stations along Main Street.
The project was completed last month. METRO has installed wire cable that threads through pedestrian poles at the following stations: Fannin South, TMC Transit Center, Dryden, Memorial Hermann, HCC/Ensemble, McGowan, Downtown Transit and Main St. Square.
That's about 85 percent of the Red Line, said Melvyn Henry, METRO's rail safety manager. "The stations that were problem areas - we attacked those first," said Henry. "The remainder is soon to come. We plan to do the entire line as soon as we get some funding for it."
The pedestrian fencing is designed to deter people from jaywalking across the tracks.
"You wouldn't think people would do it but they do. In fact, before we put the ones here in front of 1900 Main, you could stand in the lobby and see it all day long. It was just amazing," said Henry.
Pedestrians in a hurry want to shave a few seconds off their walk to their destination. But when a 50-ton train is churning down the tracks - no matter how slowly - it's not smart to step in front of it.
Hopefully, this new fencing will encourage people to cross the tracks at the crosswalks.
Join us for our next Web chat on Tuesday, March 17, from noon to 1 p.m.
It will be hosted by Andy Skabowski, METRO's associate vice president of operations. Skabowski has worked in transit since 1989 and has experience in all facets of bus maintenance and engineering in both the public and private sectors. A nationally recognized engineer, he has developed maintenance protocols and practices which have been adopted nationwide. He's also a skilled business executive who has developed and managed budgets, negotiated contracts and managed large-scale purchases of vehicles.
A former regional director of maintenance at Coach USA, Skabowski later ran multiple garage maintenance functions at New Jersey Transit. At the age of 28, he became a superintendent at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. He worked in fleet support engineering at New York City Transit Authority. Skabowski holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the New York Institute of Technology.
Here's your chance to ask our operations guru about anything from buses to brakes. Wonder why certain buses are scheduled certain times? Or maybe you'd like to know how green METRO is with its fleet - and what our green future looks like. Want to know where our latest Orion hybrids are running these days? 
Log in and go straight to our operations expert for answers. If you can't make the lunch time chat, we invite you to submit your questions here on this blog. We'll answer live questions first - and do our best to get to your pre-submitted ones during our chat.
Simon Lichenstein has been working full-time for the past 68 years - almost 22 of those years here at METRO.
Next Tuesday, the 88-year-old auditor will retire.
Lichenstein, who comes to work daily wearing his trademark Fedora, says the secret to such a long career is enjoying what you do.
"You have to be extremely interested in what you're doing," said Lichenstein, adding he's never bored on the job. "When I came here, I was on the verge of being 67 years old, and I just figured, that's what you do - you worked. And like what you work. Don't think it's drudgery."
Bobby Moon, manager of audit-contracts, has been Lichenstein's boss during his entire career and says he doesn't cut any slack for the octogenarian.
"I expect him to put out just as much as anybody else," says Moon. "He's very predictable, he's pretty consistent. He's got his routine. He's good."
Moon once worked for Lichenstein when both worked as contract auditors for the Defense Contract Audit Agency, part of the Department of Defense.
Later, Moon started working at METRO. When Moon was promoted to manager, he thought of hiring Lichenstein.
"At that time, I said, ‘I've got to train my new staff, and who better to train my new staff than the guy who trained me?' That was a smart decision. He helped me develop my staff, and that has been a big part of my success here," said Moon.
Lichenstein's work here - as with all our auditors - is very specialized. "It's specific for government contracts. We adhere to federal acquisition requirements. It's pretty complicated," explained Moon. "You don't get this type of training in other areas."
What does Lichenstein enjoy most about his career?
"Working on the computer. That involves learning different software and being able to use it," said Lichenstein. "When I first came here, METRO had one portable computer for 15 employees, and you had to sign out for 15 minutes or so."
Lichenstein arises daily at precisely 4:07 a.m. and reports to work by 6:45 a.m. Breakfast is cereal and toast, lunch is purchased and dinner is salad and soup. Eight hours of sleep are de rigueur.
The eclectic reader subscribes to 20 newspapers and magazines - everything from the Wall Street Journal to the National Enquirer.
The lifelong bachelor credits his longevity to good genes, a balanced diet and an active social life. Every year he goes on a cruise with friends. This year he plans on traveling to Istanbul and Sochi, Russia - the site of the 2014 Olympic games.
A week ago, Houston Chronicle reporter Rosanna Ruiz wrote a column about her experiment riding the bus at her editor's suggestion. Click here to read it.
Here's a response by Raequel Roberts, METRO's associate vice president of marketing/media and corporate communication, which was published in the Chronicle on March 7. She is pictured here in a photo taken today by Ernest Chou, senior community relations rep at METRO.
"Houston METRO encourages everyone to ride METRO, including Houston Chronicle reporters who occasionally cover METRO.
"To neophytes, riding transit does require some homework and can take some time to master. We have a project underway to straighten out routes that have evolved over the years into zigzag patterns. Any visitor to New York City finds venturing into the subway system a bit daunting, but a day or two of experience leaves many singing the praises of the system. It's a maturation we often observe with first time riders to METRORail.
"We are glad the reporter noticed METRO's buses are clean. With more than 150,000 riders each day, that's a lot of traffic through one's front door.
"We were, however, perplexed by her statement that one must input intersections, not addresses, to use our Trip Planner. The trip planner works with addresses, as it does with landmarks. We recently added Google Transit to our site as an added form of assistance.
"On the matter of fares and our operators: Operators monitor fares to look for abuses of the system, but their primary responsibility is to drive buses safely and adhere to schedules. One of the goals of METRO's new METRO Q® Fare Card was to cut down on disputes between operators and customers. We want to keep operators just as safe as our passengers.
"Buses lurching and creaking? Well, they're buses, not limousines. It's too bad the reporter didn't board one of our new hybrid buses. These buses are so quiet, 
we've actually had passengers fall asleep and miss their stops. We're putting more and more of these on the streets each day.
"And, on the matter of travel time in a car vs. bus. In day-to-day street driving, no, a bus probably can't beat a car to your destination. People ride mass transit for many reasons. Some, because they have no car, some because they realize riding a bus is cheaper than driving a car, others because they believe it is the environmentally right thing to do. And then there are times when METRO is quicker, as anyone sitting on a freeway at rush hour can attest to, when our Park & Ride buses zoom past them on the HOV.
"METRO isn't perfect - we've fixed a clogged drain that caused leaking on the bus the reporter rode - but we provide a valuable, clean and safe service for one of the lowest fares in the nation."
Today's bleak economic news of the highest unemployment rate in 24 years with more than 600,000 jobs shed last month is enough to trigger belt-tightening in anyone's household budget.
Using public transit - even if only one or two days a week - will save you money.
If you ride public transit and keep your car in the garage, you can save an average of $8,498 every year, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). That figure is based on March 5, 2009, gas prices.
Here's more good news. Commuters who take public transit to work can now get an increase in the monthly transit benefit offered by their employer. The benefit increases to $230 from $120, part of the economic stimulus package passed by Congress.
Public transit riders save $708 a month, based on the cost of parking and the March 5 gas price of $1.933 as reported by AAA.
Where can you save the most money by using public transit?
Boston takes the top spot with monthly savings of $1,036, followed by New York ($1,032 monthly savings), San Francisco ($960 monthly savings), Chicago ($875 monthly savings) and Philadelphia ($861 monthly savings).
Dallas came in at No. 17 with $681 monthly savings.
To calculate your trip savings in Houston, click our Commute Calculator.
Yesterday's board approval of our contract to build four-light rail lines includes the purchase of 29 rail cars from CAF USA Inc., a subsidiary of the Spain-based CAF Group, a $7.5 billion company with 34 projects in 20 countries.
These sleek trains feature one level inside, from front to back, with no steps.
"This is a 100 %, low-floor model. And this is the first time it will be in the United States," said Jitendra S. Tomar, vice president of marketing and business development at CAF USA Inc. "Other cars, you have 70 percent low floor. This one is all one level. You have better mobility from one end to the other."
Scott Grogan, senior director of rail operations, said the 100 percent low-floor feature sets this model apart.
Low-floor trains like this are currently operating in Seville and Malaga, Spain; Edinburg, Scotland; and Antalya, Turkey.
The new trains will also have six doors per side - two double doors and two single doors. METRO's current Siemens trains have four doors.
The new cars will be the same width as the Siemens but slightly longer - 102.5 feet compared to 96 feet for our current cars. 
"With six doors, it's going to expedite boarding and deboarding," said Scott Grogan, METRO's senior director of rail operations.
"Currently, on the Main Street line, we have a capacity issue. What this new vehicle will allow - when you have 200 people waiting on the platform - it will allow quicker boarding and deboarding."
Inside, the layout of the seats can be changed. They can all flip up for standing room only stadium crowds, for example.
Several of you asked if METRO's Siemens train can be hooked up to a CAF USA train. Yes, but only to use one to tow the other. However, the two cannot be hooked up together to run service.
"They have two separate operating parameters. It's like a Mac communicating to a PC - totally different operating parameters on the software side," explained Grogan.
METRO plans to keep its 18 Siemens trains and may eventually use them on a commuter rail line.
Several of you have asked if the new trains will be able to accommodate bike racks. "That's being looked into," said Grogan.
The CAF USA trains come with the industry standard of a 30-year lifetime. However, what makes this deal unique is the way the contract is structured.
"The risk elevation is more on the private side. In this case, the onus is on the private side, so risk allocation is shared by all of us. It's good for the taxpayers - and METRO has the least risk," said CAF's Tomar. "It's not a public-private partnership. It's beyond that. This is a unique approach, and I commend METRO for this approach."
Typically, trains come with a two-year warranty. In this case, the system must function fault-free for five years.
"With this process, CAF USA will be responsible for any fleet defects in a five-year window. They will have to redesign or fix whatever the failure is and alleviate that. That's unique," said Grogan.
Our initial "Notice to Proceed" - a notice we give to the train manufacturer indicating we are ready to order - calls for 29 cars. Ten will be used for the East End line, and 19 for the Main Street line.
METRO expects delivery of the trains in April 2012.
In a historic vote today, the METRO board approved a $1.46 billion contract with Parsons Transportation Group to build four light-rail lines in Houston.
"Today is obviously a very significant milestone," said David S. Wolff, METRO's chairman of the board. "Our objective is to improve transit in Houston, beginning with the 2003 referendum. We have now finalized a new contract with Parsons...We are doing our very best to bring first-class transit to this city."
Wolff called the contract "extremely innovative" and said it keeps METRO on budget for building four light-rail lines: North, East End, Southeast and Uptown.
The four lines will total 19.95 miles of light-rail at an average cost of $73 million per mile. At left, is a photo of the new rail cars METRO is ordering from CAF USA.
The initial phase of the contract calls for spending $632 million and is expected to create 25,000 jobs. Overall, 60,000 jobs will be created by the time the nearly 20 miles of rail are completed.
"This is a tremendous economic engine that creates jobs," said Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president and CEO.
The $632 million in the initial phase of the contract includes spending on the following:
- $90 million in utility work on the North and Southeast Corridors.
- $390 million in total costs for the East End, including an overpass at Harrisburg for light rail
- Construction of a Service and Inspection Facility
- 29 rail cars from CAF USA at a cost of $3.15 million/car. The Main St. Line will get 19 cars; East End, 10 cars.
- $3 million for final alignment and station configuration on the Uptown Corridor
The contract also specifies that 35 percent of eligible program contracts be directed to local small businesses. That amounts to $335 million of work.
Parsons will be responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining the four new light-rail lines. 
The contract builds in many innovative features to protect METRO, including:
- The ability to contract out work where the price is disputed.
- Advancing the work in phases, known as "multiple notices to proceed."
"It was important to get this capability and still be able to hold the price," explained Wilson in his presentation to the board. "We can change the contract and amend it to reflect the needs of the financial marketplace."
- Off ramps for cause/convenience, so if the worse-case scenario happens with Parsons, METRO can end the contract by paying a modest de-mobilization fee with no profit for Parsons.
- Incentives ($50 million) to meet certain goals and penalties ($40 million) if those goals aren't met.
"We think that's a good way to keep them focused and get the kind of product we want," said Wilson.
I
Imagine riding public transit in a vehicle that runs on discarded vegetable oil.
That's what riders are doing in Leesburg, Virginia, according to The Washington Post. The Town Trolley of Leesburg runs on cooking oil thrown out by local restaurants - a milestone town officials celebrated a few weeks ago as a green initiative.
The man behind the innovative idea is John Larson, a program manager for an information technology contractor, who runs New Life Energy, a start-up that helps local government agencies and nonprofits discover renewable sources of energy.
Larson convinced town officials to convert the free trolley to using veggie oil by emphasizing the environmental benefits. Vegetable oil burns cleaner than diesel or gas and doesn't produce pollutants.
Virginia Regional Transit, which operates the trolley, paid $10,000 to convert the trolley. Larson charges $2.65 a gallon for the vegetable oil, which he collects and cleans. The trolley engine still needs some diesel to operate until the engine reaches 160 degrees. Then the diesel tank automatically shuts off, and another tank with vegetable oil is activated.
Read more here.
Some of our bus aficionados have already noticed and commented about our newest hybrid-electric buses we have recently launched into service.
Made by Daimler Buses, the Orion VII Hybrid Transit bus is equipped with a generator and motor in the back and a power control system mounted on the roof top. It is designed to improve thermal conditions and reliability, according to Daimler.
Daimler Buses is the world leader in deploying hybrid buses with 1,300 units already delivered and 1,500 on order. Its clients include three of four of the world's largest fleets.
Here at METRO, we have ordered 56 Orion VII buses. With buses making their METRO debut on the road in early January .
Since then, more Orions have been integrated into our fleet, and more will be coming into service soon, as they must first be modified to meet our specific requirements, explained Bill Peterson, senior operations management analyst.
The narrow seat backs in the Orion VII buses should also give slightly more hip-to-knee room compared to a 40-foot bus with the older-model seats.
Once inside, passengers should hear less noise, according to Daimler.
"Maintenance people have conducted comparative tests to verify this," said Peterson.
The European design and all-glass side windows give the hybrid buses a sleek appearance, while drivers sit in an enhanced compartment.
The Orion Diesel-Electric Hybrid bus was first developed in 1996. Two years later, these buses began daily revenue service. Today, the largest hybrid fleets are in New York, Toronto and San Francisco.
METRO's Orions VII hybrid buses are just one more way we are going green, producing lower levels of exhaust emissions and consuming less fuel.
For actors, winning an Oscar is the pinnacle of their career.
For marketing and advertising guys, it's the ADDY award.
Last Saturday, the American Advertising Association Houston conducted its local awards ceremony - and METRO garnered six local awards. The local competition is the first of three tiers on the way to capturing the coveted national ADDY. Above are two of our staffers who worked on the projects that captured tthe gold: Sydney V. Scardino, copywriter, and Rob Fritsche, senior copywriter/producer.
The ADDY recognizes and rewards creative excellence in advertising. The annual award conferred by the American Advertising Federation is the world's biggest advertising competition with more than 60,000 entries every year.
METRO walked away with a Gold ADDY for a Spanish-language radio spot on METRO police; a Gold ADDY for a direct marketing T-shirt for our employee community fund drive; and four citations of excellence.
The citations of excellence were for our 2007 Annual Report, a radio commercial on a "Go West" route promotion, a radio spot promoting riding METRORail to a Texans game and a series of student ads on Airport Direct.
"It just confirms that METRO's in-house talent can provide quality marketing and advertising as well as, if not better, than anybody in town and save the authority lots of money in marketing costs," said Fritsche.
Fritsche came up with the award-winning slogan, "Weathering the Storm Together" on the community fund drive T-shirt, while Casey Johnson, graphic designer, created the winning design of the T-shirt.
Scardino wrote the radio spot on METRO police, which we then translated to Spanish; Fritsche produced the spot.
Raequel Roberts, associate vice president of marketing, media, and corporate communications, wrote the 2007 Annual Report, and Casey designed it.
Click the link below to hear the radio spots.
http://www.ridemetro.org/AboutUs/MTTV/MTTV.aspx
METRO's portion of the federal economic stimulus package is expected to be $92 million.
METRO has identified a list of priority projects that may be advanced to spend that money. We are working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to finalize the list of qualified projects.
Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, said last Thursday after METRO's board meeting that the agency also expects to get an undetermined amount of discretionary funds from the Federal Transit Administration. METRO will have to compete against other projects across the country for these additional FTA funds.
In December 2008, METRO submitted five "Letters of No Prejudice" (LONPs) to the FTA, requesting permission to proceed with early construction activities on the North and Southeast rail lines. The LONPs guarantee that the FTA will reimburse METRO for monies spent on these activities, if and when Full Funding Grant Agreements are approved.
In January 2009, the FTA approved the first LONP for the procurement of rail vehicles. The second LONP for the advanced design work is expected to be approved this week.
Click here to find out preliminary numbers from the FTA on how money will be distributed for transit projects. There are also helpful links related to transit and the stimulus package. Click here to register for regular FTA updates on the AARA.
If you want the administration's official Web site created to track stimulus spending, click http://www.whitehouse.gov/. However, there's not much solid information up right now.
The first customer satisfaction survey in a decade shows that overall, most of our riders are completely or mostly satisfied with METRO.
The survey was presented to METRO's board of directors today.
Representative sampling of 827 interviews were conducted last fall with passengers who were interviewed on board buses on weekday local routes, local weekend routes, Park & Ride routes and at the rail stations.
"The overall satisfaction score - the fact that 94 percent of our riders are satisfied with METRO - was a happy validation of a lot of hard work that is going on," said Darla Bell, manager of strategic analysis.
The top seven factors METRO scored highest on were: ease of use, driver's knowledge of route, knowing where to go if rider has a complaint, driver's driving skills, courtesy of driver, agency doing a good job of telling riders about route/schedule changes, and METRO being a good value for the money.
Satisfaction was measured in 13 service areas, including our Web site, transit centers and transfers. 
The survey, conducted in both English and Spanish, concluded that:
- 94 percent of riders are completely (40%) or mostly (54%) satisfied with METRO overall.
- 98 percent of riders would recommend METRO to a friend.
- 96 percent of riders say our service has improved over the past year.
- 95 percent of riders say they can rely on METRO to get them where they want to go.
"This customer satisfaction survey will form a baseline for annual surveys so we can keep getting report cards," said Bell.
Survey results will be given to top management in all our departments, and we hope to use this information to improve our service.
It's almost time to don boots, spurs and cowboy hats and have fun enjoying the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where you can see everything from calf scrambles to champion llamas and bulls.
The rodeo will be held from March 3 to 22 at Reliant Park. METRO will be extending its existing Park & Ride service to make it easier for you to get there. We will also offer these extended hours during the rodeo's cook-off event on Feb. 27 and 28.
The service will run from the West Loop Park & Ride lot, located at 4675 S. Braeswood @ the South Loop at these hours:
Weekdays: 5 p.m. to midnight
Weekends: 11 a.m. to midnight
The fare is $4, round trip.
If it's more convenient to drive to our Fannin South Park & Ride lot at Fannin and West Belfort ($8 event parking), you can then catch the rail and ride the Red Line to Reliant Park station, within easy walking distance of the stadium. The one-way train fare is $1.25.
So whether you're going to the rodeo to chow down on pit-smoked barbeque or tap your toes to country stars Clay Walker or Rascal Flatts, METRO gives you two easy options to get there.
When President Obama signs the economic stimulus package tomorrow, it will release $787 billion in federal funding to cities and states already scrambling for their share of the money.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress last week provides $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation projects. Of that $8.4 billion, $6.9 billion will be given to public transit systems through the Federal Transit Administration's current formulas and processes, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The balance of $1.5 billion will be set aside for grants for major new projects and for modernizing the urban rail system in this country.
That's good news for all transit agencies.
"Setting the course for years to come, this legislation will begin to craft a greater Intermodal transportation system that our nation desperately needs," said William W. Millar, APTA president, in a statement.
Here at METRO, we have asked for $410 million to jumpstart work on the North and Southeast lines - two of the five light-rail lines we expect to complete by 2012. Eleven days ago, Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, three METRO board members - along with locally elected officials - met with federal leaders, including Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), who promised to work with Houston officials and the FTA to push the project along.
In the House version of the bill, METRO stands to gain as much as $180 million over the next 12 months to launch construction on the North and Southeast lines. While there were no guarantees, Oberstar called this "a project in very good standing."
Transit projects mentioned in the economic stimulus bill include:
- $8 billion for high-speed rail corridors.
- $1.3 billion for Amtrak.
- $1.5 billion for a new, intermodal discretionary program that can be used for public transportation, highways, bridges, freight rail and ports.
Separately, APTA reports, an additional $150 million for rail and transit security grants is provided in the bill.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials says it has identified 5,000 "shovel-ready" projects nationwide.
Meanwhile, state officials are poring through the 1,000-page federal bill, to see if they qualify for immediate funds or not.
METRO schedules about 5,000 trips every day for people with disabilities.
And we have just made it easier for people with disabilities to book their trips by going on-line.
Our latest edition of METRO Matters features Art Jackson, director of transportation programs, who explains how this works, along with all the other features of our METROLift service.
Click the link below to watch a preview.
http://www.ridemetro.org/News/Broadcast/METROMatters.aspx
Starting next week, you can watch it on Comcast's Channel 17 and on
HCCTV/Channel 19.
Here are show times for Channel 17:
Mon. 2/16/09 8:20 p.m.
Wed. 2/18/09 9:45 p.m.
Fri. 2/20/09 7:45 p.m.
Sun. 2/22/09 1:15 p.m.
Tues. 2/24/09 6:45 p.m.
Thu. 2/26/09 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 2/28/09 12:30 p.m.
Mon. 3/2/09 12:30 p.m.
Wed. 3/4/09 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 3/6/09 8:30 p.m.
Sat. 3/7/09 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 3/8/09 10:45 p.m.
When our first Park & Ride garage opened in Cypress in 2007, many of you living in Cypress were excited to have convenient, covered parking that would soon be surrounded by restaurants and retail shops.
Today, those shops include Divine Wine Bar, Davina Chocolates, Schlotzsky's Deli, Cypress Dance Studio, Heritage Texas Properties, Stuart Title, Tuscan Sun Coffee, The Family Cajun Restaurant, Alpine Engineering, Quiltworks, plus a dental office and nail salon.
The metal industry has taken note of the Cypress Park & Ride facility now with a design award presented by the Metal Construction Association.
At its 2009 annual meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., the group honored its 2008 winners in five categories: overall excellence, commercial-industrial, municipal-institutional, roofing and residential.
In the roofing category, Cypress Village Station in Houston took top honors.
The station canopy and parking garage feature 16-inch wide, 24-guage Galvalume panels in a sandstone metallic color.
The roof was installed by PRC Roofing Co. Inc. of Houston. Architects were CDA Architects and New Quest Properties. The metal panels were chosen to help the project meet certification requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit group that helps builders make green buildings. The metal panels were also chosen to provide a maintenance-free facility.
"Thanks for inviting CDA to be a part of this job," wrote Ray A. Duerer, president of CDA Architects, in an e-mail to METRO. "We look forward to working on future METRO projects, as well as creating architectural solutions to these challenging retail/transit projects."
Click here to read more about the award.
What do you do when you pass a police car with flashing lights on the shoulder lane, giving a motorist a ticket?
If you're in the lane next to the officer, you need to vacate that lane, if possible. If you can't move, you need to slow to a speed 20 miles below the posted speed limit.
That's the law - but few drivers are probably familiar with it. I wasn't until I started blogging about this.
Today, peace officers in Harris and Fort Bend Counties will be launching a public awareness campaign about this little-known section of the law called, "Passing Authorized Emergency Vehicle," also known as the "Move Over or Slow Down" law. METRO Police will also be participating in this.
From Feb. 16 through 20, law enforcement officers will be writing tickets to violators. A citation carries a fine of $1 to $200. But if property damage occurs during the violation, the fine is $500. The Class C violation becomes a Class B violation if bodily injury occurs.
And unfortunately, too many fatalities occur when the men and women in blue stop to give drivers traffic citations. Last October while on a traffic stop, Precinct 5 Deputy Constable Jason Norling was hit and killed when a sports utility vehicle swerved onto the shoulder of the Westpark Toll Road.
Consider these sobering stats:
- 83 law enforcement officers died as a result of accidents that occurred in the line of duty in 2007, according to the FBI.
- Of the 12 officers struck by vehicles, seven were involved in traffic stops or roadblocks; five were directing traffic and helping drivers.
So the next time you see a police cruiser with flashing lights stopped on the side of the road, remember: Move over, or slow down. It's the law.
If you've logged onto our Web since last Friday, you may have noticed an addition to our Trip Planner icon on the right side of our home page: Google Transit.
We have just joined some 70 other transit agencies partnering with Google Transit to embed our routes with Google's maps. So now if you log on to Google Maps and select Houston as the city where you want directions, you'll have an option to choose "public transit" and find METRO's routes.
For those of you who have used Google Maps, you know some of the really cool features offered: Access to local traffic, aerial maps, restaurant info, three-dimensional street views, and travel info on maps and in text.
The newest feature is Google mobile which allows you to get your trip plan sent to your cell phone.
How does Google Transit differ from METRO's TripPlanner?
No trip planner can provide perfect information. But METRO'sTrip Planner uses a very sophisticated search criteria and has parameters built in which take into account such factors as walking distance. The end result? We can offer you customized, door-to-door trip planning, while Google Transit provides good baseline travel solutions for the typical rider.
Our Trip Planner also gives our call center detailed information that enables our agents to then give you specific routes that can only be produced in a customized product. Both are good products - they are simply different ways of giving you trip planning information.
When we have service changes, we will provide that data to Google in advance, so that those changes will be reflected in Google Transit as quickly as possible.
The real estate blog, Swamplot, loves this merger of METRO routes with Google Transit, saying it's much easier now to decipher getting around this city using METRO.
We're very excited about this new partnership with Google and hope we'll attract new riders who log on to Google Maps. I know some of you have been asking on Web chats and on this blog when we would do this. Click here to try it out, and let us know what you think about this new feature.
Imagine pulling out your laptop and writing e-mail or surfing the Web - all while you are commuting on a system of 104 miles of track.
San Francisco area commuters will be able to do just that in the near future, going on-line while riding the rail or waiting in one of the 43 stations of Bay Area Rapid Transit. (BART).
The high-speed Wi-Fi project will expand from a pilot to the entire system by the end of 2011, said Cooper Lee, CEO of Wi-Fi Rail Inc., to MassTransit, an industry publication, last week.
But this cyberspace access will come with a price. During the pilot project, 16,000 commuters signed on - for free. Once the next phase of the project is completed, riders will be charged for Internet use at discounted prices until the system is fully up and running.
When the Wi-Fi is completely installed, subscribers will be charged about $30 a month, $9 a day, $6 for two hours - or $300 for a year's subscription.
Unlike other systems that rely on satellite or cellular service, BART's system uses fiber-optic equipment, which can handle heavier loads at faster speeds.
Would you be willing to pay these rates to write e-mail or conduct a videoconference while commuting? Or would you prefer to use your computer for other functions that don't require Internet access?
If you're a local business owner in southeast Houston, you'll want to join METRO for an informational luncheon on how you can benefit from the Southeast light-rail line construction.
METRO Solutions Communities in Motion and the Greater Southeast Management District's Business and Economic Development Committee have joined together to present a series of workshops for southeast Houston businesses.
If you're wondering how to become a certified "small/disadvantage business enterprise" (SBE/DBE) and what comes after certification, you'll find out at this event.
Nathelyne Kennedy, president & CEO of Nathelyne Kennedy & Associates, will be the featured speaker, sharing her business experiences and giving her tips on how to work with huge government agencies.
Kennedy was the first woman to graduate with an engineering degree from Prairie View A&M University and has achieved many awards running her successful, certified minority-owned, women-operated civil/structural consulting firm. 
Kennedy designed our Southeast Transit Center and was honored as METRO's "2001 Business Development Success Story." She also won the prestigious Small Business Administration's "Minority Business Woman of the Year Award."
The luncheon is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Latino Learning Center on Polk at Scott Street. The event is open to area businesses and the community. If interested, please RSVP by today. E-mail Linda.brown@metrosolutions.org or call (713) 343-4350.
METRO's K-9 dog teams captured top honors at a recent regional competition that showcased the dogs' drug and bomb-detecting abilities, along with their obedience skills.
For the first time since METRO started its K-9 unit in 1998, METRO won two first-place awards and the highest honor, The Top Dog Team Award. Sponsored by the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDA), the competition last Friday pitted 70 dog teams from around the region, including Louisiana.
Officer Ted Armstrong and his dog Missy, a Belgium Malinois, captured three awards: First Place in Patrol, First Place in Explosives, and Top Dog Team Award. They are pictured on the left.
Officer Chris Obenland and his dog Shadow, a Belgium Malinois, won Third Place in Patrol.
"It just happened to be mine and Missy's day that day," said Armstrong. "We just happened to be on. She was very quick, very fluid searching all the boxes and desk drawers. She was on the money."
A specialist in detecting explosives, Missy was off her leash when she and her handler walked into a large entertainment hall, cluttered with columns of boxes, suitcases, filing cabinets and desk drawers. Metal-legged chairs were stacked up, newspapers scattered around.
"They hide explosives out there. They give you five minutes to find as many explosives as you can," said Armstong. If the dog makes a false alert, the dog team is disqualified.
"There's so much stuff. We as humans can't tell what the dog is picking up on. Dogs could be overwhelmed," said Armstrong.
Missy wasn't. She detected five explosives - and then performed flawlessly in the Patrol competition, which tests obedience skills, off leash.
Armstrong and Missy made history by winning two First Place awards - the first time in the contest's history that a team has done that. By scoring high in two categories, Armstrong and Missy also received a trophy for the Top Dog Team Award.
Obenland and his dog, Shadow, won Third Place in Patrol after completing a five-minute routine - off the leash - that included Shadow walking right next to his handler,
staying in a "down" position for two minutes, and apprehending a robbery suspect - along with a second, hidden suspect the team knew nothing about. Judges analyzed the handler's strategy in using his dog to help apprehend both suspects.
When a stray, black cat strutted by Shadow during the obedience competition, the well-trained canine didn't move a muscle.
"I just wanted to hug him and give him a pack of hot dogs. That was a very, very rewarding thing," said Obenland. "He normally likes to run after cats. It's natural for the dog to want to chase after them." Obenland and Shadow are pictured on the right.
Both Armstrong and Obenland pointed out that METRO's entire K-9 unit is highly trained and skilled, and officers are always trading tips on how to best train their dogs.
"Our whole dog team could have won," said Armstrong.
Added Obenland: "Our dogs are phenomenal. We constantly get compliments by the instructors about how sharp our dogs are and how good they are each year. They improve each year."
On a beautiful, sunny day like today, a hurricane is most likely the farthest thing from most people's minds.
But, like the dreaded tax due date, hurricane season is around the corner.The season starts 16 weeks and three days from today - June 1 and runs throughNov. 30.
If you didn't click on METRO Responds during Hurricane Ike last year, now is a good time to get acquainted with a Web site that is chockfull of useful phone numbers and solid advice on everything from assembling emergency kits to deciding whether to go or stay during a hurricane.
Click here to explore METRO Responds. You can also find the red and yellow icon at the bottom of our home Web page.
"We hit a record high of 546, 569 hits in September during Ike," said Jesse Quintanilla, METRO's Web designer, who worked with our IT and PIER (Public Information Emergency Response) Systems to design this. "The goal was initially how to get information to METRO employees. Then it became how do you get information to METRO employees and the public all at once?"
Here are examples of helpful hints. Under "Preparation/Planning," you'll find recommended items for an emergency kit, including a can opener for food and a whistle to signal for help. Under "Additional items to consider adding," you'll find the following listed: petfood and water, a sleeping bag or blanket, complete change of clothing and household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper. You can treat water with 16 drops of bleach to one gallon of water.
Under "Emergency Numbers," you'll discover agencies you may not know exist but which can help during an emergency, such as the Harris County Housing Resource Center or the City of Houston's Office of EmergencyManagement.
"Special Needs" walks you through the steps to pre-register on-line for emergency evacuations. And "Helpful Links" gives you a one-stop page for a variety of government agencies or non-profits that help in emergencies, such as the American Red Cross or FEMA.
METRO Responds is a valuable resource that we keep current. Just recently, we added a new link, "Ready America," that guides you to helpful, downloadable files, such as a family emergency plan. Files are in English and Spanish.
And if you ever have technical difficulties logging onto our Web site during an emergency, you can log on directly to www.metroresponds.org.
Today at noon, we conducted a lunchtime Web chat with John Sedlak, executive vice president at METRO and our No. 2 guy here. Frank J. Wilson, our president & CEO, was scheduled to host the chat. He had to fly to Washington today for an unexpected trip to meet with Congressional leaders on METRO's funding needs, as part of the proposed economic stimulus package.
We had 33 participants in a lively conversation that covered everything from our light-rail lines to Airport Direct service. Here's a transcript.
Q: When can we expect the next groundbreaking?
And, at what point might METRO admit that start-up won't be until 2013?
The sooner they announce it, the more time we have for the disappointment
to wear off.
A: METRO has been working closely with the Federal Transit Administration
to complete all of the required new starts processes for the North and
Southeast lines. We have also requested letters of no prejudice to allow
us to undertake early action utility relocation in both the North and
Southeast Corridors. We are hopeful of receiving positive results from the
FTA that would allow us to begin construction activity in both corridors
quickly.
We have received positive response from the federal government
regarding a letter of no prejudice for additional light-rail cars so we
can formally begin the procurement process for additional vehicles.
Q: Where else will METRO deploy future Quickline service at?
A: Along with the Bellaire and Palm Center routes that will provide
access to the Texas Medical Center, we have considerations for Quickline
service on Westheimer, Gessner and Tidwell serving Acres Homes to the
Northline Transit Center.
Q: When will METRO be receiving more LRVs?
Even before new lines open, we could use all 2-car trains at rush hour.
A: See previous answer. We've begun the procurement process. We don't
have a contract yet that would finalize a delivery date.
Q: Is METRO considering any changes to Airport
Direct? My two suggestions are: low the fare down to $5.00 (the number of
passengers should triple) and extend the service to the Greenway
Plaza/Galleria (or even Westchase) and Hobby Airport (obviously a
different branch).
A: Thanks for your comment regarding the Airport Direct service. We
believe the fare of $15 is more than competitive with available
alternatives, and by going to other destinations, it would reduce the
ability to make this trip in the 30 minutes one-way that we can achieve
today, leaving from the downtown terminal.
Q: Will the public be able to see preliminary engineering for the light-rail lines that did not go through the federal process?
A: We've been meeting with community stakeholders on our five lines and
have reviewed preliminary engineering plans with all interested parties.
Q: Mr. Sedlak, is Metro's current financial operating condition good or bad?
A: METRO's financial operating condition is good. METRO's proud that over
the last five years, our operating expenses have been brought in at or
below budget, in the face of some rapidly rising costs, such as fuel. And
we're pleased so far that sales tax revenues have remained strong.
Q: Mr. Sedlak --if federal law prohibits light rail from crossing light rail in a grade level manner --how will Metro cross Main Street at Rusk on Main at Capitol Street downtown?
A: Federal law does not prohibit an at-grade crossing of one light-rail
track over another. We currently plan to cross the Main Street line
at-grade with the Southeast line.
Q: With all the commercial rail lines that exist and cross Harrisburg, how will METRO cross these lines? Are drawings available to show the Harrisburg line crossing the existing rail lines and how will this will managed?
A: On the East End Corridor, there are two freight rail lines that must
be crossed by the light-rail system. Both of these crossings will be
elevated over the freight railroad.
Preliminary engineering drawings have been prepared for the crossing near the east side of downtown and conceptual engineering drawings have been prepared for the crossing west of the Magnolia Transit Center. Information concerning these plans is available at our community storefront office on Harrisburg. That address is available on our Web site.
Q: I have read in the LA Times that Transit Authorities across the nation have had to cut bus service due to cuts in federal money. Is the same true for Houston?
A: Regarding bus service cuts in Los Angeles, I am unaware of changes to
its current system. METRO continues to monitor the performance of its
bus routes so that we can provide cost-effective service to the greatest
number of passengers in our region. Federal funding support that METRO
receives is only applicable to capital project assistance. They are not
available for support of daily operations.
Q: How is the Airport Direct coming along?
A: Daily ridership is steadily growing but it's not where it needs to be
to sustain it for the long term. If you've tried the service, you know how
good it is. Please encourage your friends and coworkers to use it.
Q: What type of future buses will METRO want to look at in regards to future Quickline services?
A: On all Quickline routes, METRO will be using our newest buses, these
being low-floor, hybrid diesel-electric, 40-ft. coaches. The buses are
equipped with enhanced interior treatments, and are electronically
connected to transit stops along the Quickline route to provide next-time
bus arrival to passengers. We've begun complete wraps of the vehicle to
make it more distinctive. Let us know what you think on the next chat.
Q: How much is Metro seeking from the federal
stimulus package?
A: Our highest priority projects are the North and Southeast light-rail
lines, amounting to $410 million in our request.
Q: Mr. Wilson stated last week on TV that
Metro was in the real estate business. Do you feel like the 2003
Referendum gave Metro the right to change their transit "mission"?
A: Our mission remains the same. Our interest in acquisition of real
estate is to improve use of and access to the transit system. Our recent
new Park & Ride facility off the 290 freeway at Cypress has been a huge
success and an example of how METRO can work with the private sector to
provide a transit facility integrated with a residential and commercial
development.
Q: Back to the Airport Direct. If you think
it's not a good idea to extend the service due to on-time performance
concerns, please make sure there is easy way to transfer to all P&R and
other express routes (no more than one block of walking, coordinated
schedules, etc...). On the fare subject: I still insist it is overpriced
(it is more expensive than riding a cab; 4 people taking a cab from
downtown to Bush IAH will pay less than $60).
A: The approximate fare on a taxi from downtown to IAH is $50. This is
considerably more than the $15 one-way fare on METRO's Airport Direct.
Please try it, you'll like it.
Time's out. Thanks for your great comments and
questions. It's my pleasure to join you, and please tune in at our next
Web chat.
Call it the "if you build it, they will come" mentality.
Three Atlantic City casinos want more trains to bring New Yorkers to their tables, so they purchased their own trains and worked out a deal with New Jersey Transit and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).
Borgata, Caesars and Harrah's have signed a joint venture with NJ Transit and CRDA to run an eight, two-level passenger car for three years on a trial basis, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The new train service is called the Atlantic City Express Service. 
The three casinos paid $15 million for the passenger trains. CRDA is adding $4.8 million to lease locomotives from Amtrak, while the Atlantic City Express and CRDA are providing a combined $4 million for operating costs.
Tickets cost $50 one-way and $75, first class, for the two-hour, 40-minute trip. Passengers can recline in leather seats, buy sandwiches and salads for $7, beer for $6.
Trips will run on weekends, beginning next weekend, running between the Atlantic City Rail Terminal and New York Penn Station, with a stop at Newark Penn Station.
Although casinos have operated bus and air shuttles, this is the first time they have ventured into rail.
Every decade, Houston grows by one million people.
Houston PBS/Channel 8 has been focusing on this growth and the basic issues that accompany that with a series of community forums, entitled, "Houston, Have Your Say...Shaping Our Future Growth."
Last night's live town hall forum focused on the future of public transit in Houston, zoning and development. The meeting included live phone calls from viewers at home and a blog where viewers could post comments during or after the discussion.
METRO's Frank J. Wilson, president & CEO, weighed in with several comments, pointing out that METRO was, indeed, a developer that is building infrastructure - 30 miles of light rail to connect five light-rail lines.
Almost everyone agreed we need more mass transit to handle Houston's expected growth and to help unclog our freeways.
Some participants expressed concern that Houston's lack of zoning was deterring developers from building their best projects here, afraid that an eyesore would pop up next to their well-designed building.
Others argued that we don't need zoning but overall guidelines that help manage growth. Several people in the audience summed up their impressions of the evening's discussion: Houston needs to have a strategic plan for growth, instead of a hodgepodge project-by-project mentality.
Click here to watch the video.
No matter how much sleep I get - or how vigorous the workout - when I slip behind the wheel and start the long trek to San Antonio or Austin, I start nodding off after about an hour of driving.
The rhythm of the car on the road puts me to sleep. I've often thought: Wouldn't it be great if we had trains that connect Houston-San Antonio-Austin-Dallas?
Well, now it seems like the concept of the so-called Texas T-Bone corridor is back. Yesterday, at a transportation briefing before the state legislature, Robert Eckels, former Harris County judge and chairman of the Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corp. proposed a high-speed rail linking Dallas-Fort Worth through Austin to San Antonio, branching off in Temple and going on to Houston.
Proponents this time have build a coalition that includes elected officials and two airlines, according to today's Houston Chronicle. The $12 billion to $18 billion project would be completed by 2020. High-speed trains would average 200 miles per hour.
Why would the proposal work this time when it failed about 15 years ago?
"In the past, high-speed rail was not completed in Texas primarily because it was a top-down model driven by lobbyists out of Austin," Eckels told the Chronicle.
This time, supporters have convinced former foes to jump on board. Southwest Airlines, which opposed the last high-speed rail project, now says the airline is neutral. The high-speed trains would connect to airports.
This public-private partnership is seeking state help, including tax exemptions for companies that construct the project. More than 70 percent of Texas residents live in the cities that would be connected by this high-speed rail.
High-speed rail - with trains that can run up to 125 miles per hour - exists in the Boston-New York-Washington, D.C. corridor with Amtrak's Acela Express. (pictured above). Worldwide, 16 other countries enjoy high-speed rail, including Taiwan, Russia, France and Finland.
University of Houston students are going green with METRO, as hundreds signed up for student Q Cards.
It was all part of the University of Houston's 10-week "green campaign." This week, the university staged its first "Green Commuting Fair," encouraging students to go green by commuting.
Yesterday,10 METRO staffers from our revenue and community outreach departments attended the event, bringing with them special machines that would take the students' photos - needed for a student Q Card - and machines that would reload money on any existing Q Cards. Students get to ride METRO for half price - about 62 cents per ride.
The fair continued today until 3 p.m. at three locations on the main campus: UC Satellite, PGH Breezeway and Moody Towers.
"The operation went very smoothly," said Nicole Adler, METRO's revenue marketing associate. Students were processed in about two minutes. On Monday, they will be able to pick up their Q Cards at the parking services desk in the Welcome Center. Yesterday, METRO processed 360 students.
The "Green Commuter Fair" is part of UH's campaign to promote public transit. Carl Carlucci, UH System vice chancellor for administration and finance, said his goal 
was to increase public transit use by students. With the growing student population, parking spaces have become scarcer, and public transit is a great alternative. Carlucci, who was on hand yesterday helping METRO pass out Q Card information, said he wanted to get 20,000 students using public transit. The photo on the right is Carlucci talking with a student.
Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president & CEO, said in a statement that he wants to thank UH for recognizing the important role public transportation plays in our daily lives.
"By focusing your efforts to expand public transportation on your campus and among your students, you are setting a valuable example for other organizations to follow. We at METRO are looking forward to working with you on this initiative," he said.
In addition to obtaining new Q Cards, students with expired cards could get reactivated at the "Green Commuting Fair."
Students who attended the green fair were grateful METRO was on campus to make it convenient for them. "They were really glad to see us there and appreciated that we were offering the service on location and that they didn't have to come down to the RideStore," Adler said.
She credited Landis Wyatt, a METRO sales associate whose client is UH, for the successful fair. "He suggested that we go on location to issue Q Cards," said Adler. "He was in charge of all the planning and servicing the whole project."
"We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with the University of Houston and increasing our ridership," said Adler, adding that we may revisit the campus to sign up more students six months from now.
If any UH students are reading this, we'd love to hear about your experience becoming a green commuter. The photos on this post were taken by Maria Honey, a UH employee.
Here's your chance to ask all things METRO to the man in charge: President & CEO Frank J. Wilson.
Our next Web chat is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 3, from noon to 1 p.m.
Are you wondering what's going on with construction on the East End? How has the economy affected funding for the light-rail lines? When will Signature Bus service start?
Find out what's ahead this year at METRO - the programs we're planning, the corridors we're building and how we're forging ahead to change the face of transit in Houston.
Next week's Web chat will be a rare opportunity to ask your questions directly to our CEO - please join us for some straight talk from the top.
If you can't make it during the entire lunch hour, log on and ask a question, then leave the chat room. We'll still try to answer your question. Or, you may comment in the section below and submit your questions ahead of time.
Join the conversation - we're looking forward to a lively dialogue.
This week, you'll have a chance to make a mark on your community with your ideas for public art.
METRO is launching the process of choosing artists to create artwork for the University Corridor light-rail stations, and we want to make sure your ideas are heard for art that highlights the community's image, identity and architectural heritage.
Public art is both challenging and rewarding for artists who must collaborate with contractors, city officials and the community to bring art that's both beautiful and meaningful to neighborhoods.
We want to hear from you on how artists can incorporate traditions, objects and physical landmarks to create art that will become part of your landscape once we build light-rail in your neighborhood.
Attend one or both of these workshops:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. (Remarks at 7 p.m.)
Place: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall
3826 Wheeler Ave.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009
Time: 9 to 11 a.m. (Remarks at 10 a.m.)
Place: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
3511 Yoakum Blvd.
On Jan. 29, we'll be discussing art for the following stations: Almeda, Hutchins, TSU, Tierwester, Scott, UH and Eastwood Tarnsit Center.
On Jan. 31, we'll be focusing on these stations: Hillcroft Transit Station, Gulfton, Bellaire, Newcastle, Weslayan, Cummins, Edloe, Kirby, Shepherd, Menil, Montrose and Wheeler.
Click here for more details.
The day after saving a 68-year-old tourist who fell on a Washington, D.C. train track on Inauguration Day, our hero Officer Eliot Swainson - along with METRO Capt. Tim Kelly and a D.C. transit cop - saved residents from a burning apartment building.
Swainson, who has been the media darling from coast to coast this week and has appeared in more than 20 news outlets, had just completed an early-morning interview on the Mall in Washington for KTRK-Channel 13 in Houston.
Officer C. Dorrity of The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority was driving Swainson and Kelly back to their housing when the three men saw a fire blazing at a row house.
"The row houses were on North Capital Drive. As we drove down the street, we saw the smoke coming from the building," said Kelly. "There was no one on the scene and no residents outside the building."
The three transit officers were the first responders on the scene."I just turned to the transit guy and said, ‘It's your turn to be a hero,'" Swainson told CNN.
They called firefighters and began pounding on doors to arouse residents and help them out of the building. 
"We couldn't get into the unit that was actually burned. There was just too much smoke coming out of there," recalled the 46-year-old Swainson, who snapped the photo above.
Firefighters rescued a teenage boy from the burning unit. A woman in that unit was killed before firefighters arrived. The photo on the right was taken by Kelly.
Only 22 hours earlier, Swainson had saved a Nashville woman who had fallen on a subway track in Washington, where record crowds surged through the Metro system to attend the inauguration. More than 1.1 million riders made more than 1.5 million trips on Tuesday.
Read about that rescue here.
Swainson was modest about his week's heroic deeds. "It's what we're trained to do," he said.
When a CNN reporter asked if he wears a shirt with an S on it, Swainson teased back, "Well, it's Swainson. So, it's always there."
Kelly called Swainson a very talented and well-trained officer. "He is the consummate professional in all that he does. I would expect no less from the performance he has shown over the last several days," said Kelly."He is a good representative of all the men and women of the METRO Police Department."
Above are more pictures of the fire. The first two were photographed by Swainson, the next four by Kelly. The last photo shows nine of the 10 MPD officers who helped the Washingotn transit agency with crowds on the subway. The photo was taken on Jan. 19 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at Judiciary Square.
The next time you board our bus, the person you sit next to may not be who you think he or she is.
METRO has a bus marshal program, similar to the federal government's air marshal program launched after 9/11.
MPD officers, dressed in every day clothes - from surgical scrubs to blue jeans to a repairman's uniform - board our buses and watch for suspicious activity.
So far, this program has helped reduce crime on buses. In fact, in Fiscal Year 2008 (Oct. 1, 2007 - Sept. 30, 2008), on-board bus crime dropped by 33 percent from from the year before.
Click the link below to hear Captain Mike Raney explain more. Starting this month, you can watch METRO Matters on HCCTV Channel 19, in addition to Houston Media Source's Channel 17 on Comcast.
http://www.ridemetro.org/AboutUs/MTTV/MetroMatters.aspx
Here's the schedule on Channel 17, if you prefer to watch the show on a big screen:
Th. 1/22/09 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 1/24/09 7:30 p.m.
Mon 1/26/09 5:45 p.m.
Wed. 1/28/09 8:30 p.m.
Fri. 1/30/09 8:30 p.m.
Sun. 2/1/09 11:30 a.m.
Tues 2/3/09 9:30 p.m.
Th. 2/5/09 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 2/7/09 9:00 p.m
Tues 2/10/09 9:30 p.m.
Th. 2/12/09 7:30 p.m.
His day started at 4 a.m. working a train platform in Washington, but by the end of the day, he was on the national news.
Eliot Swainson, a 46-year-old METRO police officer, was among 100 officers from 18 transit agencies nationwide who were in Washington yesterday to help manage the crowds surging into the city for the Inauguration ceremonies.
Six-and-half hours later, Swainson's quick-thinking saved a Nashville woman who had fallen onto the track.
By 9:30 a.m., the large crowds had come and gone. There was a lull at the station, The Gallery Place, when Swainson said he suddenly heard screaming and hollering.
"A lady fell on the track. I had a clear sight and could see she was on the track. I ran over to her location - about 30 feet away," recalled Swainson today in a phone interview, while waiting to board his flight back to Houston. "She was standing up. Another patron was standing there and pulling her on the arms and trying to lift her up. It was dead weight trying to pull her. The train had entered the platform. We could hear it...and could see the headlight coming through the tunnel."
Swainson, dropped to his knees on the platform to pull the woman up, but gave up after several tugs. Quickly he remembered what he had been taught at the training class the day before by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. (WMATA)
There was a two-and-half to three-foot wide ledge tucked under the platform, which ran the length of the platform. It was invisible to anyone standing on the platform.
Swainson pushed the woman's upraised arms down and wedged her onto the narrow cove. 
"All the time I had was to tell her, ‘Stay down, stay down,' and I pushed her and got my arm away. There was a 3-inch gap from the side of the platform to the side of the train as it rolled by. Any overt movement on her part would have had her bump the train. It was very confining," said Swainson.
When the train rolled by, Swainson said he could barely see if the woman remained tucked safely on that cove.
The woman, 68, was taken to a local hospital with a dislocated shoulder and released two hours later.
Swainson said this was the first time in his 15-year career at METRO that he saved someone's life.
"I'm happy that she was alive. I'm glad to hear she was getting transported with minor injuries," said Swainson, pictured on the right giving directions to a Washington commuter yesterday.
Click here to see Swainson's interview with WMATA on You Tube.
This Sunday, the Chevron Houston Marathon will attract thousands of runners who will be sprinting through much of downtown.
That means METRO's service will be affected.
From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., the majority of downtown streets will be closed, north of Lamar Avenue.
METRO will be unable to offer bus service during those two hours in that downtown area.
After 8 a.m., we will resume detour service on the north side of downtown, using Franklin and Congress Streets. South of Lamar Avenue, major detour streets will be Pierce and St. Joseph Parkway.
We will also have no rail service between the northbound platform at Main Street Square and the southbound platform at Preston Station until 2 p.m.
Regular rail service will operate between Fannin South and Main Street Square Stations; and Preston and UH Downtown Stations. Trains will run at our normal Sunday frequency of every 18 minutes. 
All buses and trains will resume normal service by 2 p.m.
The following bus routes will be affected by the marathon with detours: 1Hospital ; 3 W. Gray; 3 Langley; 5 Southmore; 5 Kashmere; 6 Jensen; 9 N. Main; 11 Almeda; 11 Nance; 15 Fulton; 20 Canal; 20 Long Point; 24 Northline; 25 Richmond; 26 Outer Loop; 27 Inner Loop; 30 Cullen; 30 Clinton; 33 Post Oak; 36 Lawndale; 40 Pecore; 40 Telephone; 44 Acres Homes; 48 Navigation; 50 Harrisburg; 50 Heights; 52 Scott; 52 Hirsch; 53 Westheimer; 56 Airline; 60 MacGregor.; 66 Yale; 77 MLK; 77 Liberty; 78 Alabama; 78 Irvington; 80 Dowling; 80 Lyons; 81 Westheimer; 82 Westheimer; 163 Fondren.
If you're visiting from out of town for the marathon, there are some wonderful places to visit along our 7.5-mile rail line: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Houston Museum of Natural Science; Hermann Park with paddle boats, train and a zoo; and the famed Texas Medical Center - a sprawling campus the size of Akron, Ohio, and home of heart surgeon pioneers, the late Dr. Michael DeBakey and Dr. Denton Cooley.
When the price of gas soared to $4 a gallon, you probably started noticing more hybrids on the road.
But what about all-electric vehicles? Do they have much of a future?
Back in 1900, 25 percent of all cars made in the United States ran exclusively on electricity. But Henry Ford's Model T quickly muscled its way out front - and gas-powered cars became the norm.
Entrepreneur Shai Agassi, the 40-year-old former president of software company SAP, says electric cars have a future. He's started a company called Better Place, and his plans are grand: to ignite the electric-auto industry by developing the infrastructure from ground zero - cars, recharging stations and more.
"We looked at it from the perspective of how to run an entire country without oil. You've got to put the infrastructure ahead of the cars. In our case, the infrastructure is a combination of a massive amount of charge spots and the ability to switch batteries in less time than it takes to fill up with gasoline," he told Newsweek recently.
Agassi says a new business model is needed to make the all-electric car work. Drivers would buy a commute by miles, signing a contract that rewards discounts based on the length of the contract.
"The car and the battery - ownership-wise, have to be separated...We say, you never buy the battery. What you buy is the car. You buy the commute by miles, and commute miles include the battery, the electricity, access to the network and battery-switching," he explains.
He hopes to have mass-market access in Israel and Denmark by 2011. But even in widespread areas in this country - such as the Midwest or California or Texas - Agassi isn't daunted.
He says to imagine a 100-mile circle around San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. Three freeways connect those northern and southern cities.
"On those cities, if you put switch stations at a distance of about 30 miles from one another, you would have full coverage across the entire state, which is effectively the most prolific car state in the nation," says Agassi.
As far as mass transit, there are two types of electric buses: the trolley bus powered by two overhead electric wires; and the on-board, stored-electricity bus. 
China is developing a new form of electric bus, using power stored in large on-board electric double-layer capacitors. These are rapidly recharged when the electric bus stops at a bus stop and fully charged in the terminus. In 2006, two commercial bus routes using electric double-layer capacitor buses were launched, one of them in Shanghai, pictured on the right.
Electric Fuel Corporation is working on a 40-foot, totally electric bus, using pre-commercial battery technology.
Adelaide, Australia, boosts the Tindo, an all-electric bus whose electricity comes from a solar PV system on Adelaide's central bus station.
Suburban sprawl is out. Smart growth is in.
Consider these facts: By building "smart growth"neighborhoods - those that are compact, walkable and transit-oriented - we can cut our national fuel expenses by $24 billion in the year 2030 and reduce fuel costs by $250 billion in the next 22 years, according to a study by the Urban Land Institute.
Strategies on how to develop communities so that they reflect smart growth will be the focus of the 8th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference next week in Albuquerque.
The average family in this country spent 32 percent of its income on housing and 25 percent on transportation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But those who live in walkable communities where transit is easily accessible only spent 9 percent of their income on transportation.
So what exactly is smart growth?
It varies from community to community. Generally, it means an investment of time, attention and resources to revitalize old suburbs and city centers. "New smart growth is more town-centered, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities," according to the Web site of Smart Growth Online.
The conference, sponsored by The Local Government Commission, a nonprofit organization of locally elected officials, city and county staff and other interested individuals, will also explore two areas where local dollars are spent overseas, rather than in local economies: transportation and heating and cooling homes.
"The New Partners conference will focus on local and state policies that will plug these two sources of lost revenue so that more dollars can be spent locally, leading to healthier local businesses and more local jobs," reports Mass Transit magazine.
Meet our next "Hero on Wheels."
Sean Hill has been driving a bus for METRO for almost a decade. Last fall, Hill became an instant hero to a young boy in crisis.
The single father of three girls - ages 17, 15 and 2 - was driving the 80 Dowling/Lyons route when he noticed a three-year-old boy walking alone around a bus stop on Tierwester St. in front of Cuney Homes, the city's biggest public housing property.
Hill drove to the end of the line, and when he returned, he saw the same little boy - this time sitting at the bus stop alone. It was 11:10 a.m.
"I stopped and asked, ‘Are you sitting for the bus?' and he started crying. He said he was lost. I still had five passengers on the bus. They didn't mind and said to find who he was," recalled Hill, who works out of our Kashmere facility.
Hill knocked on five apartment doors at the sprawling complex with 18 buildings and 118 units. Someone suggested he take the child to the community building, where he turned the child over to Diane M. Sheffield, president of the Cuney Homes Resident Council. 
Sheffield called the police and started asking residents at the community center if they recognized the child. Finally, a young woman thought she knew a relative with whom the child was living. The child was escorted to the relative, who was playing Dominoes outside and hadn't realized the boy had wandered away.
Sheffield said she's glad our METRO driver brought the boy to the community building - the heart of the complex.
"It was a very, very good thing," said Sheffield of the bus operator's action. "I'm glad the bus driver stopped and rendered aid to the little boy. And I'm glad we have METRO buses around the area of Cuney Homes."
Hill said observing the crying youngster was simply part of his job.
"I actually watch everything around me. That's what we're trained to be - to be observant...and to get the big picture. I knew it from my years of driving," said Hill, who also trains new drivers.
But to a frightened three-year-old boy, Hill had just become a new hero.
A year ago, we launched the METRO Q® fare card - a smart card which passengers tap against an electronic reader to deduct a fare from a preloaded balance.
So far, the METRO Q® has been working great, says Jeff Linton, director of revenue at METRO.
"Seventy percent of our customers are using the Q Card," says Linton. "It's an excellent penetration rate. We've made the Q Card so easily acceptable to our customer base. It's just something that customers can reload at almost any location."
Not only is the Q Card working well with our riders, the technology is also giving us ridership data that the former magnetic-striped tickets could not give. "It is something our employees can use as a technology tool to help us manage the business better," points out Linton. "It gives us good data. It gives us good sales information."
It cost $30 million to switch to the Q Card - and that includes 2,900 pieces of equipment, a sophisticated Web application, an extensive network of retailers, a portable PDA type device for police to check Q Card payments and the cost of five million plastic Q Cards.
Of the 70 percent of our customers who are using the Q Card, about 40 percent are reloading their cards with the Back-of-the-Bus Reloaders. Another 30 percent are using the Web to reload their cards.
The remaining 30 percent are adding money to their balance by going to our RideStore, retailers around town, through their colleges or social agencies, or via the Ticket Vending Machines on the rail platforms and at the Park & Ride lots.
About 200 retailers - including Fiesta, HEB and Valero gas stations - are able to add money to Q Cards. Retailers get a 3 percent commission. "It's been very successful at our major supermarkets," said Linton. "Whether it continues or we eliminate it, we're analyzing it."
This year, METRO will be focusing on increasing the number of customers who use the Web to reload their Q Cards. We'll also work on signing up more Web sponsors, said Linton.
Q Card users have also earned benefits. For every 50 trips, we give five free trips, and so far, 1.5 million riders have taken advantage of our loyalty program.
In addition to switching to a new way to pay, METRO also changed its fare structure, eliminating dozens of discounts. That was an industry first.
"To my knowledge, nobody has done a fare restructuring in the size and scope that we did at the same time they implemented a new, advanced fare collection technology," said Linton. "There was a lot of advanced planning and advanced testing to make sure everything worked before we did these two major projects simultaneously."
In fact, last year's rollout and fare restructuring went so smoothly, the industry took notice. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has chosen Houston for its fare collection workshop.
The event will feature international speakers and include our own experts - President & CEO Frank J. Wilson, Rich Lobron, who directed the Q card project, and Linton.
"We'll be conducting tours of our facilities and taking people to various locations throughout the city to see the Q Card in operation," said Linton. The conference, hosted by METRO, will be from March 15 to 18.
The advice Linton would give to other transit agencies considering a switch to a smart card?
"Make sure your customer base and other potential customers understand what the new fare collection is, and in our case, the new fare structure. We had to do both. We had to not only teach folks how to use the new Q Card, but to understand and navigate the new fare structure," said Linton.
We placed "Ask Me" teams on the rail platform and at transit centers, advertised on the radio and the Houston Chronicle. "We flooded the marketplace with a tremendous amount of Q Card information," said Linton.
One more thing METRO did that no other agency has done: When we switched to a smart card, everyone had only two ways to pay: Q Card or cash. Other transit agencies that have switched have continued to use magnetic-striped tickets and tokens.
"We got rid of the old instruments over a three-month period," said Lobron. "We didn't soil the new technology with the ancient history."
Every day the headlines bring more grim economic news. Transit agencies nationwide are struggling with budget deficits.
In this economic climate, should transit agencies boost their revenues by wrapping their light-rail trains in advertising?
Here at METRO, we wrapped some of our trains twice - once for the Lucy exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, and another time during our "I Ride" campaign featuring heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, fashion designer Chloe Dao and Astros Outfielder Carlos Lee.
Of course, these wraps were not advertising products but were more educational/informative ads for non-profits. METRO did not bring in additional revenue from them.
Last fall, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York unveiled its first ad-wrapped subway train, wrapped inside and outside, advertising The History Channel. The MTA, which has a projected $900 million budget deficit this year, said 2008 advertising revenues totaled more than $125 million.
An architectural and environmental design professor argues that trains wrapped in ads degrade the value and integrity of the rail system.
"Placing the light-rail travelers in a mobile billboard is a disastrous idea, as it neither honors nor respects them. Nor will it make them proud of their choice of transport," says John Meunier of Arizona State University.
But other transit experts disagree, pointing to the need to bring in desperately needed revenue.
A survey by TransitTalent.com, which calls itself the career hub for public transportation, found that 57 percent of respondents "strongly disagree" or "disagree" with Meunier's position.
But 40 percent agreed, citing safety reasons for not wrapping light-rail trains. One respondent said it might make it hard for the visually impaired to find their stops, although most systems have recordings, announcing each stop.
What do you think? Do budget shortfalls and a deteriorating economy justify advertisements wrapped around light-rail trains?
Two years ago today, we did something no other transit agency in the nation had ever done: We started a blog.
It was an attempt to put a human face on a huge agency, to be more responsive to the public, to start a dialogue and build a community. It was also an attempt to be more transparent and open with you.
I think on many levels we have succeeded. Over the past year, we have covered topics from serious to light. They include ride sharing via an iPhone, customer complaints, funding for public transit, electric cars and finding love at a METRO bus stop.
We have had heated discussions and strident criticism. Many of you have offered useful suggestions and exchanged interesting ideas.
Mainly, we have provided a forum for both supporters and critics to speak their mind. Some of you have made comments that a corporate blog would have never posted. We did, in the interest of openness.
Our goal going forward is that this blog will continue to inform you about all things METRO and about transit issues. Keep your comments coming. I haven't been really good at answering all the e-mail promptly. It's just me here, and I have other assignments besides this blog. But I will make it one of my New Year's goals to respond faster.
Social media experts say a good corporate blog needs to engage with constituents about topical matters and be prepared to go out on a limb a bit.
"I believe 2009 will see the beginnings of a new approach to corporate blogging that is more genuine and open. Corporate Blogs 2.0 will admit that fallibility is not a sin and will trust their customers to help them make their business better," writes Paul Gillin, author of "The New Influencers: A Marketer's Guide to the New Social Media" (Quill Driver Books) in a recent social media report to marketers and executives. "The few businesses that have taken a risk and bared their souls have found that transparency engenders sympathy, trust and support."
We will strive for that goal in our third year. It helps when we hear from readers like David, who e-mailed us on Dec. 14: "Thank you for continuing with the blog. Communication is the key to so many things. Please keep it up."
Thank you, readers, for helping to make this blog work, and thanks for your comments.
Despite the fall in fuel prices, people who commute still save hundreds of dollars a year versus those who drive.
That's according to a report released today by the American PublicTransportation Association (APTA), which stated that a person can obtain an average savings of $8,368 a year by taking public transit instead of driving.
That figure is based on today's gas prices and the average unreserved parking rate. APTA calculated the monthly savings for public transit users at $697 a month based on a gas price of $1.727, reported by AAA.The national average for a monthly unreserved parking rate in a downtown business district is $143, according to the 2008 Colliers International Parking Rate Study.
APTA's analysis shows that the average annual savings represents almost a third more than the average amount a household spends on food every year - $6,111, according to the Food Institute.
Gas prices are $1.378 lower than last year, yet public transit riders still see dramatic economic gains over drivers.
Here's a sampling of how much money residents in the top 10 transit ridership cities can save:
Boston $12.285
New York $12,258
San Franciso $11,325
Chicago $10,456
Philadelphia $10,171
Seattle $10,123
Honolulu $9,933
Wash. DC $9,371
Minneapolis $9,135
Cleveland $9,072
In Dallas, which comes in 17th among cities with the most riders, commuters see an average annual savings of $8,019.
Here in Houston, click here to calculate how much you can save if you ride METRO.
Calling all kids - and their parents - to log on to our Web site and meet Fred the Safety Tread.
He's our new safety mascot who will be teaching kids all about bus and rail safety and how to ride METRO. Riding transit is an adventure, and Fred wants kids to learn to do it safely.
At Kids' Stop, you'll find bus safety tips, a fun activity book on rail safety and learn about student discounts.
Plus, there's a video featuring a talking squirrel and a section on being green and all the ways METRO is helping to take care of the environment.
"The Kids' Stop page was created because we have an increasing interest from parents, teachers and caregivers to get more information on METRO. And this helps create a transit ethic at an early age," said Karen Marshall, METRO's director of community outreach. "We're very excited about the opportunity to leverage technology to bring information and resources to young people."
Carolina Mendoza, media relations specialist, conceived the safety mascot, Fred the Safety Tread, and said she hopes he will become every kid's new safety BFF.
"We wanted to create a character the kids would find fun and entertaining," said Mendoza. "I didn't want to use a bus, so I started thinking of bus parts. Clearly, an essential part of a bus is a wheel. Visually and aesthetically, it was exciting to work with."
And of course, every kid is familiar with the song, "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." Now, when they see Fred the Safety Tread, hopefully, they will keep in mind the safest way to ride a bus.
Log on and meet Fred.
METRO has just made it easier for METROLift riders to book their trips. Now, METROLift riders can go online and book their trips using a client ID and password.
Called MACS-WEB, (METROLift Automated Computer System on the Web), the computerized system mirrors the automated phone system we have had since last January, said Mary Ann Dendor, METRO's Americans with Disabilities Act administrator.
The computerized system was introduced last month, and as of today, we have had 45 users. METROLift riders can go online and book trips from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or they can go online to review trips and cancel any unwanted trips 24/7.
"The feedback we're getting from people is that it's quick and easy for them to use," said Dendor. 
Online users must choose a destination from a previously used address because all addresses must be geocoded with a longitude and latitude so that the scheduling system can locate the address.
"What I'm hoping this will do is that when people go to our Web site, they will also look at our bus & rail schedules. Maybe they can ride the bus or rail because it is easier and more convenient," explained Dendor. "This will be a help to them. They will understand that METRO has accessible service for everybody, and that they have transportation choices."
For example, a patron might use METROLIft to get picked up from his house and taken to the Veteran's Hospital. Then, if that person had another appointment at the Texas Medical Center, he could take a regular, fixed-route METRO bus, which runs about every 15 minutes to the TMC.
All our buses and rail are wheelchair accessible with automated stop announcements of major intersections.
So far, MACS-WEB has been a smooth rollout, said Dendor.
"I think mainly because we've tried to make it as user-friendly as possible. We hope that many people will enjoy it. What about those without computers? They can go to places with computers - their doctors' office, community organizations. Or family members can check for them," said Dendor.
And don't forget we still have MACS. (METROLift's Automated Calling System). With MACS, customers can schedule their rides, verify trip times and cancel trips over the telephone without a computer.
"We're trying to help make it easier for METROLift riders to make their trips, know what times their trips are and then cancel any unwanted trips," she said.
And now with a click away, we hope it's easier for you
This Sunday, bring the kids to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for some fun, interactive ways to learn about transportation in a special, one-day exhibit entitled, "Any Which Way You Go."
METRO will have a Kids' Stop booth in the museum's Law Lobby where you'll hear a storyteller give tips on rail safety. And of course, we'll have lots of giveaways.
It's all part of the museum's Target Free First Sunday. This time, METRO is one of the partners since the theme is transportation.
"We always look for opportunities to partner with other organizations," said Karen Marshall, director of community outreach. "Not only will they have our exhibit, which will talk about transit and rail, but they will feature transportation with art."
The family day activities will take place in the Beck building, the Porte-Cochere at the outside entrance, South Lawn and the Law building. The event is from 1 to 5p.m. and the entire day is free of charge.
In addition to the fine arts paintings that will be on display, over in the Beck Building, kids will be able to get an up-close look at decorated cars from the Art Car Museum, see boat making with a 3-D paper sculpture, enjoy drinks from a lemonade stand, listen to Opera in the Heights, ride an original trolley and take story-time tours.
At the Law Building, kids can participate in an origami airplane workshop, saddle up and sketch, watch a performance from Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Co., and view some family flicks in the Brown Auditorium.
Of course, we encourage you to stop at Houston METRO Kids'Stop.
"We are fortunate to be front and center as a sponsor to highlight METRO's services, particularly what we can do for families and young people, especially making sure families are aware of the half-price student Q Card discount that we provide, " said Monique Ward, a senior community outreach representative at METRO.
In addition to the storytelling at our booth, we'll have a spinning wheel, similar to the "Wheel of Fortune" wheel, where we can spin the wheel, hear facts about METRO and win a prize.
"It's a great opportunity to reach audiences that we might not normally interact with," said Ward, who spearheaded this partnership. "The museum happens to be along our Main Street line, and it's a great way to highlight our services and share information in a very creative way."
Celebrate the arrival of 2009 safely by taking METRO.
We are extending hours on three of our busiest routes, as well as on METRORail. Hours are being extended one to two hours beyond our normal operating schedule.
Buses on the following routes will run every 30 minutes on New Year's Eve until 2 a.m.:
- 25 Richmond
- 81 Westheimer-Sharpstown
- 82 Westheimer-West Oaks
The final northbound train will depart the Fannin South station at 2 a.m. The last southbound train will depart the UH-Downtown station at 2:40 a.m.
Just call him volunteer extraordinaire.
John Branch is the type of guy any organization seeking volunteers would want.
At METRO, he's our No. One adopter in our Adopt-a-Stop/Adopt a Shelter program.
Ssince last June, Branch has adopted 55 METRO bus stop/shelters in his neighborhood of Independence Heights. After his full-time day job at his remodeling business, he drives a pick-up truck, monitoring METRO bus stops and shelters, picking up trash. His mere presence has deterred crime and discouraged loitering.
Click here to read the recent Houston Chronicle story of a man who's made a difference in his neighborhood. And he's not through yet. He told us in an earlier post on this blog that he wants to adopt even more bus shelters.
If you want to adopt a METRO bus stop or shelter, click here for details. We'll thank you with a certificate, a sign recognizing your organization and five round-trip bus tickets a month.
And you'll get a cleaner, safer neighborhood.
For the first time in four years, the number of customer complaints we received dropped from year to year.
Fewer customer complaints were logged in fiscal year 2008 compared to the previous year.
That's good news for the hard-working folks in operations who are trying hard to offer reliable and courteous service. In FY08, we logged 23,162 complaints compared to 24,361 complaints in FY07. That's a 4.9 percent decrease.
METRO's fiscal year starts Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30.
The complaints logged included issues about reliability of buses and rail, crowded vehicles or enforcement of HOV lanes.
Our biggest decline in complaints occurred from April to September, when complaints dropped by about 19 percent compared to the same period, previous year.
"We are ecstatic that the joint efforts between management and the operators have resulted in such a significant drop in complaints in the last two quarters of FY2008," said Tangee Mobley, senior director of transportation.
And our bus operators also received high marks.
Among operator-related complaints, the largest decrease was complaints about rude bus drivers. Complaints about discourteous operators declined by 25 percent in FY08, compared to the year before.
Complaints about driver safety also dipped by 13 percent; and complaints about the behavior of operators fell by almost 14 percent.
Those bus operators who did not have any verified customer complaints against them were rewarded for their spotless records last fiscal year. The operations department launched its Top Customer Service Ambassador program, honoring these top-performing drivers.
"We believe that the combination of incentive packages that we gave to our top customer service ambassadors, coupled with looking at operators who received a high number of complaints, has really netted a behavior change that can only benefit our riding customers," said Mobley.
A new application on iPhone matches drivers with riders in a twist on old-fashioned hitchhiking.
Think of it as computerized hitchhiking.
Carticipate, a free ride-sharing application became available for the iPhone in October. It's already had more than 10,000 downloads, said Steffen Frost, chief executive officer of San Francisco-based Carticipate.
Calling itself an experiment in social transportation, Carticipate says it's the first and only rideshare application on a location aware mobile platform - in other words, a cell phone.
Carticipate says on its Web site that drivers can simply indicate destination and time of departure and post their ride. The company will match drivers up with other "carticipants" going the same way.
Meanwhile, in Kinsale, Ireland, a company called Avego is using a different application to coordinate drivers and riders. Drivers who want to share their car will download the application on their iPhone, then record their route of choice, reports the NYT.
Drivers place the iPhone on their dashboard. It records the trip, and sends the route to Avego's network. That route is then stored on Avego's system where it adds the route to a menu of paths and pick-up points, then offers the ride to interested commuters.
Avego says it will charge 30 cents a mile with 85 percent going to the driver to help recoup costs and 15 percent to Avego. Riders do not need an iPhone to participate and can search for a ride by logging on the Avego Web site or texting. 
Would that work here in the United States? Americans historically enjoy driving alone, mainly because many engage in so-called "trip chaining" - when you run errands to and from work. About 75 percent of American workers drive alone to work, according to the Population Reference Bureau in Washington.
Here at METRO, we offer ridesharing through Star, our vanpool program. Eligible riders can also receive a $35 month incentive to share a ride. We also have a free matching program, METROMatch, that will search our extensive eight-county data base to help you find a ride from home to work.
Click here to see our Vanpool Finder, which will tell you if there are existing vanpools you could join.
This is the season for shopping and good will - and circling around and around, stalking shoppers to grab their parking space if you're at the mall.
For commuters who use our Park & Ride lots at Kingsland and South Point, you are familiar with the pain of trying to find a parking space. In fact, dozens of you have been parking illegally - on medians, on the side of the road, in parking aisles.
Here's some good news to celebrate this holiday season: METRO has added 130 spaces at our Kingsland Park & Ride and 120 spaces at our South Point Park & Ride.
"We really hit the ground running on this one," said Vince Obregon, associate vice president of infrastructure service development.
Obregon, our go-to guy for the design and construction of our Park & Ride lots, said METRO has been monitoring the situation and started implementing a solution to the overcrowded lots on Nov. 1.
"We re-engineered the parking spaces and driving aisles at Kingsland, and by doing that, we were able to reconfigure the geometric parking spaces to 130 extra spaces," said Obregon, "We took out an aisle. This was the most responsive way to get some parking relief out there."
At South Point, which serves the Texas Medical Center, more than 150 cars were parked illegally, according to an October report. METRO has a long-term operating agreement to operate that lot, which is owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot).
TxDOT had some vacant land to the west of South Point Park & Ride, so METRO used that to create more spaces.
"We simply knocked down some curb and put down some all-weather, crushed limestone material to park on. This is going to be a temporary scenario. We are 
currently negotiating with TxDOT to do a full build-out of the remaining property,' said Obregon.
The completed build-out will offer more than 300 new spaces when completed by the end of 2009.
The two parking projects cost $300,000. "For a cost per space, it was very economical," said Obregon. "The cost benefit is very high."
The construction of both projects was completed in six to eight weeks.
"We were able to respond quickly," said Frank J. Wilson, METRO's president and chief executive officer at yesterday's board meeting. "Even with fuel prices going down and even with our prices going up, there's still latent demand for transit."
In the past 30 days, there have been no car/rail accidents caused by cars turning left downtown in front of a train.
That safety record is the result of a pilot program that ends this week and is a result of three factors, says Assistant Police Chief Tim Kelly of MPD.
"Education - the media attention to this effort helped to educate the driving public. Engineering - the signal timing changes implemented by the city of Houston. Enforcement - the dedicated police officers at six downtown intersections," explained Kelly. "It is a combination of these three, and no one factor can be attributed solely to this accident reduction."
Earlier, we wrote about how the city has worked closely with MPD to adjust the timing of traffic signals along the Red Line. The six test locations along Main Street are: St. Joseph, Franklin, Texas, Prairie, Preston and Congress.
The re-signaling has meant that METRORail gets a green light first, a few seconds before drivers get a green light to proceed. This permits the train to travel ahead of regular traffic at these intersections. Westbound and eastbound traffic has not been affected.
So far, this three-pronged approach is working.
By the end of this week, the police officers who have been deployed at the six downtown intersections will be reassigned, but "there will be continue to be dedicated police enforcement along Main Street to reinforce the positive changes we have made," said Kelly.
The new signal timing will stay in place. The city and METRO will work closely together to determine if more traffic lights need to be adjusted to benefit the rest of the Red Line.
"All in all, this has been a very successful joint effort between the city and METRO to enhance public safety along the Red Line corridor," said Kelly.
Now the powerhouse of rental cars had jumped into the market of car rentals by the hour.
The Hertz Corp., which bills itself as "the world's largest general use car rental brand," is launching a service, "Connect by Hertz." Customers who pay an annual fee will be able to rent cars by the hour, minus some of the hidden contract fees.
The service is strikingly similar to Zipcar, which has about 5,500 cars in 13 cities, including 1,400 cars in the New York area. Hertz will have rent-by-the-hour cars available in New York and Park Ridge, N.J., where Hertz headquarters is located. It will also be available in London and Paris.
Trying to appeal to young drivers, Hertz will be renting the Toyota Prius and the Mini Cooper among its first 35 cars that will be parked at 10 lots in midtown Manhattan.
"There's a market for car-sharing, and it's larger than has been developed to date," said Mike Senackerib, the Hertz senior vice president of marketing, to the NYT. Hertz said it is starting in New York because of the many residents who don't own cars but may need a car only for a few hours.
The company said it expects to expand the service next year to 20 cities in the United States and 20 cities abroad.
The new service by Hertz will offer some extra luxuries: a button to call customer service, Bluetooth, iPod docking stations, a GPS system and E-Zpass.
Zipcar says it's not worried about the competition from the 800-pound gorilla. "We're certainly sitting up and noticing what other competitors are doing," Zipcar chief executive Scott Griffith told the NYT. "But this is Hertz car sharing 1.0, and we're at Zipcar 8.0."
An innovative program in Louisville, KY, is helping victims of domestic violence.
Dubbed Ride to Safety, the program gives free rides to all women who need one.
"All a woman needs to do is step on a TARC bus and say, ‘I need a ride to safety.' Her travel is free, and the bus operator will radio to TARC's Central Command Center to let the dispatcher know that there is a ‘ride to safety' request," said J. Barry Barker, executive director of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) to Passenger Transport, an industry publication of the American Public Transportation Association.
Once the transit agency receives that call, it sends out a special truck to meet the bus enroute and pick up the woman passenger. It then drives her to the closest shelter for battered women.
The masterminds behind the program were the Center for Women and Families of Louisville, KY, and the Transit Authority of River City.
The Center for Women and Families conducts regular domestic violence training for all new transit agency drivers. For current staff, a one-time training was conducted.
One of the myths dispelled for bus drivers is that not all victims will appear frightened. Many have become so accustomed to violence that they are quite calm. By the time they board the bus and ask for a ride to safety, they may have been contemplating this step