metro board of directors government & public …
TRANSCRIPT
METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 20, 2015
9:00 AM
ACTION ITEM
1. METRO board resolution expressing support for legislative changes to Section 451.501
of the Texas Transportation Code. E. Miranda
BRIEFING ITEMS
2. Government & Public Affairs Update T. Fontaine
3. Media Report J. Gray
By:AAEllis, Bettencourt S.B.ANo.A1331
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the governing body of certain
metropolitan rapid transit authorities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASection 451.501, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f) and adding
Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(a)AAExcept as provided by Subsection (b), a board is
composed of:
(1)AAfive members; and [plus]
(2)AAthe number of additional members determined under
Subsection (c), (d), [or] (e), or (e-1).
(c)AANotwithstanding Subsection (e-1), if [If] less than 50
percent of the population of the principal county, excluding the
population of the principal municipality, reside in the authority,
the board has two additional members.
(d)AANotwithstanding Subsection (e-1), if [If] 50 percent or
more but less than 75 percent of the population of the principal
county, excluding the population of the principal municipality,
reside in the authority, the board has four additional members.
(e-1)AAIf the population of the principal county is greater
than four million, the board has six additional members.
(f)AAIn this section and Sections [Section] 451.502 and
451.504, "principal county" means the county in which not less than
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51 percent of the territory of the principal municipality is
located.
SECTIONA2.AASection 451.504, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (d-1), and
(d-2) to read as follows:
(a)AAExcept as provided by Subsections (d) and (d-1), a [A]
vacancy on a board is filled by the person or entity that appointed
the member who was in the position that is vacant. If confirmation
of the previous position was required, confirmation of the vacancy
appointment is required in the same manner.
(d)AAIf the appropriate appointing entity under Section
451.502 fails to make an appointment to fill a vacancy in certain
board positions on or before 45 days after the date the vacancy was
created, appointment to the position shall be made by a substitute
appointing entity as follows:
(1)AAfor a board position under Section 451.502(a), the
board member is appointed by the commissioners court of the
principal county;
(2)AAfor a board position under Section 451.502(e)(1),
the board member is appointed by the mayor of the principal
municipality and subject to confirmation by the governing body of
the principal municipality; and
(3)AAfor a board position appointed under Section
451.502(e)(2), the board member is appointed by a panel composed of
the mayors of the municipalities in the authority, excluding the
mayor of the principal municipality, and the county judges of the
counties having unincorporated area in the authority, excluding the
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county judge of the principal county.
(d-1)AAIf a substitute appointing entity fails to make an
appointment required under Subsection (d) on or before 90 days
after the date on which the vacancy was created, appointment to the
position shall be made by the governor, with the advice and consent
of the senate.
(d-2)AASubsections (d) and (d-1) apply only to an authority
described by Section 451.501(e) or (e-1).
SECTIONA3.AASection 451.505, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c)AABoard members of an authority described by Section
451.501(e) or (e-1) serve staggered two-year terms. In such an
authority:
(1)AAof the five board members appointed under Section
451.502(a), three members serve terms expiring October 1 of each
odd-numbered year and two members serve terms expiring October 1 of
each even-numbered year;
(2)AAof the two board members appointed under Section
451.502(e)(1), one member serves a term expiring October 1 of each
odd-numbered year and one member serves a term expiring October 1 of
each even-numbered year;
(3)AAof the three board members appointed under Section
451.502(e)(2), two members serve terms expiring October 1 of each
odd-numbered year and one member serves a term expiring October 1 of
each even-numbered year; and
(4)AAthe board member appointed as presiding officer
under Section 451.502(e)(3) serves a term expiring October 1 of
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each odd-numbered year.
SECTIONA4.AASection 451.506, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(b)AAAn individual may not serve more than eight years on the
same board and may not be appointed to a term for which service to
the completion of the term would exceed this limitation. This
subsection applies only to a board of an authority:
(1)AAin which the principal municipality has a
population of more than 1.9 million or less than 320,000; [or]
(2)AAcreated before 1980 and in which the principal
municipality has a population of less than 1.9 million; or
(3)AAdescribed by Section 451.501(e) or (e-1).
(e)AAHoldover service by a board member of an authority
described by Section 451.501(e) or (e-1) may not exceed 45 days. If
a qualified successor is not appointed during the 45-day holdover
period, the position is vacated and subject to appointment under
Section 451.504(d). A holdover board member who is not reappointed
during the 45-day holdover period is ineligible for appointment to
the position.
SECTIONA5.AA(a)AAThis section applies only to the governing
body of a metropolitan rapid transit authority described by Section
451.501(e), Transportation Code, or Section 451.501(e-1),
Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
(b)AANotwithstanding any contrary provision of Subchapter K,
Chapter 451, Transportation Code:
(1)AAa member of a governing body who is serving on the
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effective date of this Act, other than a member serving as a
holdover pending appointment of a successor, is, except as provided
by Subdivision (2) of this subsection, reappointed to the member’s
position as follows:
(A)AAexcept as provided by Paragraph (B) of this
subdivision, a member whose term ends in an even-numbered year is
reappointed to a term expiring October 1, 2016, and a member whose
term ends in an odd-numbered year is reappointed to a term expiring
October 1, 2017; and
(B)AAa member serving as presiding officer of the
body is reappointed to a term expiring October 1, 2017; and
(2)AAa member of a governing body, including a
presiding officer, who has served eight years or more on the body
before the effective date of this Act is ineligible to serve on the
body on or after that date, and any such member ’s position is
vacated.
SECTIONA6.AAThe change in law made by this Act applies to a
member of a metropolitan rapid transit authority appointed before,
on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTIONA7.AAThis Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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2
Board Governance Step by Step
7 Members – 5 City of Houston, 1 Harris County & 1 Multi-Cities
9 Members – 5 City of Houston, 2 Harris County & 2 Multi-Cities
11 Members – 5 City of Houston, 3 Harris County & 2 Multi-Cities - Board Selects the Chairperson (11th Member)
3
Proactive Approach by METRO
• Enhance Board Stability
• Punctuate Regionalism
• Orderly Transition
• Initiate Continuity
4
What is Required
• Legislation (HB 3228 & SB 1331) A. Enabling Legislation Anticipated the Need to
Expand the Board
B. Accelerates Transition from 9 to 11 Board Members
5
What is Proposed • Stagger Board Member Appointments in Odd/Even Years
• Change Appointment Dates A. Align with New Legislation’s Effective Date (October 1st) B. Align with Chairperson Selection (October 1st)
• End Lingering Appointments A. Establishes Deadlines for all Appointments and Reappointments (45
Days) B. Creates consequences for Failure to Timely Appoint or Reappoint
(Selection by Alternative Agency and/or Governor)
• Maintains Current Two Year Terms and Eight Year Tenures for all Members and Chairperson.
6
Legislative Process
• Continue Discussions with House & Senate Members
• Garner Support from Local Delegation
• Secure Committee Hearings & Testify in Support of Bills
• Amend Bills if Needed
• Secure Passage of Bills through both Chambers and the Governor’s Signature
7
METRO Board Action
• Approve a resolution expressing support for legislative changes to the Texas Transportation Code to allow for changes in the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) Board of Directors composition, appointments and terms.
BOARD BRIEFING SUMMARY
SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #:
AGENDA DATE:
DEPARTMENT: PRESENTER:
SUMMARY:
Legislative Session Update
Government Affairs Eduardo Miranda
Verbal update of the 2015 Legislative Session.
BOARD BRIEFING SUMMARY
SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #:
AGENDA DATE:
DEPARTMENT: PRESENTER:
SUMMARY:
MEDIA REPORT
PRESS OFFICE JEROME GRAY
MEMO
To: Board of Directors From: Jerome Gray Press Office Date: 3/20/2015 Subject: February 2015 Media Coverage
METRO was featured or mentioned in at least 112 reports by 27 outlets during February.
Radio: KUHF,
TV: KPRC, KHOU, KTRK, KRIV, KIAH, KTMD & KXLN
Print/Websites/Blogs: Houston Chronicle, Guidry News Service, Houston Tomorrow, Off the
Kuff Blog, Houston Press, Governing.com, African American News & Issues, Streetsblog USA,
Bellaire Examiner, Latina Lista, Your Houston News (Cypress Creek), NGT News, Progressive
Railroading, VOX, PR Web, Instant News Bellaire, Natural Gas Intelligence, Here and Now, and
Fort Bend Star.
February media coverage started with a story on upcoming construction of the overpass along
Harrisburg for the Green Line. But the story that generated the most media coverage for
METRO last month was System Reimagining. We had 21 media hitses on the new bus network.
The second top story had to do with the opening of the Central Station Main rail platform for
which we had 17 hits. The story rounding out the top three had to do with a METRO’s bus
colliding with a van. There were 13 media stories on that accident.
A few of the other stories in the news last month included:
Using METRO to get to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Profile on METRO Police Chief Vera Bumpers
Partial weekend rail shutdown due to maintenance work
Below you will find a complete listing of stories from the month of November.
FEBRUARY 2015 MEDIA SUMMARY
2/02/2015 SUMMARY
KUHF.org
Construction Could Start Soon On Major East End Project
Metro is building an overpass to complete the new light rail line along Harrisburg.
By: Gail Delaughter,
The Metro light rail stop at Cesar Chavez/67th Street will sit idle until the Hughes Street overpass is
built.
Metro expects to soon start construction on the final piece of the East End light rail line. The new
line along Harrisburg is set to open this spring, but it won't take riders the final mile-and-a-half
to the Magnolia Transit Center.
Metro had planned to build an underpass to get the trains across the busy freight rail tracks at
Hughes Street but concerns arose over contaminated soil. Now the transit agency is building an
overpass that will carry both light rail trains and vehicular traffic.
Metro's Tom Lambert says construction could start as soon as March and should take about 18
months to complete.
"There are some incentives as part of that contract so we're going to be working with the firm
that's constructing the overpass to see if we can accelerate construction," says Lambert, president
and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Metro started building the East End line in 2009 and neighbors are anxious to see the project
finished.
"We're going to be working with the community with how we put together traffic management
plans, how we might divert traffic around the construction zone," says Lambert.
The contract for the overpass project has been awarded to McCarthy Building Companies for an
amount not to exceed $31 million.
Houston Press
Seven Transportation Projects That Could Dramatically Change How
Houston Drives
By Jeff Balke
Traffic sucks. It's a way of life in Houston, a fact of living in a city that is simultaneously one of
the most populous and one of the most spread out. The city limits alone cover 600 square miles.
Tack on the suburban areas and you have the stuff of nightmares for urban planners. Through
the years, we have attempted to patch the problem, curb it (if you will) and expand to fit it.
Some of it will absolutely never be fixed because Houstonians remain almost genetically linked
to their vehicles, some for substantive reasons and others just because they can.
Unfortunately, we will always suffer from traffic issues in the same way New York City will
always be crowded -- try to squeeze 10 million people into an area roughly the size of the space
inside the 610 Loop, but ONLY west of I-45, and you'll understand. But, there are ways to
improve it, projects that could change the way we think about driving in certain areas of town.
Not all of them would be designed to improve the flow of traffic, mind you. Some would be to
make life easier for pedestrians or to change how we see the city. But, all of these suggestions --
many of which have been or remain on the table as possibilities considered by the city and state,
or recommended by transportation experts -- would change how many of us view driving in
Houston.
Close Main Street to Traffic
This certainly wouldn't turn downtown into a traffic-free zone, but it could re-shape Main Street
and change a major portion of downtown -- something I suggested in last year's traffic feature.
One of the key issues with downtown Houston is that it is only marginally pedestrian friendly.
The city along with the Downtown Management District have undertaken numerous projects to
change this, from angled parking to the upcoming expansion of sidewalks along Dallas Street to
Discovery Green. But, closing Main Street could be a real game changer.
Not only would it make downtown more walkable, but it would spur retail development,
something the city has been desperate for since the '70s. It would connect two sides of
downtown on foot and make the light rail even more accessible. It would give daily workers
reason to emerge from the skyscrapers and out of the tunnels. And it wouldn't curb traffic east
and west if cross streets remained open at key locations.
There is already a block of it closed to traffic and they've experimented with closing larger
sections for block parties with great success. This isn't banning traffic in the whole area, like
some cities in Europe do, but it would change how many of us think about downtown Houston.
Re-Design the Loop Exchanges
It is difficult not to argue that the worst freeway traffic in Houston centers on the exchanges
connecting Loop 610 and the major freeways. The one at 59 is a disaster and the one at 45/288
is worse. It's time for a radical re-imagining of these convoluted messes to make them more
efficient. In a way, this is the antithesis of closing Main Street. This is about streamlining and
improving how people get from one freeway to another.
The model for this may be in the making on 290 of all places. That disaster of a freeway that has
been undergoing construction for several years and will continue through 2017 has
demonstrated at least one positive thus far: the exit ramp from 290 to I-10 is pretty amazing. At
the moment, traffic surrounding it is still awful, but that is pre expansion. When the freeway
widens to five lanes, having an exit that forces drivers to make a decision a mile before the
actual freeway connection and gives them four lanes instead of two (two lanes for each direction
of I-10) is brilliant.
This would be difficult to accomplish on 610 heading south at 59, but not impossible. They are
considering this very thing on 45 going north at 59, perhaps a test case for what they could do
elsewhere. It would take time and the interim would make all of us want to blow up a concrete
factory, but it could be worth it in the long run.
Build the Hempstead Toll Road
There is a plan under consideration to turn Hempstead Highway, what was once the fastest way
to get to Hempstead and College Station, into a toll road that extends well out to the northwest
of the city. With the explosion of population in Cypress and other areas along this corridor, it is
no surprise 290's expansion became a priority of the state a few years ago, but it likely will not
be enough.
Much like the Westpark Tollway gets drivers out to far west Houston and the Hardy Toll Road
gets people to the Woodlands, Hempstead could be expanded to provide access to commuters
wanting to go northwest and helping to alleviate congestion on 290, which will continue to
strain under the weight of drivers even after the expansion is complete.
See full story
2/03/2015 SUMMARY
Off The Kuff
First test for flex zones
Feb 2nd, 2015
by Charles Kuffner.
This is worth watching.
Though many Acres Homes dwellings and shops are in disrepair, a community still thrives here.
Churches and some well-kept homes anchor corners and dot small, residential streets, all of
which dead-end or loop back to Sweetwater.
Bus service in Acres Homes has been lackluster for years, some riders said, and the Metropolitan
Transit Authority has struggled to match services with need. Large, empty buses lumber past
unoccupied bus stops before folks hop aboard at more popular nearby stops.
Metro is about to try something different. Pending board approval Thursday, officials in
February will roll out a three-month test of door-to-door service in an area of Acres Homes
around Interstate 45 in northwest Houston. Dubbed “community connector service,” the plan is
identical to the “flex zones” concept included in a systemwide overhaul of Houston-area bus
service.
The results of this test will be important not just for area bus riders, but perhaps to the transit
agency’s broader efforts to revamp its bus system.
“We are kind of putting our reputation and everything we do there,” Metro board member Diann
Lewter said of the new service.
Residents needing a ride within the area must call at least an hour before they need to be picked
up, said Michael Andrade, Metro’s director of paratransit service. Recurring rides can also be set
up by calling ahead, he said. Phone operators will be bilingual.
The flex zone approach is similar in some ways to the MetroLift program for disabled riders,
which has experienced ups and downs as users complained about poor service. The difference is
that with the connector service, the buses will stay within the zone, reducing the potential for
delays, while MetroLift goes wherever the passenger needs to go. For trips outside the zone,
connector riders will transfer from the flex zone buses to fixed routes.
Board member Christof Spieler, a supporter of the plan to restructure bus service, said once
riders use the service, “they will absolutely love it.”
The zones enable Metro to deliver service without tying up too many resources. Two 24-foot
buses can provide service in the area, with a third held in reserve to handle high demand. That’s
more efficient than using 40-foot buses when ridership is low.
The Route 9 North Main bus, which uses Sweetwater in the proposed flex zone area, averages
887 riders on a weekday, according to Metro’s figures for the last quarter of 2014. That’s an 8.7
percent decline from 2013.
Andrade said the measure of success for the zone will not be comparing its ridership to that of
the previous service, but judging how people use it to connect to other Metro routes and how
they move inside the zone.
See here and here for some background. Technically, this isn’t the flex zone plan that’s part of
the still-being-worked-on bus reimagining project, but it’s the same basic idea and is more or less
a beta test for it. I do think that judging this three-month pilot program at least in part by
ridership numbers is valid, though we should keep in mind that three months is an awfully short
period of time in which to draw conclusions. But ultimately, increasing ridership has to be the
goal, because if we believe that better service leads to more riders and we believe that this is
better service, then we should follow through on those beliefs. The Highwayman and Write On
Metro have more.
Houston Chronicle
Don't railroad our neighborhoods
High-speed rail shouldn't destroy thriving parts of town
By Evan Michaelides, Houston Chronicle (Gray Matters)
February 2, 2015
Photo: OpenCage.info. Edited By Lisa Gray. CC BY-SA.
High-speed rail (such as Japan's Shinkansen bullet train, shown here) requires right-of-ways 50 to 80 feet
wide, and in urban areas, a platform 20 feet tall. That's fine along a freeway. But it would devastate
neighborhoods. (Photo: OpenCage.info, edited by Lisa Gray. CC BY-SA license.)
A high-speed rail line linking Houston and Dallas sounds like a good idea. But as they say, the
devil is in the details.
Texas Central Railroad, a recently-formed private company, is proposing to build such a link
with funding obtained largely from Japanese banks, and has applied to the Federal Railroad
Administration for permission to do so. The nine candidate routes examined so far have been
winnowed down to two. Unfortunately, the last stretches of these routes run directly through
Houston residential neighborhoods.
In order to fully appreciate what this means, consider that the Shinkansen bullet trains, with a top
speed of 205 miles per hour, cannot run on conventional rails. Instead, the line is built as a
closed, fenced-in system, on special tracks, which in urban areas are typically set on a platform
some 20 feet high, with catenary-system superstructure adding another 20 feet or so of height.
For bidirectional service, total right of way of 50 to 80 feet is required. Installation of this
massive infrastructure would be devastating to a residential neighborhood.
The two residential urban sections of Houston threatened by this development include an east-
west corridor along 34th Street, including Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and many other
neighborhoods, and also the Washington Avenue corridor. Both of these residential areas are
densely populated and have seen significant investment and development in recent years; the
eastern end of the Washington Avenue corridor harbors what is reputedly the greatest
concentration of artists' studios in Texas, and is also home to two city-designated historic
districts. These neighborhoods are now threatened by eminent domain, with loss of their
character and property values a certain result. They deserve a better fate, and their leaders are
working together to mobilize them. Over 200 people packed a Washington Corridor civic
meeting in December, and a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 turned out for another
on 34th Street in early January as word continued to trickle out. Nearly all attendees seemed to
vigorously oppose the proposed route, though not necessarily the concept of high-speed rail.
High-speed rail routes
So what is the alternative? Civic leaders from the neighborhoods under threat from the two
proposed routes have joined together to chart a better way forward, seeking solutions that will
allow high-speed rail to serve Houston without blighting residential neighborhoods – theirs or
anyone else's. This inter-neighborhood working group has put forward two suggested
approaches.
The first is to terminate the line outside Houston's central business district, at a location such as
the Northwest Transit Center, an idea that Texas Central Railroad itself has floated. Unlike many
other cities, Houston has multiple commercial centers, and much of the potential ridership here is
located west and northwest of downtown. An express bus service or a light-rail line could
connect the terminus with downtown; at a public meeting last fall, a METRO spokesperson
embraced the idea of providing such a connection. And terminating the high-speed rail line
outside the Central Business District would avoid exacerbating traffic and parking problems the
way a downtown terminus would, with riders from around the city having to travel downtown to
reach it. See full story
Off The Kuff
Uptown BRT lurches forward
Feb 1st, 2015
by Charles Kuffner.
One staggering step at a time.
After some uncertainty, fears about rail development in Uptown appear less likely to delay a
planned express bus project along Post Oak.
Metropolitan Transit Authority’s board meets Thursday morning, and is scheduled to discuss
progress on the Uptown plan. The addition to their regularly scheduled meeting comes after a
letter last week from Texas Transportation Commissioner Jeff Moseley.
The letter lays out a path for officials to settle their differences and keep the $192.5 million
project on track.
In the interim, the entire kerfuffle became pointless. Last month, federal lawmakers passed the
fiscal 2015 spending plan, including language inserted by Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, that
forbids any federal money from going to rail projects along Post Oak north of Richmond, and
Richmond west of Shepherd.
“I am keeping my word to my constituents on these two streets who overwhelmingly oppose
light rail on Richmond and Post Oak,” Culberson said.
The same language was in the previous federal spending bill, enacted Jan. 17, 2014.
In a Jan. 22 letter, Moseley told Garcia that the federal prohibition satisfies TxDOT’s concerns.
See here, here, and here for the background. Culberson has been lying about the level of support
for rail on Richmond, but at least in this case it had a somewhat positive effect. I know, my head
is spinning, too. Anyway, Council has also approved its piece of this, so we should be on our
way.
Governing.com
Houston: From Sprawl to City
Once wide open and famous for sprawl, the Texas city is becoming increasingly crowded and
expensive.
BY WILLIAM FULTON | FEBRUARY 2015
Houston's light rail. Houston Downtown Management District
I live in Houston and I don’t own a car. I know, I know: If there is a more hard-to-believe
statement to make about any American city with a straight face, I don’t know what it is. But it’s
true.
Last fall, after three decades of living in Southern California, I moved to Houston to take over
Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. I had given up my car a few years ago,
and now I was moving to the most sprawling, car-centric city in America, a place where well
over 90 percent of all residents drive to work in automobiles. Houston is twice the size of New
York City, with only a quarter of the population -- and that’s just the central city, not counting
the suburbs.
Yet like so many American cities, Houston is changing. It’s a diverse and sophisticated place
with a lot more urban energy than you might expect, especially inside the region’s core, the
Interstate 610 “Loop.” In fact, the Loop sometimes seems like a different city altogether from the
rest of Houston. It’s accessible, with an extensive bus system and a new light rail system that has
very high ridership. It’s expensive -- some neighborhoods feature California prices. It’s dense
and getting denser, containing most of the major job centers in the region and a growing number
of walkable urban neighborhoods.
In other words, the Loop is where Houston’s suburban past is meeting Houston’s urban future.
It’s a lot of fun to watch, because nowhere in America is a free-market approach to growth and
development running head-on into a growing desire to up the city’s quality of life.
Just since I arrived, something like 40 multifamily housing projects have begun construction --
all market-rate, some high-end. The Texas Medical Center -- the largest medical center in the
world -- proposed an enormous innovation campus in what is currently a surface parking lot.
And an Urban Land Institute panel came to town to figure out how to turn the 350-acre
Astrodome site -- with a parking lot visible from space -- into a more urban, 21st-century place.
Most of these projects are located within walking distance of the light rail line.
Yet there’s pushback. Houston has a longstanding reputation for favoring business over
neighborhoods and jobs over people, and of course it famously has no zoning. So a lot of people
simply don’t believe that more density will mean better places. Neighbors are resisting additional
density, only to find that there’s no way to stop it.
So that’s Houston’s urban challenge: How to manage urban growth in a way that makes the city
better, but does it without the in-your-face government intervention you’ll find in New York and
San Francisco. A lot of it actually will depend on the city government, which is preparing its first
general plan. A lot will depend on the leadership of developers and architects, who will have to
find solid market reasons to create better urbanism. And a lot will depend on public and
institutional landowners, who will have to raise the bar themselves.
I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. But it’s great fun watching it from aboard the light rail
and local buses, tooling around on one of Houston’s shared bicycles or from the window of a
newly legalized Uber ride.
2/04/2015 SUMMARY
Off The Kuff 2015 Mayoral manifesto: Transportation Feb 4th, 2015 by Charles Kuffner.
Preliminaries
Please note that I have called this part of my manifesto “Transportation” and not “Traffic”. I
agree that traffic sucks and that the Mayoral candidates ought to have some ideas for how to
deal with it. It’s my opinion that the best answers involve providing as many viable alternatives
to getting into the car and contributing to the problem as possible. I believe a lot of progress on
this has been made under Mayor Parker, but there’s a lot of unfinished business, a lot of
business that’s just getting started, and a lot of business that hasn’t started or may not even be on the drawing board yet, but needs to be. I’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get started.
Metro
The reclamation and revitalization of Metro has been one of Mayor Parker’s greatest successes.
That agency was a dumpster fire when she took office – I had no idea how far off track it had
gotten. It was Mayor Parker’s appointment of a stellar Metro Board and their subsequent tabbing of George Greanias as CEO/general fix-it man that started the salvation process and got us to
where we are now, on the cusp of the last two rail lines opening, the bus reimagining, the
marginal sales tax revenue collection, and the generally restored trust in the agency by
stakeholders and the public. All Mayors get to appoint their own Metro boards. It should be a
priority for all of the Mayoral candidates to ensure they appoint a Board as good as this one has
been, and to build on the good work they have done.
Rail
As noted, by the time the next Mayor is inaugurated, all of the current Metro rail construction
(with the exception of the Harrisburg line overpass and extension) will be done. With the
Universities line in limbo, you’d think that might be the end of rail construction for the foreseeable future, but that’s far from the case. The Uptown BRT line is expected to be operational
by mid-2017. There are three commuter rail lines under discussion, one of which – the US90A
Southwest Rail Corridor (SWRC) line – was included in the 2003 Metro referendum and which was moving forward as recently as 2012 before being put on hold while the other lines were being
finished. Another proposed commuter rail line, along the 290 corridor, would connect to the
Uptown BRT line and might wind up sharing space, if not tracks, with the proposed Houston to
Dallas high-speed rail line. That privately-financed venture, which is undergoing environmental
review and discussion with potentially affected communities, is still seeking a terminus in Houston, and while downtown is preferred it presents some big challenges. One possible solution to
that might be to have it end at the Northwest Transit Center, and connect to a light rail line that
would need to be built and which could be shared with that 290 corridor commuter line. It’s hard
to know how much of this might happen – very little is set in stone, and much could change, or
could just not come about – but the potential is there for a lot more rail to be built, and while the
Mayor would not be directly involved in any of this, it’s fair to say that he could have an impact
on the outcome if he wanted to. For that matter, who’s to say that the Universities line couldn’t
move forward someday? I want a Mayor that’s willing and able to advocate for and abet these
projects.
Bicycles
As has been noted several times, Houston is a much more bike-friendly city now than it was a few years ago. We have a growing bike share program, an extensive and also growing network of
off-road bike trails, a pioneer dedicated on-road bike lane downtown to help connect one trail to
another, a local safe passing ordinance with a more comprehensive plan for bike safety in the works,
and we have tweaked parking requirement regulations to enable bike parking. But as with rail, with
all that progress there is much to be done. Most of the bike trail work has yet to be done; for the work that has been enabled by the passage of a bill making CenterPoint rights of way available as bike
paths, it’s still in the conceptual stage. B-Cycle has been a big success but some kiosks are more
successful than others, and it’s all still within biking distance of downtown. Moving it farther out,
and integrating it more tightly with existing and future transit should be on the to do list. And of
course, better connecting people to the present and future bike infrastructure, perhaps via Neighborhood Greenways or something similar, needs to be on it as well. More people on bikes
means fewer people in cars. Surely that will help ease traffic woes a bit.
Pedestrians and sidewalks
Again, there is progress here, with Complete Streets and a focus on making residential
streets more residential. But Houston is a dangerous place to walk, and a lot of streets have no
sidewalks or essentially useless sidewalks. Improving the pedestrian experience is key to making
transit more attractive. Improving pedestrian safety may require lowering speed limits. What do our
Mayoral hopefuls think about these things?
Roads
So, um, what’s going on with ReBuild Houston? It would be nice to get some clear direction, and
a lot more regular information, on that. Beyond that, all I really care about is keeping an eye on
TxDOT and making sure they don’t do anything too destructive to existing infrastructure and neighborhoods in their quest to do something with I-45. The next Mayor needs to stay on top of
that and do whatever it takes to prevent anything bad from happening.
2/05/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TV Eyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/05/2015 04:36:19 KPRC Local 2 News at 4:30AM (News)
... excessive. >> three people were rushed to the hospital after a metro bus and a car crashed in the Montrose. that wreck happened yesterday, west Alabama at shepherd. ...
2/06/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX
02/05/2015 21:21:24 FOX 26 News at 9 (News)
... attention to the east end. >> a centralized location, the construction of a new metro light rail line, and the popping up of luxury town homes are some of the attractions. but affordability seems to be ...
African American News & Issues
The Woman Behind the Badge: Metro’s First Black Female Chief of Police
Date: Feb. 2-8, 2015 Vol. 20 Issue 2 By: Rebecca S. Jones
HOUSTON – It has been said that, “Dynamite comes in small packages” and METRO’s
first Black female Chief of Police, Mrs. Vera Bumpers is no exception to that rule. Girdled with
32 years of service to the METRO Police Department, an humble, gracious and God-fearing
personality, Bumpers has made history within the agency. However, her journey and entitlement
was not one that was effortlessly achieved.
She was one of four children born unto Eula and Percy Bumpers in Mobile, Alabama.
However, at an early her parents relocated their family to San Antonio. During an interview,
Chief Bumpers described she and her family’s experience with the grim and dark era of
segregation. “I remember our family being pulled over and all of our stuff being thrown alongside of the highway. My dad would pull into several restaurants and convenient stores to ask the owners if we could use the rest room. A stern ‘NO’ is what he was constantly told. I would always ask my dad, ‘Why don’t you say something – why do you let them treat you like that?’ He would always say there are just ignorant people in the world and you just don’t understand.”
During her primary educational years, she remembers being so traumatized by the bouts of
racism and discrimination that she wrote a paper on the subject. She recalled the disdain and
disgust she felt about the ill-treatment imposed on her family. “It was at a point and time in my life that I really didn’t comprehend the issue of racism and color, because at that age children don’t see or interpret color the way that adults do.” She never
forgot the big red “A” that she earned on the paper and how proud her teacher told her that he
was of her, because she put her emotions into it. She explained that the paper was written after
one of those times that her father had taken their family to about three or four places and they
would not let them use the rest room.
Eventually, the police got behind them and warned that they needed to get out of town. Although
it’s been years ago, the experience was one that she never forgot. “To this day, I can’t recall the exact town but I do know that it was somewhere between Alabama and Louisiana. They were following us around everywhere we stopped. My dad said y’all just have to wait and that was one of those points in my life that it opened my eyes to something I wasn’t familiar with” Vera shared.
Over time her mother enlightened she and her siblings, by telling them the things that she
witnessed in her early adulthood. Being a student at Alabama State University, her mother was
apart of the marches and sit-ins during her college years. Nonetheless Vera suggested that,
“Knowing about that history helps you appreciate your present, be excited about your future and teaches you how to deal with people regardless of – the things that I experienced as a child were true life lessons for me.”
As the years passed, she would go on to graduate from Sam Houston High School in San
Antonio. From there she enrolled into Texas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of
Science degree. She later pursued a Master’s degree and graduated from Prairie View A&M
University. With a mind and the drive to succeed, she went on to the FBI National Academy in
Quantico, Virginia, where she graduated in the 230th session.
After graduating, she vividly reminisced how she was working in San Marcos. She befriended a
fellow classmate that graduated with her by the name of, Ed Harris. She revealed that he’d
secured a job with METRO as the assistant chief. She recalled how she received a phone call
from him asking her if she wanted to come to Houston to work. With no attachments and nothing
holding her back, she made the decision to go. Once she made her arrival, she was hired the
same day which would serve to initiate decades of service towards a career at METRO.
Currently, Mr. Harris is with Austin Police Department and over the Support Operations as a
civilian. To this day, she still considers him a dear friend and is grateful of how he pushed her to
reach her full potential years ago.
Since that time, she has been the first female in every rank at METRO Police Department and
has served in a supervisory capacity for over 25 years. While rising up the ranks, she had
leadership responsibility for various units from Patrol to Homeland Security. Her current
entitlement as METRO’s Chief of Police calls for the leadership role of her supervision in a
department of 185 sworn personnel and 70 non-sworn personnel. She was promoted to this
position in November of last year.
As it relates to transitioning into her newly elected position, she shared that it really has not been
difficult. She stated, “I’ve always been the type of person that’s out front, wanting to learn, talking to people and wanting to stay engaged – so transitioning into this
position was not hard at all.” She further explained that, “I pretty much know everybody that’s been hired here. There are those of whom we have had our disagreements with and there are those who are very supportive of me and I call them my ‘ride or push friends’”. Chief Bumpers deciphered the meaning of her “ride or push friends”; which are friends who ride with you when you have gas and push with you
when you don’t.
She said, “I have had that good network of support and friends who are going to be honest with me. Then there are those friends that are outside of here and they undergird me and keep me covered with prayer, as well as my family. So I have been very blessed throughout this transition period. I knew the system, I knew the players, the different department heads and they know me. A lot of bus drivers here I know, so no matter what level, I have had some engagement and it’s been a good thing for me.”
Chief Bumpers acknowledged her direct supervisor, Tim Kelly who was once the Chief and
Tom Lambert who is the Chief Executive Officer now, who was also once the chief. “They are still here and their doors are always open for me to run things by them and they’ve been very supportive” she said. Since settling into her new position, Chief Bumpers
has laid a foundation for her staff. That anchorage rests on the basis of, 3 C’s: communication,
cooperation and commitment. She clarified the reasoning behind each one by sharing the
following. “I told the staff that, we are going to communicate with one another, the community that we serve, our internal and external customers, we are going to cooperate no matter what the situation, regardless of whose fault it is and we are going to be transparent and honor our commitments. We are committed to the people we serve, we serve a community that will hold us accountable and we have to remain committed to provide them with the best service that we can and always remember that, professionalism is the rod that everything else hangs on.”
She also informed her staff in her first meeting as chief that, collectively all of them made up the
team. The chief used an analogy of an airplane of which each of them has a boarding pass.
Though, “some of us may be in coach, some first class, some are pilots and some flight attendants – you have to understand that if this plane goes down we all go down at the same time” she said.
In regards to advice to the community and general public, Chief Bumpers rendered the
following, “If you see something, say something.” She continued, “It will never get old and it’s the best advice that we can give the community, our children and our seniors.” She further emphasized that, “It’s very important to tell somebody when you see something happening, don’t be the silent one – saying that it’s someone else’s
job.” Even if something appears to be insignificant, she still encourages those she comes in
contact with to, “say something”! Accordingly, Chief Bumpers believes that this simple
thought can work in more than one way – be it positive or negative.
When asked about encouraging words to women that may be aspiring to positions of authority,
Chief Bumpers said that it’s always important to remember that, “all things are possible; don’t let anybody dictate who you are – you have to be confident in yourself and realize that if you have a dream or a goal, you can achieve it.”
One of her role model’s is Harriet Tubman. Chief Bumpers said that Harriet Tubman always
inspired her because of her unselfish nature of, “going back to bring others out.” She
declares that she has developed a theory from Tubman’s experience, “Though we live in the light, we have to war in the darkness, in order to get to the light.” Therefore, even
when people throw rocks, are nasty, hateful and talk about you, she motivates that one should,
“take those rocks and build a bridge for others to cross”.
Chief Bumpers has one brother, Lee Bumpers who is a deputy at the Harris County Sheriff’s
Department for over 25 years and two sisters. She is married to Rodney Pentecost, who is a
Chief Deputy for Fort Bend County’s Precinct 2 under the administration of Constable Ruben
Davis. She has two children and one grandchild.
She is an active member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives,
where she holds the office of Houston Chapter President and the Chair of HCC Police Academy
Advisory Board. She is also a member of: International Association of Chiefs of Police,
Texas Police Chiefs Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Links Incorporated and the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Chief Bumpers is a God-fearing woman who is a member of the New Light Christian Center
Church. At the conclusion of our interview she finalized her statements by saying, “I understand that this is not about me and you have to be careful because you never know whose life you can touch. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I love God and I tell people all the time that I want to make God proud. No matter where I am I try to be that light that draws others to righteousness and be that salt that gives flavor.”
KUHF.ORG
What Could Become of $40M of Unspent Federal Transit Funds?
Posted on: Feb 5 2015by Michael Hagerty in Segment B, Segments
This April METRO plans to open two new light rail lines in Houston. But not all of the Federal
Transit Administration funds dedicated to those light rail projects has been spent.
We talk with Gilbert Garcia, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Transit
Authority of Harris County, about what could become of some $40 million.
To hear, click full interview
2/10/2015 SUMMARY
Media Hot Line 713.739.4040
Release Date: Feb. 11, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. Besides operating more than 1,200 buses, METRO is currently expanding its 13-mile Red Line with two new lines under construction. METRO’s
METRO BOARD PREPARED TO VOTE ON NEW BUS NETWORK
services also include: Star Vanpool, METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO services at ridemetro.org where you will also find information about our T.R.I.P. app and the new digital, interactive rider tool METRO 360 [take a seat].
Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Directors to meet in special session, 2nd floor Board Room, Downtown Transit Ctr, 1900 Main, Houston, 77002.
The special meeting will convene at 9 a.m. February 11, 2015 and end with a METRO Board vote regarding a final Transit System Reimagining Plan. A new map will be unveiled after the Board has voted.
The special meeting includes public comment view agenda.
The Transit System Reimagining process has been underway for more than a year and will result in a new Frequent Network, connecting a million residents and a million jobs, with buses arriving every 15 minutes.
The next regularly scheduled METRO Board meeting is at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015.
GuidryNews.com
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris
County News Release
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
METRO BOARD SET TO VOTE ON NEW BUS NETWORK
Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of
Directors to meet in special session,
2nd floor Board Room, Downtown
Transit Ctr, 1900 Main, Houston, 77002.
The special meeting will convene at 9
a.m. February 11, 2015 and end with a
METRO Board vote regarding a final
Transit System Reimagining Plan. A
new map will be unveiled after the
Board has voted.
The special meeting includes
public comment view agenda.
The Transit System Reimagining process has been underway for more than a year
and will result in a new Frequent Network, connecting a million residents and a million jobs, with buses arriving every 15 minutes.
- See more at:
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067376#sthash.YNqhe5Iq.dpuf
Houston Tomorrow
$750 Million Not Coming to Houston Because of Metro Referendum Monday, February 9, 2015
President Obama’s FY2016 budget for the FHWA does not include any capital funds for the Houston region, with our
only eligible project — the University Line — leaving $750 million on the table as a result of the 2012 Metro
referendum, according to the project profile provided by the FHWA (pdf):
In November 2012, local voters passed a referendum that requires METRO to continue to dedicate 25 percent of its
existing one percent sales tax to local jurisdictions to support pedestrian and street improvements. The referendum
limits METRO’s financial capacity to build additional rail expansion projects. As a result, METRO is currently
evaluating its financial capacity to implement the University LRT project.
Streetsblog USA
It’s Time to Vote for the Sorriest Bus Stop in America
by Angie Schmitt
We asked you to point us to the nation’s worst bus stops and you answered. After receiving
dozens of nominees from our readers, Streetsblog editors narrowed the pool down to eight very
sorry bus stops.
These bus stops are ugly. Ugly! In a transportation system where public agencies never seem to
lack the money for $800 million interchanges or $2 billion highway tunnels, bus stops become an
afterthought. Many of these contenders are situated in the midst of car-oriented development
without so much as a sidewalk or bench nearby, let alone a shelter. To make transit dignified and
comfortable, we need to do better.
Help us crown America’s sorriest bus stop by voting below. Here are the contestants:
Houston – 20th Street and Durham
Christopher Andrews in Houston says of this bus stop:
This is an intersection that, as a result of System Reimagining, will be a transfer point between
two frequent routes: 20 Cavalcade (which will provide a connection to the Red Line light
rail) and the new 50 Route… There’s no bus shelter, trash receptacle, light or bench. Houston’s
sun, heat and sudden downpours can make waiting for a connecting bus a very unpleasant
experience. There are also no crosswalk signals and inadequate crosswalk painting in all of the
crosswalks. In a city that’s ruled by cars, pedestrians should have all the protection they
can get if they must cross major thoroughfares to access frequent transit routes and
transfer points.
Photo via Christopher Andrews Read full story
Off The Kuff
Two city race updates
Feb 7th, 2015
by Charles Kuffner.
Item one: We have another candidate for Comptroller.
Jew Don Boney
Jew Don Boney, who sat on City Council for three terms in the 1990′s, will run for City
Controller, he told the Chronicle Wednesday.
Boney joins Houston Community College trustee Carroll Robinson and 2013 candidate Bill
Frazer in the race for the city’s top financial officer. Two other candidates, current Deputy
Controller Chris Brown and METRO board member Dwight Jefferson, are seriously considering
joining the race, but have not yet done so.
Currently an administrator at Texas Southern University, Boney served as mayor pro-tem under
Mayor Lee Brown and represented District D, a predominantly African-American district. Boney
lost to Robinson in a testy election for the seat on HCC’s board in 2011.
Here’s the interview I did with Boney for that 2011 HCC Trustee race. He was my Council
member for about two years when I lived in Montrose. I liked him them and am glad to see him
get in this race. This is the first time I’ve seen the name Chris Brown listed as a possible
candidate. I’d heard his name mentioned before but had confused him with former Council
Member and Mayoral candidate Peter Brown. Let there be a big field for this race. It would be
nice to have a spirited debate about the Controller’s office and duties.
Item two: Chris Bell fires another shot in his campaign finance battle.
Mayoral candidate Chris Bell filed a formal complaint to the Houston Ethics Commission on
Wednesday charging that former City Attorney David Feldman overstepped his authority when
he granted permission to Rep. Sylvester Turner to raise money for his mayoral bid when other
candidates couldn’t.
In a six-page complaint, Bell’s attorney, Geoffrey Berg, argued that the City Attorney is only
allowed to advise city officeholders, which Turner is not. That was a key point of contention in
court last month: Feldman replied that since he advised the Houston Ethics Commission — a
board that Berg said should interpret campaign finance law for mayoral candidates — he
effectively could advise Turner directly.
“I received a simple email from Sylvester Turner,” Feldman said as he defended himself in court
last month. “I responded with an answer. We do serve our citizens, whether they happen to be
state representatives or not.”
In Wednesday’s complaint, Berg reiterates much of the case he has made in court for months,
arguing that the legislative history of the city’s campaign finance law makes clear that Turner’s
strategy violates it. Berg also responds to the City’s argument, central to its case, that a January
federal court decision that declared Houston’s blackout period unconstitutional renders Bell’s
grievance obsolete.
“Mr. Feldman is wrong. The contribution cap reflected in the Ordinance is in no way dependent
on the constitutionality of the blackout period,” Berg wrote.
See here, here, and here for the background. Another lawsuit from Bell on this issue remains a
possibility. I don’t have anything else to add to this.
2/11/2015 SUMMARY
Media Hot Line 713.739.4040
Release Date: Feb. 11, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. Besides operating more than 1,200 buses, METRO is currently expanding its 13-mile Red Line with two new lines under construction. METRO’s services also include: Star Vanpool, METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO services at ridemetro.org where you will also find information about our T.R.I.P. app and the new digital, interactive rider tool METRO 360 [take a seat].
METRO Board Gives Green Light to New, Reimagined Bus Network
#System Reimagining will redefine transit for the long haul
The METRO Board of Directors today approved a complete revamp of the local bus system. The unanimous vote was immediately followed by applause from the audience.
“The bus system is the bedrock of METRO and this new system is going to be great,” said METRO Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia. “ Ultimately, it’s a lot of
work and I’m grateful to everyone who rolled up their selves and did it.”
“The reason I have been pushing this plan is because I am a bus rider,” said Board Member Christof Spieler. “This is transformative. This is the most important thing any city can do to improve their transit system.”
Transit Reimagining
METRO's goal with System Reimagining is straightforward. Transit should be easy to use. The plan offers a better match with where people live, work, play and learn. The system is simpler, more frequent, with 7-day a week service connecting more places, faster. Stronger connections between bus and rail will allow for more seamless operations.
In September, 2014 the Board voted for a provisional approval authorizing staff to move forward with plans for the massive undertaking. During the intervening months,and numerous meetings with community stakeholders, the plan was tweaked.
"It's a good foundation for transit growth," said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. "It's an improved map and improved network because of engagement with the community."
Among the changes since the original proposal is a decision not to implement Northeast Flex Zones. The zones will be replaced with fixed-route service. METRO is also partnering with the Acres Homes community to test a neighborhood Community Connector service. The goal in each case is to provide the best service for each community.
Other changes include:
Late day service expansion, minimizing name and number changes - 78% of bus routes to keep same route number
Additional $9.3 million for route changes and later service
Improved connections from Northeast Houston to jobs at IAH
Frequent Service Network
The 5-year transit plan features the "Frequent Network" - a huge transformation and benefit to METRO customers who will know, without a schedule, that service runs every 15 minutes or better. With this color-coded system customers can also see which buses arrive every 16-30 minutes, and determine next bus arrivals for another network with service scheduled every 31-60 minutes.
Other Highlights:
Reimagining provides a frequent network grid connecting one million people to one million jobs and increases riders served by frequent service from 25% to 75%.
58% of trips between 30 key destinations faster by 10 minutes or more
94% of riders can board at current stop
20% increase in ridership after 2 years
Next Steps:
In March METRO will begin an extensive public education campaign which will be followed by an analysis of the plan and public hearings concerning the service changes. The new bus network will be ready to implement in August 2015..
For more on #SystemReimagining click here.
Transportation Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris
County News Release
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
METRO Board Gives Green Light to
New, Reimagined Bus Network
The METRO Board of Directors today
approved a complete revamp of the
local bus system. The unanimous vote
was immediately followed by applause
from the audience.
“The bus system is the bedrock of
METRO and this new system is going to
be great,” said METRO Board Chairman
Gilbert Garcia. “ Ultimately, it’s a lot of
work and I’m grateful to everyone who
rolled up their sleeves and did it.”
System Reimaginging Map
“The reason I have been pushing this plan is because I am a bus rider,” said Board Member
Christof Spieler. “This is transformative. This is the most important thing any city can do to
improve their transit system.”
Transit Reimagining
METRO's goal with System Reimagining is straightforward. Transit should be easy to use.
The plan offers a better match with where people live, work, play and learn. The system is
simpler, more frequent, with 7-day a week service connecting more places, faster. Stronger
connections between bus and rail will allow for more seamless operations.
In September, 2014 the Board voted for a provisional approval authorizing staff to move
forward with plans for the massive undertaking. During the intervening months,and
numerous meetings with community stakeholders, the plan was tweaked.
"It's a good foundation for transit growth," said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. "It's
an improved map and improved network because of engagement with the community."
Among the changes since the original proposal is a decision not to implement Northeast Flex
Zones. The zones will be replaced with fixed-route service. METRO is also partnering with
the Acres Homes community to test a neighborhood Community Connector service. The goal
in each case is to provide the best service for each community.
Other changes include:
Late day service expansion, minimizing name and number changes - 78% of bus
routes to keep same route number
Additional $9.3 million for route changes and later service Improved connections from Northeast Houston to jobs at IAH
Frequent Service Network
The 5-year transit plan features the "Frequent Network" - a huge transformation and benefit
to METRO customers who will know, without a schedule, that service runs every 15 minutes
or better. With this color-coded system customers can also see which buses arrive every 16-
30 minutes, and determine next bus arrivals for another network with service scheduled
every 31-60 minutes.
Other Highlights:
Reimagining provides a frequent network grid connecting one million people to one million
jobs and increases riders served by frequent service from 25% to 75%.
58% of trips between 30 key destinations faster by 10 minutes or more
94% of riders can board at current stop 20% increase in ridership after 2 years
Next Steps:
In March METRO will begin an extensive public education campaign which will be followed by
an analysis of the plan and public hearings concerning the service changes. The new bus
network will be ready to implement in August 2015..
For more on #SystemReimagining click here.
- See more at: http://guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067428#sthash.UBGrTrVj.dpuf
Media Alert From TV Eyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/10/2015 21:10:58
FOX 26 News at 9 (News)
... now we have learned two employees have been arrested. metro officials and court records has shown one employee has been arrested for the company's wood rail cross ties and another one has been charged ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/10/2015 22:04:20 KPRC Local 2 News at 10PM
... robert arnold, kprc channel 2 news. >>> new at 10:00, a metro lift bus driver arrested while on her route. investigators say 51-year-old felicia rasmus pulled over her ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO employees on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/10/2015 21:09:55 FOX 26 News at 9 (News)
... surveillance video of the man who robbed church's chicken. >> and two metro employees are charged with theft. isiah has that and more exclusives on the factor. >> houston investigators are ...
Houston Chronicle
Metro board approves major changes to bus system
By Dug Begley
February 11, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority board on Wednesday approved the most sweeping overhaul
of Houston's bus service in decades.
The new system, expected to take effect in August, will shift from a downtown-focused, hub-
and-spoke design to a broader network that resembles a grid pattern. The changes will not affect
park-and-ride service.
Approved in concept in September, the plan has undergone revisions to allay concerns about
how it would affect certain communities, particularly in northeast Houston.
Metro plans a public education campaign to acquaint riders with the new system over the coming
months.
Houston Chronicle Metro board to consider sweeping change in bus system
By Dug Begley
February 10, 2015Updated: February 10, 2015 10:14pm
ing image 1 of 2 Gary Coronado/Houston Chronicle
A Metro bus travels along Sweetwater Lane at Peach Spring Drive on Jan. 27. Metro, as part of a
systemwide redesign of bus service, is keeping a planned flex zone in Acres Homes, but eliminating four
others.
A once-in-a-generation change to Houston bus service - shifting from a downtown-focused, hub-
and-spoke design to a broader network reflecting new ways people move around - could receive
final approval by Metro's board Wednesday.
Officials say the "reimagining" may represent a make-or-break moment in the Metropolitan
Transit Authority's efforts to boost lagging ridership.
"If we screw it up, rolling this out, we are going to shoot ourselves in the foot," board member
Cindy Siegel said.
The board will consider authorizing staff to revise the entire local bus system. None of the
changes apply to park and ride service.
The final plan, however, scraps one of the biggest changes originally proposed in several
northeast neighborhoods - on-demand "flex" service as opposed to fixed routes. And the redesign
won't take effect until August, two months later than planned, giving officials more time to
transition to changes that could affect most of Metro's 290,000 or so daily riders.
Cost estimates reflect Metro spending $9.3 million more annually than it does now on bus
service, a roughly 3 percent increase. The higher costs would be covered by additional fares -
officials predict the revised routes will increase ridership by 20 percent - and sales tax revenue
tied to the 2012 referendum that allows Metro to keep more of the region's 1-cent transportation
sales tax.
The new bus plan, unveiled last year, shifts from a system where most routes radiate from
downtown to a more spread-out, grid-like system. Approved in concept in September, the plan
has undergone revisions to allay concerns about how it would affect certain communities,
particularly in northeast Houston.
Routes now operate on a system devised 30 or more years ago, based on where Houstonians
needed bus service and where they were going. As the Houston area grew, routes were added and
tweaked but the underlying structure didn't change.
Riders said the flaws are easy to spot.
"I feel like they waste time," said Jeff Montgomery, 28, as he waited on a Route 40 bus in the
Heights Tuesday morning. He said buses make too many stops and deviate from key
destinations.
Officials said the larger problem is having a bus system that focuses on downtown. Metro CEO
Tom Lambert said more than four out of five buses travel downtown, though the area's travel
patterns have changed as new job centers have developed.
Many riders and business owners have supported the changes, believing they could make work
and shopping trips easier. Metro's plan to offer more consistent service on weekends and late into
the night also won support from riders.
Read full story
Houston Chronicle (Editorials)
The Metro board votes today on two new bus plans, and stakeholder buy-in is key.
Updated: February 10, 2015 7:47pm
For decades, Metro's money and attention has been focused on rail. After years of political
infighting, and with two new rail lines nearing completion, now is the time for Metro to get back
on the bus. Whether through rail or rubber tires, it is Metro's job to get people from where they
are to where they need to be. Usually this means from homes to jobs and back. Today, Metro's
board of directors is scheduled to vote on two plans that will help Metro's bus system meet this
charge: the bus reimagining plan and Uptown bus rapid transit. These projects aim in the right
direction, capitalizing on existing resources rather than requiring high-dollar investments from
the ground up.
Continue Reading
Off The Kuff
System reimagining time Feb 11th, 2015 by Charles Kuffner.
Big day today, hopefully.
A once-in-a-generation change to Houston bus service – shifting from a downtown-focused, hub-
and-spoke design to a broader network reflecting new ways people move around – could receive
final approval by Metro’s board Wednesday.
Officials say the “reimagining” may represent a make-or-break moment in the Metropolitan
Transit Authority’s efforts to boost lagging ridership.
“If we screw it up, rolling this out, we are going to shoot ourselves in the foot,” board member
Cindy Siegel said.
The board will consider authorizing staff to revise the entire local bus system. None of the
changes apply to park and ride service.
The final plan, however, scraps one of the biggest changes originally proposed in several
northeast neighborhoods – on-demand “flex” service as opposed to fixed routes. And the
redesign won’t take effect until August, two months later than planned, giving officials more
time to transition to changes that could affect most of Metro’s 290,000 or so daily riders.
Cost estimates reflect Metro spending $9.3 million more annually than it does now on bus
service, a roughly 3 percent increase. The higher costs would be covered by additional fares –
officials predict the revised routes will increase ridership by 20 percent – and sales tax revenue
tied to the 2012 referendum that allows Metro to keep more of the region’s 1-cent transportation
sales tax.
See here, here, and here for the background. As I’ve said before, I’m one of the six percent that
will be negatively affected by this, as the #40 route that I take the most often will no longer pass
through my neighborhood. From what I can tell, I’ll either have to take two (high-frequency)
buses to get downtown with a minimum of walking, take a lower-frequency route that’s farther
from my house than my current stop is, or take a high-frequency route (the Washington Avenue
one) with a long walk; this latter option is something I do now occasionally on my way home. As
someone once said, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, so I’m okay with this
as long as it meets the stated objectives. I look forward to seeing what final changes Metro has
made as they move forward with this. Houston On The Go has more.
abc13.com
TWO METRO WORKERS FIRED, ACCUSED OF STEALING EQUIPMENT
They're off the job and accused of stealing from taxpayers
By Christine Dobbyn Tuesday, February 10, 2015 05:58PM
HOUSTON (KTRK) --
Two METRO employees hired in 2013 were off the job a little more than a year later, now
accused and charged in two theft cases.
METRO says the men worked at the Metro Rail Operations Center on Bellfort near Fannin. They
are accused of stealing supplies and equipment that belonged to the Transit Authority.
One rider said, "I think it's crazy, stealing from the city?" as she got off the train Tuesday.
Information in probable cause documents filed by prosecutors claim around July 2013 Reginald
Ratcliff took 50 wood rail cross ties and sold them while he was Metro Track Chief.
Another rider said, "I'm surprised, very surprised. An employee?"
Allegations against Fred Burton stem from an alleged incident in May 2014. Prosecutors say he
had instructed three METRO track maintenance employees to load a welder generator onto a
METRO truck. The accusations go on to say "the next morning the welder generator was no
longer in the bed of the truck that they loaded it on to and it was never seen again."
Riders commented on the charges as they got off the trains saying, "Some people do the wrong
thing when they should be doing the right." Another man says he'll wait for their day in court,
"They get a fair chance and to explain their side. A lot of times the proof is in the pudding you
know."
Ratcliff has a criminal history dating back to 1987 from theft to filing a false report and three
assault charges.
METRO Police Chief Vera Bumpers released a statement saying, "I want to thank the METRO
employees who came forward to help with the MPD investigation into missing surplus rail ties
and tools at the Rail Operations Center. That investigation resulted in the termination of two
employees. This type of conduct will not be tolerated at METRO and we commend the District
Attorney's Office for filing charges against two former METRO employees."
2/12/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 05:17:52 FOX 26 News at 5AM
... major changes coming to the houston bus system. the metro board of directors approved a complete revamp of the local system. among the changes, an additional $9.3 million for route changes ...
KUHF.org
Metro Board Approves Big Changes To Bus System Officials estimate the plan will speed up bus trips between key destinations by ten minutes. By: Syeda Hasan, February 11th, 2015 03:10 PM
Metro officials say they've heard the concerns of the community, and the new plan is designed to provide frequent service seven days a week across Greater Houston.
The Metro Board of Directors approved changes to the region’s bus network today. Officials
estimate that the System Reimagining Plan will speed up many trips between key destinations by ten minutes.
Kurt Luhrsen with Metro spoke at a board meeting. He said the new routes will better
connect riders across Greater Houston.
“What this system is about is freedom,” said Luhrsen. “It’s freedom to let people live their lives, do everything they need to do on transit.”
The move comes after months of public comment on how to improve the bus network.
Some common complaints were long wait times and areas of town that were underserved by public transit.
Kurt Luhrsen with Metro said the new system is designed to meet riders’ needs.
“It is now 23 frequent routes that run in a crisscross pattern across the service area
extending further from downtown and allowing us to serve many more people, many more employment centers effectively,” he said.
Metro Board member Cristoff Spieler says the plan is a smarter use of taxpayer dollars.
“This is transformative,” he said. “I think this is one of the most important things this city or
any city can do to improve its transit system.”
Metro has seen a decline in ridership in recent years, but they're hoping the new plan will help change that. Officials say the updated routes and schedules will provide frequent
service to more riders.
Metro will hold public hearings to get feedback on the plan. It’s expected to be implemented this August
abc13.com
Multiple injuries in METRO bus accident in NE Houston
A METRO bus and at least one other vehicle were involved in an accident in northeast Houston.
(KTRK Photo)
A METRO bus has been involved in an accident in northeast Houston.
The accident happened at about noon, along Hirsch near East Crosstimbers. Authorities now say
the bus and van were traveling in opposite directions on East Crosstimbers when the two
vehicles collided almost head-on. The van caught fire and was nearly destroyed and the bus slid
into a field. There's no word yet on what sparked the collision.
Paramedics can be seen tending to multiple patients at the scene. Fourteen people and the bus
driver were taken to local hospitals. All the injuries are described as minor. It's unknown how
many passengers were on the bus at the time.
The Houston Fire Department and METRO police are on the scene.
Click2Houston.com
More than a dozen transported to hospital after METRO bus, van collide
Author: Matt Aufdenspring, Web Managing Editor, Click2Houston.com Published On: Feb 12 2015 12:14:32 PM CST Updated 4 m
HOUSTON -
A METRO bus was involved in a accident in which a van caught fire in northeast Houston.
The wreck happened at around noon Thursday at East Crosstimbers and Hirsch.
According to police, the bus was traveling east on Crosstimbers when it collided with a
passenger van traveling in the opposite direction. The van caught fire.
The bus ran off the road and into a field, resting about 30 feet from the intersection.
The driver of the van was transported to the hospital, but his or her condition was not known.
The bus driver and 14 passengers were transported to three area hospitals. All had non-life
threatening injuries.
The cause of the accident is unclear at this time
KHOU.com
Multiple injuries reported in fiery crash involving METRO bus
KHOU 11's Andrew Horansky reports KHOU
1:51 p.m. CST February 12, 2015
Bus crash in NE Houston on Feb. 12, 2015(Photo: KHOU 11)
HOUSTON - More than a dozen people were taken to the hospital after a fiery crash involving a METRO bus, authorities said. The crash was reported at 11:57 a.m. Thursday in northeast Houston. METRO spokesman Jerome Gray said the bus was traveling eastbound on Crosstimbers at Hirsch when it collided with an older van that was heading westbound. Views from Air 11 showed that the van was consumed by flames as the METRO bus kept going into a nearby field. In all, 16 people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the bus and 14 passengers were transported by ambulance, METRO said. METRO said the van's driver was able to make it out before the fire. He or she was then taken to the hospital as well. The investigation into the cause of the crash is still underway.
Houston Chronicle Metro approves bus revamp, and now the work begins By Dug Begley
February 11, 2015Updated: February 12, 2015 9:25am
Houston area transit officials Wednesday approved a historic redesign of local bus service that
supporters say will connect more people to more workplaces than ever before.
Leaders of the Metropolitan Transit Authority will spend the next five months preparing
hundreds of thousands of riders for the massive changes and convincing skeptics the plan can
succeed.
Metro's board gave unanimous, final approval to the so-called reimagining plan, authorizing
agency staff to plan public meetings to explain the changes.
Interactive: Mobility and more at a crossroads in Houston
Between now and August, Metro must replace every sign at every bus stop, revise every bus
schedule and prepare a massive educational campaign.
"This will be the biggest outreach effort in the history of the city," Metro board chairman Gilbert
Garcia said.
Under the new system, routes focus less on a network of buses that converge downtown. Instead,
the plan uses a grid pattern of routes that aim to take riders anywhere in the city and better
connect other job centers such as the Energy Corridor, Uptown and Greenway Plaza.
In making the changes, Metro is moving to a system of specific arrival intervals rather than
times. Riders will know whether a bus comes every 15 minutes or less, every 30 minutes or
every hour, but schedules will not list specific arrival times.
"It is freedom to let people live their lives and do what they need to do," said Metro board
member Christof Spieler, who spearheaded reimagining.
Spieler called the change "amazing and transformative" for riders, and a step toward Metro
responding to changing travel patterns in the area.
Others remained wary.
Houston Chronicle
Metro bus collides with van in NE Houston
By Carol Christian
February 12, 2015Updated: February 12, 2015 1:02pm
A Metro bus and a van collided in northeast Houston, leading to multiple injuries, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
A collision between a Metro bus and a van in northeast Houston has sent 16 people to three area
hospitals.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, said Metro spokesman Jerome Gray.
The wreck occurred about noon in the intersection of Hirsch and Crosstimbers. The No. 52
Hirsch bus was eastbound on Crosstimbers and the van was westbound when the two collided at
Hirsch.
The impact sent the bus 30 to 40 feet into a field and caused the van to catch fire, Gray said.
Both drivers and the 14 passengers on the bus were taken to the hospital, he said.
Investigators, including Metro police, are trying to determine what caused the collision, Gray
said
Houston Fire Department officials said the van driver may have a broken ankle.
No other injury details were immediately available.
The Houston Police Department's online report of active incidents listed the collision as a
nonfatal accident.
According to the Houston Fire Department's online list, six ambulances responded to the scene.
Houston Chronicle
Mobility, and perhaps more, at a crossroads The Houston region has a growing light rail system, but even with two new lines, it covers only a small portion of the area. Officials are considering a first-of-its-kind commuter line to Missouri City, which would complement the existing rail. Explore the map above by clicking on the light rail and commuter lines for more information about each project and photos. Click here to view interactive map
2/13/2015 SUMMARY
Media Hot Line 713.739.4040
Release Date:
Feb. 12, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. Besides operating more than 1,200 buses, METRO is currently expanding its 13-mile Red Line with two new lines under construction. METRO’s services also include: Star Vanpool,
Track maintenance work prompts a partial METRORail weekend closure
WHEN: Friday, Feb.13, 10 p.m. to Monday, Feb.16, 4:30 a.m. when normal service resumes
WHERE: From Fannin South Station to Smith Lands Station
Beginning Saturday morning riders may use dedicated “700 Rail Shuttle” buses, between the stations, every 10 minutes during rail service hours.
Bus service requires more travel time, so please plan your trip accordingly. METRO personnel will be on hand to provide assistance if necessary.
If track maintenance work cannot be completed by Sunday, Feb. 15, the bus bridge may be extended through Monday,Feb.16. Current info available at RideMETRO.org.
METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO services at ridemetro.org where you will also find information about our T.R.I.P. app and the new digital, interactive rider tool METRO 360 [take a seat].
Please do not reply to this message. We are unable to respond to inquiries sent to this email account. Contact the METRO Press Office at 713-739-4040.
Transportation
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County News Release
Friday, February 13, 2015
Track maintenance work prompts a partial METRORail weekend closure
WHEN: Friday, Feb.13, 10 p.m. to Monday, Feb.16, 4:30 a.m. when normal service
resumes WHERE: From Fannin South Station to Smith Lands Station Beginning Saturday morning riders may use dedicated “700 Rail Shuttle” buses,
between the stations, every 10 minutes during rail service hours.
Bus service requires more travel time, so please plan your trip accordingly. METRO
personnel will be on hand to provide assistance if necessary.
If track maintenance work cannot be completed by Sunday, Feb. 15, the bus bridge may be
extended through Monday,Feb.16. Current info available at RideMETRO.org.
- See more at: http://guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067490#sthash.zN5JHBS4.dpuf
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 12:10:37 KHOU 11 News (News)
... we're very busy over a wreck. this is in north east houston. we're told that a metro bus has collided with another vehicle which burst into flames. you can see what is left of that vehicle in the intersection. ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 16:01:12 KPRC Local 2 News at 4PM
... ite after they collided, the van burst into flames and the metro bus skidded off the road. a total of 15 people had to be taken to the hospital. samantha ptashkin spoke with a woman who he is mother was on ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 16:04:42 13 Eyewitness News at 4PM
... >> now to some dramatic exclusive video here of this metro bus crash caught as it happened in northeast houston. the crash sent people on the bus to hospitals. we brought it to you earlier as ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 16:19:48 KPRC Local 2 News at 4PM
... afternoon on our 5:00 and 6:00 newscasts. metro is giving the bus system a big make- over. what the new plan means for your bus route coming up at ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 16:22:30 13 Eyewitness News at 4PM
... the roads for us. you have something to watch out for if you ride metro. >> hey, there. a wreck popped up right there at elgin. over to the shoulder, the ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Autobus on KTMD (Telemundo) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 17:00:30 Noticiero Telemundo Houston (Noticias)
... >> ahora volvemos en vivo a la escena donde esta tarde un autobus de pasajero de metro choco contra una camioneta dejando varios usuarios heridos la informacion mas reciente la tiene nuestra compañera del ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/12/2015 17:22:33 KPRC Local 2 News at 5PM
... >> riding the bus here in the bayou city could get easier. >> metro has approved a major make- over that aims to be more user friendly. >> reporter: metro reimagining ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX
02/13/2015 04:05:14 FOX 26 News at 4AM
... people are hurt after a bus accident in northeast houston. according to metro spokespeople the bus was traveling on hurst and collided with a van. the van's driver was able to get out safely and was taken to the ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Rail on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/13/2015 06:37:06 KHOU 11 News (News)
... we decided to turn up the heat with cold hard cash. >> we stop by the light rail to spread the love. >> $50. >> it's time to board the love train. ...
Houston Chronicle
Bus driver at fault for Thursday accident
By Dug Begley
February 13, 2015
Emergency responders prepare to load the driver of a Metro bus into an ambulance after it collided with a
van at the intersection of Crosstimbers and Hirschon Feb. 12. Emergency responders transported 16 people,
including the driver, to three area hospitals.
Metro confirmed Friday that a bus driver involved in a fiery bus crash on Thursday caused the
incident, and an investigation will determine if she continues driving for the transit system.
"She did not yield right of way, so she would be found at fault," Metro spokesman Jerome Gray
said.
The crash happened about noon at the intersection of Hirsch and Crosstimbers. The bus, serving
Route 52, was eastbound on Crosstimbers and making a left turn onto Hirsch when the vehicles
collided.
The westbound van hit the right side of the bus, sending the bus into a nearby field. The van
burst into flames shortly after the incident. Both drivers and 14 passengers on the bus were
treated for injuries, none of which were considered life-threatening.
Driving safety is a factor in employment as a Metro bus operator. Infractions such as speeding,
reckless driving and use of a mobile phone can be grounds for discipline, up to an including
termination. At-fault accidents also lead to investigations of the driver.
Gray said that process would take place in this incident.
"Under union guidelines, because of the all the miles operators put in, they are allowed some
accidents," Gray said "(We) will have to wait and see how the investigation closes out and what
(the operations department) does regarding her driving for Metro."
KPRC
METRO board approves plan to change bus routes
Plan aims to be more user-friendly and offer more connections.
Author: Ruben Hidalgo, News Producer Published On: Feb 11 2015 07:08:32 PM CST
HOUSTON -
The METRO board of directors unanimously approved a makeover of the local bus system today.
The "System Reimagining" plan aims for transit to be easier to use and faster, with seven day a
week service connecting to more places.
The board has looked at making changes since last year. Last September, the board approved
moving forward with the development process that ended with the new five-year plan.
METRO's plan features the "Frequent Network" - which offers a color-coded system that lets
customers see when buses will arrive. Bus service will run every 15 minutes or less, and routes will
run all weekend.
The changes could cost an additional nine million dollars each year, but METRO hopes increased
ridership will offset the cost.
The new bus network will be ready to implement in August.
Bellaire Examiner
Track maintenance work prompts a partial METRORail weekend closure
Posted: Thursday, February 12, 2015 11:18 pm
Beginning Friday, Feb. 13 from 10 p.m. to Monday, Feb.16, 4:30 a.m. from Fannin South Station
to Smith Lands Station, there will be track maintenance conducted by METRORail.
Beginning Saturday morning riders may use dedicated “700 Rail Shuttle” buses, between the
stations, every 10 minutes during rail service hours.
Bus service requires more travel time, so please plan your trip accordingly. METRO personnel
will be on hand to provide assistance if necessary.
If track maintenance work cannot be completed by Sunday, Feb. 15, the bus bridge may be
extended through Monday,Feb.16. Current info available at RideMETRO
Off The Kuff
Metro board approves reimagining
Feb 13th, 2015
by Charles Kuffner.
On to implementation. Metro’s board gave unanimous, final approval to the so-called
reimagining plan, authorizing agency staff to plan public meetings to explain the changes.
Between now and August, Metro must replace every sign at every bus stop, revise every bus
schedule and prepare a massive educational campaign. “This will be the biggest outreach effort
[…]
Read full story
2/16/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
Transporte on KTMD (Telemundo) - Houston, TX 02/15/2015 10:20:31 Programación pagada (Otro)
... el concilio del área de houston galveston desarrolla planes de transporte para la región de los ocho condados. hoy nos acompaña isaac ramírez, jefe del equipo de planeación ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO employees on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/15/2015 17:23:24 FOX 26 News 5PM (News)
... video of a man who robbed a church's chicken. >> and two metro employees are charged with theft. isiah has that and more exclusives in the factor. >> first up on the factor, isiah ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/14/2015 09:36:14 KPRC Channel 2 News Today (News)
... bayou city could soon get easier. metro has approved a major makeover that aims to be more user-friendly. marks takes a closer look -- the plan. ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Rail on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/13/2015 17:16:40 KHOU 11 News (News)
... this was one of them. this is main street in 1895. i think these are the rail tracks. it may have just been a horse and buggy. that looks like the rail tracks ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/13/2015 18:02:32 KPRC Channel 2 News at 6PM (News)
... channel 2 news. >> this video is frightening enough, a metro bus and a van collide, making that van burst into flames, but imagine being inside that van. you're going to hear from the ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX
02/13/2015 22:09:03 KPRC Channel 2 News at 10PM (News)
... who was behind the wheel of a van when it collided with a metro bus and then caught fire. darrell boudreaux was inside the van minutes before it went up in flames. he was heading west on ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro Bus on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/14/2015 06:35:15 KPRC Channel 2 News Today (News)
... we're talking to the man who was driving a van when it collided with a metro bus and then caught fire. darrell boudreaux was inside of the van minutes before it went up in flames on thursday. ...
KUHF.org
Councilman Costello Discusses New Role and Houston’s Transportation
Needs
Posted on: Feb 12 2015by Michael Hagerty in Segment A, Segment B, Segments with 0
Comments
Stephen Costello is an at-large member of the Houston City Council. He’s also expected to make
fully official his run for mayor later this month. And he’s just recently been elected to chair a
Houston-Galveston Area Council group tasked with developing and approving transportation
plans for the H-GAC’s eight county region.
In those capacities, and as an engineer by trade, Costello has a lot to say about how
transportation works – or doesn’t work – in Greater Houston today.
Today, we present a wide-ranging discussion with Council Member Costello about transportation
issues in the region.
2/17/2015 SUMMARY
Media Hot Line 713.739.4040
Release Date: Feb.16, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. METRO operates more than 1,200 buses, and #SystemReimagining is now underway. For a good picture of where we are headed see our new system map. METRO is currently expanding its 13-mile Red Line with two new lines under construction. Other METRO services include: Star Vanpool, METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO visit ridemetro.org where you can download our information about our T.R.I.P. app and our interactive rider tool METRO 360 [take a seat].
Central Station Main to Open for METRORail Passengers
Another plus for commuters as a new station is about to open on the METRORail Red Line. METRO Board members, staff, and special guests, including representatives of the Downtown Management District, will be on hand at METRORail’s Downtown Construction office, 712 Main Street, at 6:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18. Shortly after their arrival a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on the Central Station Main platform signaling the beginning of passenger service at that station.
The station, located in the 700 block of Main between Rusk and Capitol, will also become a transfer point when the new East End/Green and Southeast/Purple Lines open in April.
(Top) METRORail passengers will have a new station from which to access transit service beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18. The station will provide a transfer point for riders from the soon-to-open East End/Green and Southeast/Purple Lines.
(L) Central Station Main features works from artist John Runnels whose paving stones showcase time. Using language as art Runnels seeks to establish a positive transit experience by creating a "psychological space" where time is optimized.
Editor’s note: Please contact the METRO Press Office at 713-739-4040 if you plan to cover this event.
Please do not reply to this message. We are unable to respond to inquiries sent to this email account. Contact the METRO Press Office at 713-739-4040.
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris
County News Release
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Central Station Main to Open for METRORail Passengers
Another plus for commuters as a new station is about to open on the METRORail Red Line.
METRO Board members, staff, and special guests, including representatives of the
Downtown Management District, will be on hand at METRORail’s Downtown Construction
office, 712 Main Street, at 6:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18. Shortly after their arrival a
ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on the Central Station Main platform signaling the beginning of passenger service at that station.
The station, located in the 700 block of Main between Rusk and Capitol, will also become a
transfer point when the new East End/Green and Southeast/Purple Lines open in April
- See more at: http://guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067566#sthash.nMQQHjUj.dpuf
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/16/2015 22:06:14 KHOU 11 News (News)
... just as a precaution. . >>> a metro bus rider says she's disgusted by what she saw this morning. gabrielle said the man sitting across the aisle from her pulled ...
LatinaLista
PadreCare: Special public transportation programs help elderly keep independence
By Loida Casares
2/16/2015
When my dad came to live with me a year and a half ago I had just decided to work from home. My
initial idea was to take the summer off and to start looking for a job that fall when the kids went back
to school. However, I decided to do contract sales for a few publications and that made it easier to
spend time with him and to know what he was doing during the day. It worked out well for a while
but after a year I knew I had to go back to working full time. Doing this presented a whole new set of
challenges with my dad.
The first challenge is that he’d be lonely. I worry about him being at home alone all day and not
getting out to the little restaurant where he likes to hang out and visit with people. The second
challenge was how he would get to and from his doctor’s appointments if I or my sister couldn’t take
him. Or how he would go places if it was raining or too hot or too cold outside to wait for the bus. I
wouldn’t be here to drive him like I had before.
I’d heard about and had seen Houston’s paratransit service called METROLiftthrough METRO, the
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. A group of elderly members from the place of
worship I used to attend would take the METROLift bus to bible meetings and then the bus would
come back and take them home. My dad is a devoted METRO passenger, since he gets to ride the
bus for free with his Senior card, so I decided to inquire about how he could use METROLift.
My first word of advice on this one is that it’s a long process. First, I had to fill out a form explaining
why my father needed to use METROLift. A physician/certified health professional has to complete
and sign a medical verification section of the application and they must also submit an additional
signature on his/her letterhead or on a prescription note verifying completion of the application form.
So I had to drop off the application with the VA Geriatric Clinic to have a doctor finish filling it out
for me. That took a good while. METRO needs to have a valid reason why you need the service. As
METRO says on their website, “Eligibility is not based on your disability but on your inability to ride
local fixed route buses and is determined on a case by case basis.”
Once the doctor filled out the form and sent it to METRO, and they reviewed the application, I
received a letter telling me that we had an appointment to go to the METRO office for an interview. I
took my dad and they explained the METROLift service to us. After that one of the METRO
employees asked us a few questions.
We were honest and explained that in most cases my father takes the bus (and sometimes even the
light rail) and that he would only need the METROLift occasionally to get to places that are off a
regular route or that would require him to take transfers, like to the VA Hospital.
Three weeks later my dad received his official letter and his METROLift ID/Q Card, which is
different from his regular METRO bus card. He was approved!
Whereas his regular bus fare is free he has to pay for his METROLift trips. He bought a book of 10
tickets for $9.75. He has to use a ticket for each one way trip. All trips have to be reserved a day in
advance. Even the online system only lets you reserve trips one day in advance. However the phone
reservation system is closed on the weekend so you have to make reservations for the weekend and
Monday on Friday. He is allowed to take one person for free with him on the bus or taxi as an
attendant, so when my sister comes to visit she’s been able to ride with him.
The little METROLift bus comes to our house and picks up my dad to take him directly to the
DeBakey VA Hospital where he has his check-ups. We haven’t been successful about return trips,
but that’s a story for another article. Let’s just say that the pick-ups from our home and drop-offs at
the hospital have worked great so far.
Read full story
NGT News
Freedom CNG Gets Green Light to Fuel METRO Fleet News Departments > New & Noteworthy
by NGT News on Monday February 16, 2015
Freedom CNG has received approval from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
(METRO) to break ground on the company's third fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) station
in Houston.
Located at 303 Fallbrook Dr., adjacent to METRO's bus operations and support facility, the
station is expected to service up to 83 METRO CNG transit buses. The public-access facility will
also be open to CNG passenger vehicles and tractor trailers.
“METRO’s use of CNG buses will provide another operational option that contributes to
reducing dependence on foreign oil supplies while reducing emissions, being kind to the
environment and the entire community,” says Andrew Skabowski, chief operating officer of
METRO.
Freedom CNG is building the station in cooperation with CenterPoint Energy Services and the
Houston-Galveston Area Council. Freedom has two other CNG stations in the region, including
one at 6002 Debbielou Gardens Dr. and another at 7155 High Life Dr.
“Freedom CNG’s vision for the future is to provide enough accessible, fast-fill CNG fueling
stations in the Houston area for fleets to have the confidence to adopt CNG as their preferred fuel
of choice,” says Bill Winters, managing member of the company. “When fleet owners believe
they can fuel their vehicles in any area of the county, CNG adoption will occur more rapidly and
become widespread.”
Your Houston News – Cypress Creek
Emmett addresses changing demographics, future of Dome Posted: Monday, February 16, 2015 9:58 pm
By Leo Flores
Staff photo by Alan Warren
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett speaks at the Greater Houston Partnership's annual State of the County Address for 2015 at the NRG
Center in Houston, Texas on Friday, February 13, 2015. To view or purchase this photo and others like it, go to HCNPics.com.
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett gave his annual State of the County Address Friday hosted by
the Greater Houston Partnership, in which he called on state legislators to allow local
governments the flexibility to better manage the County's changing demographics.
“The population of unincorporated Harris County will soon surpass the population of the City of
Houston,” said Emmett. “Yet people and organizations continue to discuss urban issues only in
terms of the city. Harris County needs policy makers and agencies in Austin and Washington to
recognize that our residents need a different approach than that applied to rural counties and to
urban counties in which the vast majority of people live in incorporated cities.”
The statement comes as some Harris County officials have called for legislation that would
require the City of Houston to spend funds raised through sales tax revenue from unincorporated
parts of the city on county projects.
The Judge expressed concern over the City's policy of limited-purpose annexation which he said
could “drain potential revenue from suburban areas.”
“County government must have the tools and resources necessary to improve those areas,
because I do not see a scenario in which the city steps up and improves the situation,” said
Emmett.
Emmett also called on the State to step up in addressing health care for the County's indigent.
Calling for the discussion on whether the State should establish regional health care systems
which would take the load off of local hospital districts and small public agencies.
“Should indigent health care be solely a county responsibility or is it time for the State to
establish regional health care systems that support private clinics, hospitals and programs?”
asked Emmett.
2/18/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
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Metro bus. on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 04:07:42 FOX 26 News at 4AM
... violations. good news for commuters who ride the metro rail. a station is set to open on the red line, officials will open the new central station following a ribbon-cutting ...
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METRO on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 05:12:16 13 Eyewitness News at 5AM (News)
... richmond and rosenberg. now have some big news for you. houston's first new metro station in more than a year opens up this morning. the stop is called the central station main and it's located ...
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Rail on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 05:06:57 KPRC Channel 2 News Today 5AM (News)
... the fire. >> we've got some good news for metro rail commuters, a new convenient downtown station opens today at main street, in between rusk and capital. board members will cut the ...
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METRO on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 05:34:51 FOX 26 News at 5AM (News)
... all right, 5:34. a morning commute involves riding the metro rail. listen up: a new station is set to open this morning on the red line. metro officials will open the ...
Read full story
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Rail on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 06:06:19 KPRC Channel 2 News Today 6AM (News)
... routh to a shooting range that day. metro rail is growing and that's good news for riders. convenient now downtown station opens today on main street. it's in between rusk and ...
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Metro light rail. on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 06:34:56 FOX 26 News at 6AM (News)
... there is a ceremony underway. they're all gathering. this is the metro rail's new central station. it's up and running. we took you inside. here's a peek outside. ...
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METRO on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 06:56:23 KHOU 11 News (News)
... their 50th year , the tome team is older than me, lily. metro will open the central rail station, in the heart of downtown. this gives ri, KRIVders an extra stop on the red line connecting to ...
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METRO on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 08:06:44 FOX 26 News at 8AM (News)
... a press conference to address these new developments. melissa: metro rail's new central station is up and running in downtown houston. officials had a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning. ...
Houston Chronicle
New station's opening demonstrates rail progress and setbacks
By Dug Begley
February 17, 2015 Updated: February 17, 2015 4:49pm
Houston Chronicle
A Metro Red Line train makes its way down Main Street at Capitol past the new tracks for the Green and
Purple lines on Oct. 22. ( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
Houston's first new rail station in nearly 14 months opens Wednesday, but it won't serve its main
purpose - connecting riders on multiple lines - until Metro overcomes persistent delays in
expanding its service.
Central Station Main, as the stop is called, is the link between the existing Red Line along Main
and the upcoming Green and Purple lines that will start service in April. The station is on Main
Street between the new tracks on Capitol and Rusk.
Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Jerome Gray said officials have already seen rider
interest in the station as it neared completion. Opening it adds another stop to the Red Line in the
bustling downtown area.
"People, I'm sure, are looking forward to it," Gray said. "We're looking forward to it."
The new lines, and the station, have experienced a series of setbacks.
When voters authorized expansion of the light rail system in a 2003 referendum, they were
promised a 2012 opening. That date was pushed back to 2014 due to indecision on the part of
Metro officials, a scandal over rail car procurement and other issues.
Officials started 2014 acknowledging that delivery of 39 new rail cars needed for the lines was
months behind schedule, but they said the lines would start service by the end of the year. A
construction mishap unrelated to Metro's work forced crews to replace a city block of tracks,
communications and electrical lines; the builder of a downtown hotel that is to blame for the
problem will repay Metro for those costs.
These problems, combined with a defect in a part Metro's contractor chose for the line, prompted
officials to push the scheduled opening back to April 4.
But April 4, it turns out, will be the day before Easter, and Metro officials said that made it an
unlikely opening date. Last month a contractor specified April 11 as opening day, but Metro
officials would not confirm that estimate.
Monday, Metro's executive vice president for planning, engineering and construction, Roberto
Trevino, told transit board members that a late April opening seemed most likely.
Central Station Main is a scaled-down version of what officials first proposed. The winner of a
design competition was a bold proposal by the international firm Snohetta, spearheaded by a
New York-based designer, Craig Dykers, a UT Austin grad whose parents live in Houston.
As officials worked to reconcile cost concerns with Dykers design, they feared running out of
time to build the station and scrapped the Snohetta proposal in favor of a generic, albeit
expanded, station.
KHOU.COM
HPD: 2 overnight shootings in SW Houston may be related
Investigators say two overnight shootings in southwest Houston that left one man dead and another hospitalized may
be related. KHOU
KHOU Staff, KHOU.com12:48 p.m. CST February 18, 2015
Witnesses, victim say dark-colored SUV, possibly Jeep involved in incidents
HOUSTON – Investigators say two overnight shootings in southwest Houston that left one man
dead and another hospitalized may be related.
According to the Houston Police Department, the first shooting was reported at about 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday.
Neighbors told police they heard about five gunshots and looked outside to find a wounded man in
the middle of the 8300 block of Twin Hills Drive.
The victim, later identified as 34-year-old Pak Ho, was taken to Ben Taub where he was pronounced
dead.
"It was scary. My grandparents live a few streets down, so my grandpa came and got me so I
wouldn't be by myself," a young resident told KHOU 11 News.
Witnesses reported seeing a dark color SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee, leaving the scene after the
shooting.
The man was taken to Ben Taub where he was pronounced dead. (Photo: KHOU 11)
The second shooting happened just after 1 a.m. in the 8500 block of Bissonnet at a METRO bus
stop in front of a McDonald's restaurant.
Witnesses in the McDonald's said they heard a thumping sound and pulled the panic alarm in the
restaurant. Later they found the victim slumped over near the entrance to the restaurant.
The victim, later identified as Donald Ashford, 50, told investigators that he had been shot multiple
times by someone in a black SUV, possibly a Jeep.
Police said he was taken to Ben Taub where he is expected to survive his wounds.
As of Wednesday morning there were no arrests, and a motive for the shootings remained unknown.
Anyone with information can call the Houston Police Department homicide division at 713-308-3600
or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS
Houston Chronicle
Yes, you can take a bus to the airport
Posted on February 12, 2015 | By Dug Begley
Nearly every time Metro talks about planning and changing service, the calls for a rail
connection to the airport come pouring in. Even when the issue isn’t rail, someone is likely to
bring up bringing rail to the airport.
While the service is fiercely sought by some, there is some disagreement about whether rail to airports is even that worthwhile.
In Houston, it would be insanely expensive at a time when every mile of light rail is getting insanely expensive. Sure, the extension of the Red Line that opened in late 2013 gets us a few
miles closer from the tip-top of the rail line to Bush Intercontinental, by about five miles. That
leaves about 25 miles to go, if the route follows Crosstimbers and the Hardy Toll Road.
Arriving passengers unload from Metro’s Airport Direct bus service outside the Hilton Americas Hotel
downtown on June 2,2011.(Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle)
The end point of the Purple Line, set to open in April, is about five miles from Hobby Airport,
but Metro’s plans don’t call for making that connection being made anytime soon.
That’s a long way of saying supporters of rail to the airports shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Bus service to the airports, meanwhile, is getting better as part of the reimagining plan approved Wednesday by Metro’s board. The frequency of service to and from Hobby and
Bush airports is increased, while the time it takes to get there from downtown is decreased.
Admittedly, the changes might involve a loss of convenience for some folks. In the case of the
new Route 102, the trip from downtown to Bush is quicker because the route doesn’t bob and
weave around streets in Greenspoint. More of it is on Interstate 45 and the Sam Houston
Tollway.
That might make it a more viable option for travelers hurrying to catch flights. For the folks
headed from Greenspoint to work to sell coffee to the folks catching a flight, maybe not. With
frequent transfer points, however, some might find their work commute to and from the airport
easier.
Officials admit the reimagining is a big change, and they plan a big educational effort to roll it
out. The change is coming; Wednesday’s vote assured that. Now we’ll see if it flies with riders.
2/19/2015 SUMMARY
Transportation Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Board of Directors by Garrett
Bryce with photos courtesy METRO Thursday, February 19, 2015 -
Transportation Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Board of Directors by Garrett
Bryce with photos courtesy METRO Thursday, February 19, 2015 The Metropolitan Transit
Authority of Harris County Board of Directors today voted 7-0-1, with Christof Spieler
abstaining, to approve contracts for general planning services with HDR, Inc. and Parsons-
Brinckerhoff. Board Member Allen Watson encouraged other board members to participate
in one of the new procurement processes being used by METRO.“The new procurement
rules are working great,” Watson said. “All 'I's are being dotted, all the 'T's are being
crossed.”The board voted to approve a contract with Webber, LLC for the construction of the
Rail Operations Center Yard Track Expansion. The board voted to award a noise and
vibration contract to HMMH, Inc. to support METRO in responding the the Federal Transit
Administration or other parties regarding any noise, vibration or other environmental issues.
The board voted to enter into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation
for the demolition and reconstruction of the North Shepherd exit ramp. All items were
approved. All votes were unanimous with Board Member Lisa Gonzales Castaneda absent.
Agenda During the meeting, Board Member Jim Robinson reported under the Real Estate
Working Committee that the committee directed staff to find out with “certainty” whether
Pearland intends to purchase property from METRO that had been intended for use as a
park and ride lot along Highway 288. If the city has not taken action to purchase the
property, Robinson said staff has been instructed to bring proposals forward for the sale of
the property “to the highest bidder”. - See more at:
http://guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067641#sthash.PI5APYcg.dpuf
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
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METRO on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 09:02:20 FOX 26 Morning News Extra (News)
... this afternoon. >> now back home. metro's red line officially opened for service. melissa: the ribbon cutting happened about 2-1/2 hours ago. fox 26's john donnelly joins us ...
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Metro light rail. on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 12:22:41 KHOU 11 News (News)
... with an un invited guest looking for a ride. a metro station is open. central rail station gives riders an extra stop on the red line. it will connect uh to the ...
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Metro bus. on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 16:01:21 KPRC Channel 2 News at 4PM
... year- old man was shot early this morning at the metro bus stop off bissonnet, waiting for his wife. now police are saying the shooter behind the attack might ...
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METRO on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 16:33:10 13 Eyewitness News at 4PM (News)
... >> reporter: at one, 50-year- old donald ashford was waiting to meet his wife at this metro bus stop. in the moments before she arrived, he was shot several times, police say. ...
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METRO on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/18/2015 22:04:32 KHOU 11 News (News)
... gabrielle hopes no one else has to go through. >> the metro says this case is in the hands of an investigative mission. every all told us today that two more detectives contacted ...
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Metro Bus on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/19/2015 01:40:18 KHOU 11 News (News)
... >> we have an update now for the man caught on camera, exposing himself on the metro bus. the woman he flashed want them caught. and several leads from the sky ...
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Metro Police on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/19/2015 05:05:28 KHOU 11 News (News)
... if you have any information, call police. >>> metro police are trying to track a man giving riders a show they were not expecting. the picture is too graphic show. ...
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Metro bus. on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/19/2015 06:03:10 KHOU 11 News
... 45, this is northbound before you get to the split with i-10. accident, looks like the metro bus is involved you have another vehicle on the left shoulder. doesn't look like it is slow but traffic is built up through ...
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Metro bus. on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/19/2015 06:12:28 13 Eyewitness News at 6AM
... i-10. andy bass up in skyeye. it involves a metro bus. >> yes, it does. good morning. here's the first portion of this accident. ...
METRO’s President & CEO, Mr. Tom Lambert being interviewed at yesterday’s ribbon-
cutting ceremony of the Central Station Main platform.(2/18/15)
Progressive Railroading
Sound Transit, Houston METRO open new stations
Sound Transit and government officials yesterday marked the opening of the new commuter-rail
station in Tukwila, Wash.
The regional transit hub replaces a temporary structure and serves 10 round-trip Sounder south line
trains each weekday and four daily Amtrak Cascade round trips. The station also offers expanded
bus facilities that provide access to Sea-Tac Airport, the Tukwila International Boulevard Link light-
rail station and other destinations.
The $46 million station features two 600-foot platforms, two new passenger shelters, improvements
to the underpass connecting the platforms, a plaza, improved walkways and lighting, and storm
water facilities to help manage runoff, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.
"Expanding our rail system is an important step toward building a strong foundation for long-term
economic growth that will help families and businesses throughout Washington state," said U.S.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in a prepared statement. "This station will continue to link communities
throughout the region, support local businesses and help commuters every day."
The project was partly funded with $13.5 million in federal funding, including $4.6 million in Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, $1.5 million in FTA
Fixed Guideway funds and $7.4 million in high-speed rail grants.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County yesterday opened a new station in
downtown Houston on the agency's METRORail Red Line. The station will provide a transfer point
for riders when the new East End/Green and Southeast/Purple lines open in April, METRO officials
said in a press release
VOX Houston just dramatically improved its mass transit system without spending a dime Updated by Matthew Yglesias on February 18, 2015, 8:00 a.m. ET @mattyglesias [email protected]
While it's fun to write about bad transit projects, it's also nice to see that sometimes great
transit projects get put into place. The recent "reimagining" of Houston's bus network —
officially approved on February 11 — is a great example of doing things the right way,
drastically increasing the utility of the city's bus fleet for most people without incurring any
increase in operating costs.
This handy slider lets you compare the old frequent bus route network with the new frequent bus
route network:
The new one is, plainly, much more extensive and broadly useful. With it, a person willing to
make a transfer can get from most areas of the city to most other areas of the city without
needing to rely on any extremely infrequent buses.
How is Houston able to pull that off with no additional funding? Well, as Jarrett Walker, one
of the plan's lead designers, explains it's all about prioritizing rides that will plausibly attract
riders. The old system, like many bus routes in the United States, expended a lot of resources on
very low-ridership routes for the sake of saying there's "a bus that goes there." The new plan says
that the focus should be to provide reasonably frequent service on routes where reasonably
frequent service will attract riders. That does mean that some people are further than ever from a
transit stop. But it means that many more Houstonians will find themselves near a useful transit
stop.
Focusing transit planning on the goal of promoting transit services that are actually used strikes
me as common sense. But it's also the best way to create a virtuous circle of sound urban
planning and transportation management. A system with a lot of riders is a system with a lot of
advocates for expansion and improvement.
Houston's ability to make things so much better without spending money is amazing, but
sometimes more money really is needed. Having a system that is used by more people and that is
spending the money it already has in a responsible way can build support for getting that money
when it's needed. A system that promotes ridership also helps create a city whose electorate
contains more people who don't rely on cars for every trip and who can conceivably lobby
for sensible parking reforms and other sound urbanist measures.
PR Web
Abby Executive Suites Completes Remodel of Houston Business
Center
Greenway has always been a popular center which is precisely why we were eager to
update the space, a decision that is already paying off.
Houston, Tex. (PRWEB) February 18, 2015
Abby Executive Suites is proud to announce the completion of a wide-sweeping remodel of the company’s Greenway Plaza office suite. Located in one of Houston’s most sought after business districts, the updated Greenway office suite is home to many of the area’s most prominent business leaders. Founded in 1983, Abby Executive Suites has established the reputation as a leading provider of flexible office space solutions throughout Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and New Orleans. The organization, which began as a single Houston business center, has grown into a network of more than 20 office suites. Today, Abby Executive Suites is a leading force in the workspace-as-a-service industry. Inside the master-planned Greenway Plaza business district, the Abby Greenway Plaza Executive Suite is located between downtown Houston and the Galleria. Situated just north of US 59 at Edloe, Greenway Plaza is conveniently located near both the Houston Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, as well as the "Shops at Greenway” and Houston's Metro Transit system. Due to its prime location, this business center has been one of Abby’s most sought after Houston office spaces since it was first opened. The Abby executive leadership team recently made a strategic decision to invest in a complete overhaul of the popular business center. William Edmundson, President & CEO says that we wanted to design the suite for the way people work today and into the future“. To complete the project, the entire lobby was remodeled with bright colors, a new front desk, seating, lighting, coffee bar, computer bar and an updated mail room. Perhaps the most notable change is the incorporation of natural light into the space.” Clients now enjoy breathtaking views of the Houston skyline, a change that has completely transformed the center. The reinvented space is not only aesthetically pleasing, it promotes a high energy working environment and facilitates networking among Abby clientele. “The completed project has exceeded our expectations,” said Edmundson. “Greenway has always been a popular center which is precisely why we were eager to update the space, a decision that is already paying off.” The Abby team is committed to delivering an unparalleled customer experience for their clients and their clients’ customers. The update to the Greenway Plaza office suite is yet another example of that commitment. With plans for continued improvements to their network of business centers already underway, the Abby leadership team is just getting started. Stay tuned for more updates from Abby Executive Suites as they continue to strive to meet the evolving needs of the modern professional. About Abby Executive Suites With more than 30 years of experience in the office and workspace industry, Abby Executive Suites delivers best in class office space, meeting room rentals and virtual offices. Offering on-demand services to discerning professionals throughout Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and New Orleans, Abby is the office suite provider of choice for business leaders across a myriad of industries and disciplines.
2/20/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TV Eyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
Rail on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/20/2015 05:48:42 KHOU 11 News (News)
... to hear it's making a difference. >> we surprised metro rail riders with valentine’s day gift. a mom had no idea it was coming. ...
Off The Kuff
Metro’s new rail station Feb 20th, 2015 by Charles Chuffer.
Houston Central Station is finally open, though in a much less impressive form than it might
have been.
Houston’s first new rail station in nearly 14 months [opened] Wednesday, but it won’t serve its
main purpose – connecting riders on multiple lines – until Metro overcomes persistent delays in
expanding its service.
Central Station Main, as the stop is called, is the link between the existing Red Line along Main
and the upcoming Green and Purple lines that will start service in April. The station is on Main
Street between the new tracks on Capitol and Rusk.
Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Jerome Gray said officials have already seen rider
interest in the station as it neared completion. Opening it adds another stop to the Red Line in the
bustling downtown area.
“People, I’m sure, are looking forward to it,” Gray said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Central Station Main is a scaled-down version of what officials first proposed. The winner of a
design competition was a bold proposal by the international firm Snohetta, spearheaded by a
New York-based designer, Craig Dykers, a UT Austin grad whose parents live in Houston.
As officials worked to reconcile cost concerns with Dykers design, they feared running out of
time to build the station and scrapped the Snohetta proposal in favor of a generic, albeit
expanded, station.
See here and here for the background. It’s a shame the design was scaled back, but it’s still good
to see tangible evidence of progress. I’ve been seeing trains running along the east-west tracks at
the western end of downtown lately. The official opening date appears to have crept back a little,
to the end of April, but we’re getting there. It’s only two months away. I’m ready for it, and I’m
sure they are, too. Write On Metro has more.
2/23/2015 SUMMARY
Houston Chronicle
Ramirez: More than tweaks needed to achieve rider-friendly bus service
By Julia Ramirez
February 20, 2015
Gary Coronado/Staff
Metro of Harris County is kicking off its so-called flex zones, a plan for small buses to offer door-to-door
service within a specified area to operate for a few months along with regular service.
Since 1986, I have been a regular Metro bus rider. Buses take me to work, church and shopping.
But being a bus patron has many negatives. Poor scheduling, lack of kiosks, route changes
without notice, routes that do not go where you need them to go and bus drivers who lack
minimal courtesy skills are all part of the problems that I have had over the years trying to
navigate our Metro bus system. Metro is now proposing new changes that the agency believes
will make ridership much more rider-friendly. We'll see.
I currently take buses No. 50, 102 and 86 to and from my workplace. I live in the North Forest
community and my place of employment is on Harrisburg Boulevard. It takes at least two hours
each way to get to my destination - if the buses are running on time. Recently, the Bus 50 route,
which is the first bus I take from my place of employment to downtown to transfer to Bus 102,
was changed. This change was not well-publicized, which created a real problem for many of us
who normally take Route 50 to downtown.
I realize that developing a transportation system for a city of 4 million is an almost
insurmountable challenge. For years, I have listened to my fellow bus riders complain about bus
service.
So, what do I hope will be changes in the bus system that will make my life as a Metro bus
patron a little better?
1More kiosks on the routes. This is not just about convenience. Standing at a bus stop for
anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour is challenging for anyone regardless of their fitness
level or mobility. Lighting of these kiosks would also be helpful and create a safer
environment.
2Better weekend service. Bus service even on weekdays can be a challenge, and on weekends it
can be almost nonexistent on some routes. Posted times may indicate that a bus should pick up
every 15 or 30 minutes, when they may in reality often be as late as 45 minutes between
pickups.
3Training drivers to be more courteous to riders, particularly to Latino riders. Many of the
drivers are young and often show minimal people skills. Also, drivers are often rotated to
different routes, so they're unfamiliar with us and we with them. Having courteous drivers
assigned to the same route could make a big difference in public relations for the whole
system. Drivers are the first line of defense in creating a positive relational environment.
4Develop more internal neighborhood loop routes For years, people have complained that
going from one part of a neighborhood to another part of the neighborhood is problematic.
Spring Branch and Alief are two examples of this. To go from one end of Spring Branch to
the other requires that a person go all the way to downtown and then take another bus to get to
the other end of the suburban neighborhood. I would hope that more short-distance routes
could be created that would create more internal mobility.
Throughout Europe, mass transit is quite good, and it's easy to get a bus, tram or
underground train. Houston will probably never have a public transit system that is this
sophisticated.
Whatever we come up with, buses will be the backbone of any system. So we should make
every effort to create a system that works for all its citizens. I am hopeful that Metros new
changes in bus service will be beneficial to Metro patrons like me.
Instant News Bellaire Council Workshop on Transit Center
February 20, 2015
Local News
The Bellaire City Council will hold a workshop meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, to hear more
about a bus transit facility proposed to be located in or near the city’s Urban Village Transit Oriented
Development District.
The workshop will include a presentation by representatives of the Metropolitan Transit Authority and
the Uptown Houston Management District regarding the latest developments for the Uptown
Houston Mobility Plan.
The $192.5 million project, a joint effort by the Uptown Management District, Metro and the Texas
Department of Transportation, would add center lanes solely for buses to Post Oak and then use
dedicated lanes along Loop 610. The express buses would connect a future Transit Center in or
near Bellaire with the Northwest Transit Center near Interstate 10 and Loop 610.
Bellaire’s Urban Village Transit Oriented District is on the city’s northern boundary. When that zoning
change was made, Bellaire officials had hoped to be connected by a light rail line planned by Metro.
Due to funding constraints, Metro dropped the light rail line.
The Uptown Houston District then came up with its proposals to improve traffic flow on Loop 610
near the Galleria, and through the Galleria area.
City officials visited a variety of developments and Transit Centers last July, in a tour arranged by
Metro and the management district.
Natural Gas Intelligence
Technology Pumps Up CNG Fueling Equipment
Richard Nemec
February 20, 2015
The compressed natural gas (CNG) equipment that is a key to fueling future growth of natural gas vehicles
(NGV) is riding a wave of technology advancements that is pumping new energy into the efforts to develop a
more widespread fueling network for natural gas transportation.
A Landi Renzo unit, Safe North America, and Texas-based Broadwind Energy have developed two 250 hp
CNG compression units (SW Series) that will be available in June for demonstration and sales, according to
the two companies. Italian-based Safe SpA is considered a global leader in CNG equipment.
Broadwind became a partner of Safe's in October. It said all of the compressor's components are Underwriters
Laboratory-approved. The system is water-cooled, which is expected to give the units "superior control and
more consistent operating temperatures to reduce compressor wear," according to Broadwind Vice President
Joe Reisinger.
He told the Fleets & Fuels newsletter that the system is also supposed to be quieter: 75 decibels, or 65 with
optional additional sound insulation. The initial compressors have an output of 540 standard cubic feet/minute
(scfm) and will be able to operate at gas inlet pressures ranging from 15 to 45 psi.
Safe said it now offers SW compressors ranging up to 600 hp with outputs of up to 4,300 scfm, along with a
range of smaller models.
From New Zealand, Oasis Engineering Co. has a new high-speed CNG fueling technology, the "ultra fast fill
system." The key is its breakaway coupler, which is an upgraded version of an older model designed to speed
up CNG fueling and do it more safely, according to company officials.
The coupler is the link between the fuel-supplying CNG compression equipment and the vehicle fuel-handling
system, and its breakaway aspect allows for a safe end to the fueling if a vehicle operator inadvertently pulls
away from the station without decoupling the hose.
"Applications include high-flow CNG systems, such as virtual pipeline transport trailers and bulk storage, as
well as CNG load/unload," according to the Oasis product description. The product is part of the Oasis fast-fill
CNG fueling system complete with compressors, storage and dispensers.
In the United States, Nebraska-based Hexagon Lincoln rolled out an all-composite CNG fuel cylinder (the
Type IV), its largest yet at 27 inches in diameter, offering 160 diesel-gallon-equivalent capacity. It is now
being promoted by Agility Fuel Systems, the tank-maker said.
Originally unveiled last fall, the new tank was developed in less than a year through a Hexagon-Agility joint
venture. Agility also said it is pursuing a $7.5 million factory in Salisbury, NC, to make its CNG systems,
including the Hexagon Lincoln tanks. Whether the tank production will be at that site is still to be determined,
according to Hexagon Vice President Chet Dawes.
In Houston, two CNG fueling station advances were announced in mid-February: a Freedom CNG GE station
set for north Houston and an agreement between Oklahoma City-based Sparq Natural Gas and convenience
store operator Express Fuel Products for another CNG station in north Houston.
CenterPoint Energy will supply the natural gas to both facilities. Freedom CNG's facility will be a public-
access station, opening in the third quarter. Houston Metro is buying 150 CNG buses, and at least 83 of them
are slated to be fueled at the facility.
Using the General Electric "CNG in a Box" fueling system, Sparq said a Valero station in north Houston will
be its first station opened with Express Fuel. GE's CNG system will include remote monitoring, service and
maintenance support. Sparq said it is using Nevada-based Valley Civil Design Group to do site planning,
design and engineering and Oklahoma-based NGV Construction to build the station, which will aim at the
work truck and medium-duty NGV market.
Separately, as another indication of the momentum continuing in the NGV sector, Ryder System Inc., a major
user of NGVs and alternative fuels, said it will train all of its more than 6,000 maintenance/service employees
in NGV technology. "The program will provide the company's technician workforce with knowledge of all
NGV platforms and configurations," Ryder said.
Houston Chronicle (Editorials)
Thumbs up and down
Send elected officials to Mars and beyond, and get UH in the Big 12.
Copyright 2015: Houston Chronicle
February 20, 2015 Updated: February 20, 2015 6:49pm
METRO specific
(down) But as Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace
else." And that makes about as much sense as Metro's decision to design bus rapid transit lanes
down the middle of Post Oak without a bike option. State-of-the-art transportation corridors
accommodate public transportation, cars, bikes, pedestrians, kids and seniors. It's called
Complete Streets, and Metro should be mandated to adopt that philosophy on any new projects.
Read full story
Houston Chronicle
Compson: Uptown lacks benefit of designated bike lanes
By Tom J. Compson | February 17, 2015 | Updated: February 17, 2015 6:32pm
From the window of my Galleria-area office, I can see at least a half-dozen cranes looming over
sites of new hotels, condos and offices. It's exciting to see the new buildings, but it's not so fun
contemplating the additional traffic they are generating on our already overcrowded streets and
highways, with more to come as the new buildings fill up with employees and residents.
I have worked here for more than 16 years and can well attest to Uptown's legendary traffic jams.
The most difficult part of my daily commute is just getting out of Uptown, with the traffic
frequently backed up all the way into our parking garage.
Always susceptible to gridlock, especially at Christmastime, the traffic jams now happen year-
round and last longer each day. Clearly, Uptown badly needs convenient, reliable alternatives to
cars for the tens of thousands of workers and residents who live, work and shop in the area, the
largest business district in the nation outside of a traditional downtown.
One such alternative is bicycling. Houston has made impressive progress in recent years to make
bicycling safer and more convenient.
The Bayou Greenways Initiative, Safe Passing Law and Complete Streets policy are recent
examples, and an updated Bikeway Master Plan, now underway, will identify additional on- and
off-street facilities to fill in the gaps in Houston's bikeway network.
Uptown, however, remains dangerous to navigate by bike, especially during rush hour.
Surrounded on three sides by major freeways, there are few safe options to enter the area by
bike. Once there, a cyclist must navigate streets designed solely to move cars as quickly as
possible, with few accommodations for cyclists. Post Oak Boulevard, Uptown's signature street,
is an obvious example. While biking there can be a death-defying experience, even walking is a
daunting and frightening prospect, with sidewalks located right next to speeding traffic.
The proposed Uptown dedicated bus lanes project ("Bus project along Post Oak appears ready to
roll ahead" Page B3, Jan. 29) will provide one alternative to driving, especially for commuters in
the suburbs who have access to park and ride routes that run to the existing Northwest and
proposed Bellaire/Uptown transit centers. The project features a total rebuild of Post Oak
Boulevard to add dedicated bus lanes in the middle, while preserving existing lanes for cars.
Unfortunately, the plan as currently proposed includes no bike lanes, and maintains wide, high-
speed main traffic lanes. Thus, while it will provide an alternative to driving for suburban
commuters, the current dedicated bus lane plan does nothing for Uptown workers who live close
enough to bike to work, but who won't risk their lives (and their families' livelihoods) to do so. It
also does little for local residents who might like to bike to local shops and restaurants or into
adjoining neighborhoods and parks, including Memorial Park (now a part of the Uptown tax
increment reinvestment zone.)
Adding dedicated bike lanes to the dedicated bus lane project would provide an additional
alternative to those who want access to shops, workplaces and restaurants along Post Oak, as
well as provide connectivity to adjoining neighborhoods, Memorial Park and the Greater
Houston bikeway network.
Bike lanes would also enhance the pedestrian realm by providing a buffer between sidewalks and
automobile traffic. They could be accommodated by making the traffic lanes and medians
slightly narrower. Narrower lanes, by the way, have the additional benefit of acting as a natural
traffic-calming device, while having little if any impact on driving times or capacity (which are
largely controlled by traffic signals at intersections), thus further enhancing safety and comfort
for all - drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
As buses will now have their own dedicated lanes, there will be no need for wide lanes to
accommodate them.
If ever there was a time and place to apply Houston's new Complete Streets policy, this clearly is
it. Let's not miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Uptown area into a truly
world-class destination for all.
2/24/2015 SUMMARY
Here and Now
Redesigning Houston’s METRO System Without Breaking The Bank
Monday, February 23, 2015
Maps of the existing Houston transit system (left) and the new plan (right).
(transitsystemreimagining.com)
While parts of the nation saw serious failures in public transit in the last few weeks, Houston
was busy approving a new transit project that would overhaul the entire METRO bus
network without increasing operating costs.
The plan seeks to broaden the system, allowing riders to get to most areas of the city
without relying on infrequent buses. But that comes with a trade-off: by cutting low-rider
routes, some may be left without public transportation.
Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson speaks with one of the lead designers, Jarrett Walker, about
what goes into redesigning a city’s transit system.
Off The Kuff
Uptown needs bikes
Feb 23rd, 2015
by Charles Kuffner.
Always susceptible to gridlock, especially at Christmastime, the traffic jams now happen year-
round and last longer each day. Clearly, Uptown badly needs convenient, reliable alternatives to
cars for the tens of thousands of workers and residents who live, work and shop in the area, the
largest business district in the nation outside of a traditional downtown.
One such alternative is bicycling. Houston has made impressive progress in recent years to make
bicycling safer and more convenient.
The Bayou Greenways Initiative, Safe Passing Law and Complete Streets policy are recent
examples, and an updated Bikeway Master Plan, now underway, will identify additional on- and
off-street facilities to fill in the gaps in Houston’s bikeway network.
Uptown, however, remains dangerous to navigate by bike, especially during rush hour.
Surrounded on three sides by major freeways, there are few safe options to enter the area by
bike. Once there, a cyclist must navigate streets designed solely to move cars as quickly as
possible, with few accommodations for cyclists. Post Oak Boulevard, Uptown’s signature street,
is an obvious example. While biking there can be a death-defying experience, even walking is a
daunting and frightening prospect, with sidewalks located right next to speeding traffic.
The proposed Uptown dedicated bus lanes project (“Bus project along Post Oak appears ready to
roll ahead” Page B3, Jan. 29) will provide one alternative to driving, especially for commuters in
the suburbs who have access to park and ride routes that run to the existing Northwest and
proposed Bellaire/Uptown transit centers. The project features a total rebuild of Post Oak
Boulevard to add dedicated bus lanes in the middle, while preserving existing lanes for cars.
Unfortunately, the plan as currently proposed includes no bike lanes, and maintains wide, high-
speed main traffic lanes. Thus, while it will provide an alternative to driving for suburban
commuters, the current dedicated bus lane plan does nothing for Uptown workers who live close
enough to bike to work, but who won’t risk their lives (and their families’ livelihoods) to do so.
It also does little for local residents who might like to bike to local shops and restaurants or into
adjoining neighborhoods and parks, including Memorial Park (now a part of the Uptown tax
increment reinvestment zone.)
Adding dedicated bike lanes to the dedicated bus lane project would provide an additional
alternative to those who want access to shops, workplaces and restaurants along Post Oak, as
well as provide connectivity to adjoining neighborhoods, Memorial Park and the Greater
Houston bikeway network.
Bike lanes would also enhance the pedestrian realm by providing a buffer between sidewalks and
automobile traffic.
I agree completely. It doesn’t make sense to spend all that money redoing Post Oak Lane and not
end up with a street that is more bike and pedestrian friendly. There are two ways to deal with
excessive traffic in destinations like Uptown: Make it easier to get there without driving,
primarily for commuters, and make it easier for those who are already there to get around within
the area without driving. Downtown does both of those things. Uptown is working on the first
one, with the BRT line and the HOV lane. It really needs to do the other, and the opportunity to
do that begins with the BRT line construction on Post Oak. I want to be clear that this is the
Uptown Management District’s responsibility. Metro will operate the BRT line once it is built,
but the Management District is doing the design and construction. Please do it right the first time,
y’all.
2/25/2015 SUMMARY
Media Hot Line 713.739.4040
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2015
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. METRO operates more than 1,200 buses, and #System Reimagining is now underway. For a good picture of where we are headed see our new system map. METRO is currently expanding its 13-mile Red Line with two new lines under construction. Other METRO services include: Star Vanpool, METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects. Learn more about METRO visit ridemetro.org where you can download our information about our T.R.I.P. app and our interactive rider tool METRO 360 [take a seat].
MAKE METRO YOUR TICKET TO RIDE THIS RODEO SEASON
Climb Aboard Feb. 26-28 , March 3-22
Climb aboard METRORail for just $1.25 one way or rest your heels with round-trip shuttle service to NRG Park from the Maxey Rd., Monroe, North Shepherd or West Loop Park & Rides!
Just park & pay (cash only) at the Fanning South Park & Ride, and the round-trip fare to NRG Park is covered by your parking fee!
Download flyer (English / Spanish PDF)
METRORail Information to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo >>
Park & Ride Information to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo >>
ROUND-TRIP SHUTTLE PRICES
Maxey Rd., Monroe & West Loop - $4.00
North Shepherd - $6.50
PAYMENT METHODS ACCEPTED
Cash
METRO Q® Fare Card
METRO Day Pass
Please do not reply to this message. We are unable to respond to inquiries sent to this email account.
Contact the METRO Press Office at 713-739-4040.
Transportation Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris
County News Release
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
MAKE METRO YOUR TICKET TO RIDE THIS RODEO SEASON
Climb Aboard Feb. 26-28 , March 3-22
Climb aboard METRORail for just $1.25 one way or rest your heels with round-trip shuttle
service to NRG Park from the Maxey Rd., Monroe, North Shepherd or West Loop Park & Rides!
Just park & pay (cash only) at the Fannin South Park & Ride, and the round-trip fare to NRG Park is covered by your parking fee!
Download flyer (English / Spanish PDF)
METRORail Information to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo >>
Park & Ride Information to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo >>
ROUND-TRIP SHUTTLE PRICES
Maxey Rd., Monroe & West Loop - $4.00 North Shepherd - $6.50
PAYMENT METHODS ACCEPTED
Cash
METRO Q® Fare Card METRO Day Pass
- See more at: http://guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000067791#sthash.I6ugy3YQ.dpuf
Media Alert From TV Eyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
Light rail on KPRC-HOU (NBC) - Houston, TX 02/24/2015 18:14:49 KPRC Channel 2 News at 6PM (News)
... well as deputies, remind you have a loft options, including light rail for getting to the rodeo and this year you have more options than ever. if you're headed to the rodeo, you have a lot of options to get ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro Bus on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/24/2015 22:09:09 KHOU 11 News (News)
... the most recent was shot trng to catch a metro bus. >> they honored him with purple and yellow flowers and a small wooden cross. ...
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro bus. on KHOU-HOU (CBS) - Houston, TX 02/25/2015 01:46:28 KHOU 11 News
... the most recent was shot trying to catch a metro bus. >> they honored him with purple and yellow flowers and a small wooden cross. ...
Houston Chronicle
Wednesday letters: Open carry, Metro rail, dignity
Copyright 2015: Houston Chronicle | February 24, 2015 | Updated: February 24, 2015 7:37pm
Deriding the rails
Regarding "Metro closer to connecting rail riders with new station" (Page B1, Feb. 18), for all of
Houston's progress on diversity, restaurants, jobs, the arts and housing, it still fails miserably
with regard to mass transit. April's opening of its two new light rail lines is a milestone but will
be meaningless without the University and Uptown lines. Metro's light rail system cannot truly
be comprehensive without all the lines working together.
The ban by U.S. Rep. John Culberson of federal money for rail on these lines is one of the
problems Houston faces that Dallas does not.
Klaude Chin, Houston
2/26/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/25/2015 18:41:49 13 Eyewitness News at 6PM (News)
... >> you go straight to the busting cues or you turn to the left and go over to the metro rail which will show you north and south and which train you want to get on and they'll cue you up right here. ...
Abc13 News
RODEO HOUSTON TRANSPORTATION TRICKS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Don't want to drive to the rodeo this year? Try some of these alternative means, from the METRO Rail to Park-and-Ride shuttles
By Rebecca Spera Wednesday, February 25, 2015 07:05PM
When 150,000 are trying to get to NRG Park for the rodeo during rush hour, it can be pure chaos.
Of course, there's the option of packing your patience and driving, but you can also try an
alternative means of transportation. Here are a few.
PARK AND RIDE: Rodeo Express and METRO Park and Ride shuttles run from certain
locations throughout the area to NRG Park. "Those lots will have a Rodeo Express bus service in
them, so when you pull in the lot, you'll see volunteers there to help you get on a bus," says
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo General Manager Joe Bruce Hancock. The buses will drop
off and pick up at the Holly Hall entrance off Fannin.
METRO RAIL: "It's actually growing faster than any other transportation we have," says
Hancock when asked about the METRO Rail. Hop on the rail and ride. The stop will be Fannin
at Holly Hall, right outside of NRG Park. When leaving NRG, the rail line will be inside the park
near Fannin and Hall Hall. There will be two lines: one going North and one going South.
TAXIS AND LIMOS: Taxi and limos are available at Gate 13 of the green lot. This is at Kirby
and Murworth.
UBER: This year, you have the option of taking Uber. You'll find Uber at Gate 14 of the teal lot.
This is at Kirby and Murworth.
The Rodeo Houston app is an easy tool to navigate through traffic, find transportation options,
transportation pricing, and parking or pick-up locations. Or, go online to rodeohouston.com.
And finally, the best time to go to the rodeo? Hancock says, "It's always better to get here as
early as you can. Three, four, five o'clock is a good time slot to come to a 6:45 performance."
KUHF.ORG
Metro Has Options For Avoiding Rodeo Traffic
Rodeo fans can use light rail or take a shuttle from a park-and-ride.
By: Gail Delaughter, February 25th, 2015 06:15 PM
Captured by Houston TranStar in 2013, Metro buses leaving the rodeo.
If you're hoping to avoid traffic jams on the way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
this year, Metro says you have some other options to get there.
A typical scene during the Rodeo involves lines of cars creeping around NRG Stadium. Once you find a place to park it's not always cheap.
Metro Chief Operating Officer Andy Skabowski is encouraging Rodeo goers to let someone
else do the driving.
"You know, we probably move 400,000-500,000 people a year to and from the Rodeo through our bus and rail system," Skabowski says.
You can also buy a ticket and hop aboard a Metro shuttle bus. There's service from four
park-and-rides: Maxey Road, North Shepherd, West Loop, and Monroe Street.
Skabowski says you can also try a local neighborhood bus.
"A lot of the options will end up with connecting you to rail, just because that is one of the easiest ways to get into NRG. Our local network ties back into our rail system very well, and
there are many options that you can use from the local bus side to get to the Rodeo from your home," Skabowski explains.
And for folks who like the evening events, Skabowski says they'll offer rail service as late as
2:00 a.m
2/27/2015 SUMMARY
Media Alert From TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite
(click thumbnail to play)
Metro Bus on KRIV-HOU (FOX) - Houston, TX 02/26/2015 17:30:01 FOX 26 News 5PM (News)
... >> his name is alonzo bihms. he was last seen yet getting on a metro bus. authorities believe he was wearing a light blue shirt with a blue or black pair of pants. he uses a walker to get around. ...
(click thumbnail to play)
METRO on KTRK-HOU (ABC) - Houston, TX 02/26/2015 18:33:14 13 Eyewitness News at 6PM (News)
... >>> to the latest on the serial shooter who has shot five people across the metro area. tonight, one principal has decided to put their school on lockdown during the day until he's caught. ...
Chron.com Man, 96, missing in north Houston
By Dale Lezon | February 26, 2015
Alonzo Bihms went missing about 5 p.m. in the 400 block of East 32nd Street, according to the
Houston Police Department. A neighbor saw him board a Metro bus.
Police are searching for a missing 96-year-old man who disappeared Wednesday after he
boarded a Metro bus in north Houston.
Alonzo Bihms went missing about 5 p.m. in the 400 block of East 32nd Street, according to the
Houston Police Department. A neighbor saw him board a Metro bus.
Police said Bihms is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and he weighs 140 pounds. He has
gray hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a cream-colored hat, brown jacket, light-blue shirt and
blue or brown pants. He uses a walker.
Anyone with information about Bihms' whereabouts is urged to call the HPD Missing Persons
Unit at 713 731-5323.
Fort Bend Star.com COMMENTARY: Do we throw in the towel on commuter rail?
Michael Sudhalter
When pondering commuter rail in Fort Bend County, I often pose the question, “will it happen in
our lifetime?”
Well, I guess it depends on your age. I recently read a Time magazine cover saying that a baby
born in 2015 could live until the age of 142. The optimist in me says that little fellow may live to
see it.
Kudos to local mayors Leonard Scarcella (Stafford) and Allen Owen (Missouri City) for
advocating Commuter Rail over the past 15+ years.
Owen’s city is part of METRO, and often times, METRO is dedicated toward the city of
Houston’s needs, more than some of its member suburbs. That is putting it kindly.
Case In Point: A dozen years ago, voters approved a METRO plan that expand to the U.S. 90-
A/Beltway 8. Hey, it’s not Richmond-Rosenberg, but it’s a start.
In September 2012, METRO’s Board of Directors – without putting the project on the ballot – put
the US 90A rail project on hold to “reassess investment priorities in the region,” according to
METRO spokesman Jerome Gray.
Gray said funds have not been identified for the project, but surprise…guess who’s ahead in
line? Houston neighborhoods such as the East End, Southeast, Post Oak (bus service) and an
overhaul of METRO’s bus system.
Take a number, potential Fort Bend commuter rail riders.
Scarcella, for his part, sits on the board of the Gulf Coast Rail District (GCRD), a group created
in conjunction of Fort Bend and Harris counties, along with the city of Houston – under authority
granted by the State’s Transportation Code.
With all that collaboration, you’d think something would actually get done.
But commuter rail hasn’t been extended by even one centimeter into Fort Bend County.
The GCRD has meeting after meeting, and just released a feasibility study that said a 44.03
mile rail line from the Texas Medical Center to West Fort Bend County would cost approximately
$2.23 billion.
The study lists two positives – connectivity to a major activity center (Houston) and the fact that
it would pass through the Fort Bend cities of Stafford, Missouri City, Sugar Land, Richmond and
Rosenberg.
The negatives? Acquiring land (an important factor), crossing the Brazos River, passing through
the area where the Sugar Land Airport is located, creating elevated sections and relocating US
90-A for approximately a mile.
Ever tried to move an entire highway? It’s no day at the beach.
It sounds like the five “minuses” could add to the already-hefty price tag.
The GCRD has the best of intentions, but creating plans without funds is like planning a Spring
Break trip with $15 in your bank account.
Commuter Rail doesn’t make sense in today’s world, but it could at some point in our
community’s future.
In some other cities, commuter rail and freight trains share tracks, which has proven to be cost
effective.
Union Pacific has made it clear they won’t do that.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable though. UP is a private company that moves a ton of freight in and
out of Houston. Why give up the opportunity to potentially move more freight (and to potentially
lose out on profits, thus costing jobs), just so commuters won’t have to fight traffic?
A better (and cheaper) present-day alternative to commuter rail may be encouraging carpooling
and Park & Rides to the downtown area and Texas Medical Center.
Rail hasn’t picked up traction in our local culture. At least not yet.
The heyday of congressional support for commuter rail was in the 1990s when President Bill
Clinton and a Republican congress teamed up to deliver us a budget surplus.
Cities all over the country were acquiring federal funds, left and right, to fund these projects.
According to Owen, Scarcella and others – U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), one of the most
powerful men in Washington, stood firmly against it.
He’s usually portrayed as an obstructionist by the pro-commuter rail advocates, but perhaps he
knew the community wouldn’t embrace it.
On weekends, a commuter rail from Fort Bend to Houston would probably grind to a halt, in
terms of riders.
Although neighbors, Fort Bend and Houston are distinct communities. If there’s something a
Fort Bend resident would like to do in Houston – a sporting event or musical performance – the
distance and traffic isn’t that excessive on nights and weekends that rail would be a better
option than driving.
I can only recall a few times of riding the METRO Rail into Houston. Part of it was nostalgia (I
grew up in Boston where rail was a big deal), and part of it was during NBA All-Star Weekend in
2013 when I didn’t want to pay in the neighborhood of $50 to park my car near the Toyota
Center.
Despite all of these arguments against commuter rail in 2015, or even 2020, political leaders
must have the foresight of looking 25, 30, or even 100 years into the future.
Owen and Scarcella have a combined 66 years of mayoral experience between them. Certainly,
few would mind if they limited their agendas to issuing sunny proclamations and focusing on
matters inside their own municipal borders.
But given their experience, both mayors understand that commuter rail will become a quality of
life issue that must be addressed at some point in the future.
Just like anything, planning for large projects starts now – not later.
After all, that Time magazine baby may need the commuter rail in 40-50 years when he wants to
get to his job in the Medical Center or downtown, without sitting in eight hours of traffic.