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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1

Legislative Changes to Governance Structure of METRO Board

Allen Watson Vice Chairman

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

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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

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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.

Monthly Media Report

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

by david.crossley@houstontomorrow.org

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

(click thumbnail to play)

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 ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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 ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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 ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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 ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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 ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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. ...

(click thumbnail to play)

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 matt@vox.com

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.