Christof says that we'll be seeing "a lot of press coverage on Richmond rail in the next few days", thanks to the METRO board meeting on the rail line tomorrow and a protest by the anti-Richmond people today. While the antis have a lot of (apparently bad) information that they're freely giving out, METRO is not so good on the distribution front, which is a shame and sadly not out of character for them. In an attempt to fill that gap, Christof has created a FAQ, which he describes as "a list of the questions I hear asked about rail that METRO ought to be answering". Check it out, and give him some feedback in the CTC forum.

Information about tomorrow's METRO board meeting is included in a CTC press release that I've reprinted beneath the fold. It's unfortunate that they're holding this in the middle of a workday, but that's how it is. If you can be there, you ought to try.

HOUSTON LIGHT RAIL REQUIRES FACTS NOT POLITICS SAY CITIZENS: CITIZENS DEMAND METRO MUST KEEP RICHMOND LIGHT RAIL ON THE TABLE; CALL FOR OPEN AND FAIR PUBLIC PROCESS TO STUDY ALL THE OPTIONS

(Houston) - A small group of businesses and residents led by state Representative Martha Wong and US Congressman John Culberson are politicizing what should be an open public process and fact-based analysis to determine the best light rail route to serve central Houston's businesses, universities, institutions, and neighborhoods.

The "Richmond Area Residents and Businesses for Rail (RARBFR)" are raising serious and important concerns about METRO's Universities line rail project. At a public protest Wednesday and again at Thursday's METRO board meeting, they will demand METRO take Richmond off the table before it has even been studied. This is the wrong answer.

In contrast, many organizations, including the Citizens' Transportation Coalition, the Neartown Association, the Menil Foundation, Houston Community College Central Campus, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Museum District Business Alliance (MDBA), and others are calling for METRO to study all of the options, effectively engage the public, and address community concerns in the planning process.

What: METRO Board meeting - Public Comments
More than 40 neighborhood leaders to address the Board

When: Thursday, February 16, 2006 from 1:00 pm to ~ 3:00 pm

Where: METRO Administration Building, 2nd floor board room
1900 Main St, between Pierce & St. Joseph Pkwy, Houston, 77002

Houstonians deserve the best transit system we can build, which means looking at all possible choices of where to put rail. Politicians must not prematurely determine a route based on their needs.

CONTACT:

Robin Holzer
Chair, Citizens' Transportation Coalition
h (713) 526-2283
m (713) 301-5716