Category Archives: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Parker names new Metro board

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. [Mayor Annise Parker’s] choices, which require City Council approval, include Gilbert Garcia, an investment banker and Parker transition team co-chair; Christof Spieler, a blogger and transportation analyst on the board of the Citizens’ Transportation Coalition; lawyers Dwight E. Jefferson … Continue reading →

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Parker reaffirms commitment to light rail

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is what I want to see. [Mayor Annise] Parker’s letter regarding this week’s Metro board meeting was sent on the eve of her trip to Washington, where she said she would reassure U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that her … Continue reading →

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Metro asks consultant to investigate Wilson allegations

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if there’s anything to the hype. A consultant with expertise in identifying business fraud will investigate allegations that Metro’s chief executive used public funds in an inappropriate relationship with his assistant, the agency announced today. David Wolff, the … Continue reading →

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The Hempstead line

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another story about progress on a proposed commuter rail line, this one out US 290. A study to determine ridership on the line, which would go as far west as Hempstead, will be done. The Houston-based engineering firm Klotz … Continue reading →

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No texting while driving in Conroe

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Conroe is set to join the parade of cities banning texting while driving. The ordinance is expected to be introduced at the March 25 meeting and could take effect in April. Those in violations of the proposed law would face … Continue reading →

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More on Metro’s finances

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes a closer look at Metro’s finances and the recently expressed doubts about their ability to pay for the University and Uptown lines. Mayor Annise Parker said last week that she wasn’t convinced the Metropolitan Transit Authority would … Continue reading →

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Sneak peek at new light rail stations

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

With all the allegations of naughty emails and debates over whether or not the two U lines will get built, it may be hard to remember that we do have three light rail lines in the works. We’re still a … Continue reading →

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Got evidence?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you saw Wednesday night’s rather sensational coverage of the allegations that Metro CEO Frank Wilson had an “improper” relationship with an employee, you would have come away with the impression that things were about to go all Chuck Rosenthal … Continue reading →

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Galveston County transportation district

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least somebody is moving forward with rail plans. The creation of a Galveston County urban and rural transit district would potentially pull together all 13 municipalities in the county, providing a single voice to negotiate with Houston Metro, … Continue reading →

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Parker expresses doubt about University and Uptown lines

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is not the sort of thing I want to see. Mayor Annise Parker cast doubt Wednesday on whether the Metropolitan Transit Authority has the money to pay for two planned light-rail lines that proponents say are critical to the … Continue reading →

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Metro CEO accused of inappropriate relationship with employee

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least we now have some idea of what Lloyd Kelley has been looking for. The president and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority was accused in open court Wednesday of having an improper relationship with a female employee … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Wolff

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

David Wolff has been the Chair of the Metro Board since 2004. He will be stepping down as soon as Mayor Parker names a replacement for him. With all that’s been going on regarding Metro in the news lately, I … Continue reading →

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Interview with John Breeding

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I noted that several business owners along Post Oak had gotten together with one of the local anti-Metro agitators to complain about what was going on with the Uptown Line and make claims about working to stop it … Continue reading →

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Criminal probe of Metro document shredding begins

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t wait to see how this turns out. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has begun a criminal investigation into allegations that the Metropolitan Transit Authority improperly destroyed public documents, a prosecutor confirmed Friday. The statement by Terese Buess, … Continue reading →

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Uptown agitation

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A bunch of business owners along a proposed light rail corridor are upset with Metro. Business owners along Post Oak Boulevard met for about two hours Thursday in an effort learn about … Continue reading →

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Kelley claims Metro is holding out

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So now the Metro document shredding case gets more interesting. Documents supplied by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in response to Houston attorney and former City Controller Lloyd Kelley’s open records request were incomplete and “sanitized,” Kelley said Friday. “I know … Continue reading →

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Please don’t shred the documents

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t good. At a crucial moment in the development of its light rail system, Metro confronted accusations Wednesday that it shredded documents sought in an open-records request, then fired two attorneys who objected to its handling of the request. … Continue reading →

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More on streetcars in Fort Worth

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The TCU Daily Skiff writes about Fort Worth’s plans for streetcars. The city of Fort Worth plans to move forward with bringing in a nationally recognized consultant to finalize aspects of a modern streetcar system that would consist of an … Continue reading →

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Red light camera referendum may be coming

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been expecting this to happen for awhile now. Two lawyers who are suing the city over Houston’s red-light camera program and their supporters said Friday they need 20,000 signatures for a citywide referendum to end what they called a … Continue reading →

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Mayor and Metro spar over fares

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Soon-to-be-former Metro Chair David Wolff has sent a letter to Mayor Parker in response to her recent comments about possibly reducing fares as a way of increasing ridership. Eliminating fares on Metro buses and trains, as Mayor Annise Parker recently … Continue reading →

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IH-10/White Oak detention facilities public hearing

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: TxDOT is working toward adding frontage roads to IH-10 inside the loop and separating the depressed section of IH-10 from White Oak Bayou. TxDOT is required to provide new flood mitigation facilities to offset impacts … Continue reading →

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More FTA funds for North and Southeast lines

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From Houston Tomorrow: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released its recommendations for the President’s FY2011 Budget, which include $75 million each for Houston’s North (pdf) andSoutheast Light Rail Lines (pdf), continuing the funding that began in the previous year. The Metropolitan Transit … Continue reading →

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Harris County rejoins Texas High Speed Rail group

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County is once again a part of the Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation after Commissioners Court voted to start paying its dues again. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole put high-speed rail on Tuesday’s agenda, saying Harris County … Continue reading →

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Bikes on trains action alert

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from Peter Wang: Thursday, February 11, 2:00 pm Support Bikes on Trains at the Houston Transportation Committee Meeting. If you ride in Houston, please attend this important meeting! Houston-area cyclists- This Thursday, February 11, the Houston City Council … Continue reading →

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The Mayor on Metro

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, one of Mayor Annise Parker’s transition teams is looking at Metro. We won’t get their report till the end of the month, but here’s a peek at some of the things they’re thinking about. Parker has signaled … Continue reading →

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The Chron on the lost SUPERTRAIN opportunity

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron is none too pleased with the way Texas fared with federal funds for high speed rail. Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Chris Lippincott stated the obvious: Texas needs to have more plans in that “shovel-ready” shape. Lippincott says … Continue reading →

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I-10 frontage road update

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: More than 120 residents attended an informational meeting January 6th convened by State Representative Jessica Farrar concerning proposed IH-10 frontage roads inside the IH-610 loop. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and District H Council Member Ed … Continue reading →

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Why was EZ Tag airport parking so expensive to operate?

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the program that allows people with EZ Tags in their cars to use them to pay for parking at the airports is going to be shut down because it was losing money. This Chron article that examines … Continue reading →

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It’s our own fault we missed out on SUPERTRAIN funds

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “If Texas had had its act together, it would have gotten some high-speed rail money,” the Obama administration Cabinet official told reporters. Thirty-one states shared $8 billion in rail grants from the 2009 economic … Continue reading →

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The SUPERTRAIN passes us by

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We knew we weren’t going to get much in the way of funding for high speed rail in Texas, but it still kinda stings to see just how little we got. The $3.75 million that the Lone Star State will … Continue reading →

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Those uncollected surcharges

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on the Texas Driver Responsibility Program, which was created in 2003 as a way to raise revenue by adding hefty extra fees to certain moving violations. “It’s a complete failure,” said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, … Continue reading →

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San Antonio to seek federal funds for streetcar system

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Another step forward for San Antonio’s quest to lose its title as the most populous city in America without rail transit. VIA Metropolitan Transit’s trustees on Tuesday approved the routes for a streetcar system and directed agency staff to seek … Continue reading →

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Austin’s rail service to get started in March

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Austin’s long-awaited rail service, which was approved by the voters in 2004, is finally ready to roll. After what seems like endless series of problems and delays, Cap Metro has announced that light rail service will begin in March. Service … Continue reading →

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Expanding Metro

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Soon-to-be-former Metro Chair David Wolff riffs off of a Chron editorial that lamented the lack of connectivity between Metro and some new bus routes in Harris County and makes the case for expanding Metro’s service area. The first steps toward … Continue reading →

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