Tag Archives: Metro

Metro’s costs and critics

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this story regarding different cost estimates for the construction of the four remaining light rail lines. The price tag for the city’s four new light rail lines will be: A) $1.46 billion; B) … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro’s costs and critics

Katy Freeway managed lanes set to open

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof notices a banner ad on chron.com for the Katy Freeway managed lanes, which are set to open on Monday, April 18, and gives us an update on them. The lanes will now be open 24 hours a day, 7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Katy Freeway managed lanes set to open

OK, you can use some stimulus money on rail

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Whew! Federal transit officials on Tuesday reversed course and agreed to allow Metro to use nearly $30 million in economic stimulus funds for utility relocation work on the proposed North and Southeast rail lines, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee announced. Just … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stimulus? What stimulus?

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m basically agnostic about the plan to convert HOV lanes to HOV-plus-toll lanes that Metro is floating. Like Christof, who was quoted in the story, I don’t think it will make that much difference in terms of actual traffic flow, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Stimulus? What stimulus?

Crosstown (rail) traffic

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Approving the construction contract with Parsons is a big step forward for the long-awaited light rail expansion in Houston. But there’s still a lot more to be done. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will look to the Federal Transit Administration for … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crosstown (rail) traffic

Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The following is a press release from a coalition of activists, including the Sierra Club, Environment Texas, Independent Texans, Houston Tomorrow, and the CTC: Representatives of a broad coalition of quality of life, political reform, and environmental groups and citizens … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

Metro approves contract with Parsons

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.46 billion contract for four new light rail lines, which would add 20 miles to its lone seven-mile line along Main Street. Under the contract, which came … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro approves contract with Parsons

Metro to vote on rail contract

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The good news: Metro is set to vote on the contract to build the next light rail lines. The bad news is that they’re doing is amid headlines like Metro refuses to discuss rail contract details before vote. The Metropolitan … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro to vote on rail contract

ULI Mayoral candidate forum report

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As I am not a member of the Urban Land Institute of Houston, I did not get an invitation to their members-only Mayoral candidate forum on Thursday, which got a brief mention in the Chron on Friday. Fortunately, Andrew Burleson … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ULI Mayoral candidate forum report

The whys and wherefores of bus rapid transit

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mean Green Cougar Red has a good discussion of what bus rapid transit (BRT) is and isn’t, and what its pros and cons are. The two main points: 1. The definition of “true” BRT is important. A lot of bus … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The whys and wherefores of bus rapid transit

Metro vote on light rail contract delayed

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rats. Metro’s board Chairman David Wolff has called off [today]’s vote on a contract with the agency’s rail builder in favor of a special board meeting next month. The Metropolitan Transit Authority has been in negotiations with Parsons Transportation Group … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro vote on light rail contract delayed

A tale of two Orlandos

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Orlando Sanchez, speaking last week in a Statesman article about the statewide ambitions of Houston Mayor Bill White, who beat him soundly in the 2003 runoff: He doesn’t discount him but suggests White has gotten a free ride in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A tale of two Orlandos

Some action on the rail construction front

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Finally. After two years of negotiations with two firms, the Metropolitan Transit Authority may be close to reaching a deal with a contractor to build and operate its next four light rail lines. “We’re in final negotiations,” said George Smalley, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Some action on the rail construction front

More transportation conversation

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good comments and followup to my earlier post about traffic in the inner core. I want to address Cory’s questions regarding BRT. The short answer is that I have no particular objection to BRT – it’s a perfectly fine … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More transportation conversation

Over/under

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some East End residents are still unhappy about the way the Harrisburg light rail line is shaping up. East End residents overwhelmingly supported the rail line in a 2003 referendum, thinking it would boost the redevelopment already taking place. Back … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A piece of the stimulus pie for Metro

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This would be nice. Houston Metro is due to receive as much as $180 million over the next 12 months from a huge economic stimulus bill to help jump-start construction of two light rail lines, a House committee chairman said … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A piece of the stimulus pie for Metro