Council delays Metro vote

City Council has delayed for a week a vote on the consent agreement with Metro to build more light rail lines.

"I think we have a good agreement," said Councilwoman Sue Lovell, "and at some point in time we have to step up and take a vote."

Councilman Peter Brown agreed, saying that when it comes to mass transit, Houston is "woefully behind Atlanta and behind Denver."

"Delay just sends the wrong message," he said.

Councilwoman Pam Holm said that after waiting so long for rail, council can afford to study the document another week before voting.

"This will be the backbone of a transportation system for the next 100 years," Holm said.

Councilwoman Jolanda Jones said she gave Metro a list of questions Tuesday and wanted to hear the answers before voting.

Councilman Ron Green said that although he supports rail, he felt like he was being asked to vote on "a blank sheet of paper."

"I want to get assurances from Metro that they have told us everything we need to know to make a decision and that everything they need is in the agreement, and that they won't come back later and want to change it," Green said after the meeting.

Metro CEO Frank Wilson said Metro will address council members' concerns. A week's delay would have no major effect on the transit agency's plans, he said.

I don't know if the fussing Council had done previously had an effect, but the comments here are pretty calm. As I said before, I expect this will pass overwhelmingly when it does come up for a vote, which should be next week.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on June 12, 2008 to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles