Tag Archives: Metro

Bonding Metro

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It wouldn’t be Metro if there weren’t drama. Metro has not obtained performance or payment bonds to cover all the planned construction of four new light rail lines, and some officials say that could put taxpayer dollars at risk. Metro … Continue reading →

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Metro and its art deco demolition debacle

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I saw this Swamplot report yesterday and I thought “Why, Metro, why? Why are you pissing off your supporters so?” This timely building at 4819 Harrisburg in Eastwood, built in 1935 for the Sterling Laundry & Cleaning Co., showed up … Continue reading →

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A solution in search of a problem

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We were out of town over the weekend, so I managed to miss this Bill King op-ed about the “need” to elevate the Main Street line on Fannin in the Medical Center area. Having now read it, I have three … Continue reading →

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Transit corridors ordinance approved

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not all that it could have been, but it’s a start. Passengers stepping off trains in Houston’s expanding light rail network will be more likely to encounter walkable environments and interesting destinations because of action taken Wednesday by the … Continue reading →

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Metro gets FTA final design approval for North and Southeast lines

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Another step forward. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave METRO permission today to enter into Final Design on Houston’s North and Southeast light-rail lines. The FTA’s approval is the final prerequisite toward entering Full Funding Grant Agreements on both lines, … Continue reading →

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The streetscape for the Universities line

Posted on August 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

RichmondRail.org has a suggestion for Metro. For the coming light rail line to be a true asset to our neighborhoods, the streets leading to the transit stations must accommodate pedestrians more safely and comfortably than is typical for Houston streets … Continue reading →

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Metro meetings update

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Carolyn Feibel follows up on the matter of Metro not posting committee meeting notices online. To clarify one point: Metro board committees always meet right before the regular board meetings, on the same day. Those meeting times and agendas are … Continue reading →

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Parker’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tis the season for Mayoral candidates to send out position papers on various issues. I’ve gotten a couple in my mailbox in the past few days and want to spend a little time examining them. First up is Annise Parker’s … Continue reading →

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Commuter rail update

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof has some surprisingly good news for those who want to see commuter rail in the Houston area. There hasn’t been much public movement on commuter rail since the HGAC’s study was released a year ago. But quietly, gears are … Continue reading →

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Post the meeting notices already

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, it’s not so easy finding out when Metro has a committee meeting. Metro does post the time of its regular monthly board meeting on its Web site, but not for the committee meetings. Reporting on government agencies has taught … Continue reading →

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At least now we know what he does with his time

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, Orlando Sanchez, our do-nothing County Treasurer, is a closet urbanist. I’ll direct you to Greg for a thorough review of Sanchez’s vision for Washington Avenue, to which there’s not much to add. I will note that Sanchez continues to … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Long train running

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of all the train–related news from the week, here are ten train-related songs. 1. Death’s Black Train Is Coming – Gob Iron 2. Hold That Train – Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials 3. Midnight Train – Guy … Continue reading →

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Metro light rail groundbreaking

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Asa we know, today was groundbreaking day for Metro on the North and Southeast lines. Here’s the coverage I could find: an oddly negative story from KTRK, stories from Fox and KHOU, and a story from Texas Cable News that … Continue reading →

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Metro to break ground on North and Southeast lines

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Woo hoo! The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will be breaking ground July 13 on the next phase of the MetroRail. Metro will begin construction on the North rail corridor which will connect to the Red Line at the … Continue reading →

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Stimulus funds and road projects

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Stimulus funds are coming to a road that may be near you. Texas received $2.25 billion from the stimulus for transportation. That’s on top of the $3 billion it got in federal highway funds this year. The regular federal allotment … Continue reading →

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Critics criticize: Film at 11

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to outsource most of the commentary on this week’s Move It! column about Metro critics criticizing Metro for doing something they disagree with to Greg, who says most of what I’d say. The main thing I’d add is … Continue reading →

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Moving rail outward

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

David Crossley of Houston Tomorrow contributes a blog post to the Chron about an idea for transit in the Energy Corridor out west on I-10 that’s as interesting in its origins as it is in its concept. Check it out.

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Anti-Metro amendment officially dead

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. State lawmakers today voted unanimously to kill a provision that could have complicated the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light-rail plans. The House removed language from a local transportation bill for Austin that would have put limits on Metro’s authority to … Continue reading →

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Would-be Metro killer outs himself

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I had wondered who was behind that anti-Metro amendment from the weekend. Now I know. A local light rail opponent claimed credit Tuesday for working with an El Paso legislator to try to block Metro’s ability to build the University … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Anti-Metro amendment removed

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m pleased to report that the anti-Metro amendment that was in SB1263 has been removed. I am told that Rep. Ellen Cohen discussed the matter with Rep. Pickett, who agreed to remove the Houston-specific language. This is great news, not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Westpark zealots try to pull a fast one

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just yesterday, the Chron wrote an editorial about how everything was coming up roses and daffodils for Metro lately, thanks to some federal funding (with more in the pipeline) for the light rail expansion and a generally favorable political climate. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Intermodal Transit Center update

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot has a spiffy picture of the proposed Intermodal Transit Center on North Main, which last we checked may or may not actually get built. But we’ll always have the pretty pictures, whatever else may happen. Check it out.

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The squiggle

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So now we know that the new soccer stadium is likely to happen, even though Commissioners Court continues to take its sweet time about it. We know that the new light rail lines, including the Southeast and Harrisburg lines, are … Continue reading →

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More on Metro’s costs

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The West U Examiner ran a similar story to the one about Metro’s costs and critics last week, in which the same questions about the cost estimates were raised by the same critic. The basic points are identical, so there’s … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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