Photo by pfrench99There had been a bit of a dust-up this week because the Metro board didn't release the details of the most expensive infrastructure contract in the city's history before the Board of Directors voted on it this afternoon. Perhaps to reconcile, Chairman David Wolff broke standard procedure at today's meeting and allowed public comments, "because it was so important." Barry Klein, an out-spoken critic of the rail, spoke first, and after he did, board Wolff said: "We appreciate him
The city's bus company shows little inclination to pay up or change its ways, even after it smacks into people like its own employee Clarence Santee Jr.
Photo by pfrench99More news -- good or bad depending on your side of the fence -- about Metro's planned light-rail lines came today when board chairman David Wolff announced that Metro has all but got its first funding agreement from the Federal Transit Administration.For 2010, the feds listed the North and Southeast corridors as two of the five recommended projects on its budget, and Metro is set to get $75 million for each. Construction on both lines could start as early as June, Wolff s
The Citizens Transportation Coalition is currently giddy with dreams of 90 MPH commuter trains speeding from Galveston and down 290 into the city...possibly by 2012, which sounds like the far future but is only three years away. There hasn't been much public movement on commuter rail since the HGAC's study was released a year ago. But quietly, gears are meshing, and we may have commuter rail to Galveston and Hempstead as early as 2012.On Thursday, the North Houston Association hosted a high-p
We may finally have some answers to the questions that emerged after it was reported that Metro lied about the cost of two proposed light rail corridors. During a Metro meeting in April, Houstonian Paul Magaziner told the board that the projects would cost $1.8 billion. Frank Wilson, Metro's president, told Magaziner that those numbers were "extremely exaggerated."But according to documents from the Federal Transit Administration -- obtained by Hair Balls today -- Metro is seeking federal fun
