ricco67

No, we won't hide from you. As long as you don't have a "I love jack" or "I'm Jack" Shirt. Ricco

BTW: My work is all over town, so I have to drive most frequently. Depending on what's going on, I'll generally park somewhere along the line and ride metro in. (The valet's generally know me well enough to keep my car downstairs if I tell them I'll only be a few minutes. God bless them. Ricco

So you're saying the rest of us in the city lives in slums? Personally, all that couldn't keep me IN the 'burbs. The quality of life improves significantly when you move towards town. You gain several hours a week of your life, your commuting costs are next to nothing, and you're able to enjoy more time with your kids or send them to some of the better private schools here and STILL be able to take them to a movie or dinner at night AFTER they do their homework. Ricco

Dunno, I was actually looking into moving into the place a few years ago. Needless to say, I didn't. The day before i was going to look the place over it caught on fire. THAT caught my attention and looked elsewhere. Ricco

During my insomniac days in my youth, I led a few other (also unemployed) friends through downtown and just walk. we'd check out the art and the buildings in the dead of night (11p-3am). I liked most of the sculpture back then (was considered a serious nerd) and I like it today. Maybe I'll take a few shots of coffee some evening and try to persuade a few of my (few) advertursome friends and see what it's like in those areas. I'm sure it would only take us a few days to recover from that outing. Ricco

MY main delicate flower about jaywalkers include the Medical center. People are so wrapped up in their own lives (talking about the professionals, not the visitors) they simply walk into the street with such wreckless abandon that at one point, some pedistrian on the phone walked in front of me just when MY light turned green, who was immediately followed by a flotilla of doctor's and nurses. I lost it (it was a bad day and behind schedule), got out of my car, stood up and yelled at the lady, "Hey! If traffic was actually moving, you'd have treadmarks on you! Pay ATTENTION when you're talking on that toy of yours!" I won't repeat the rest of what I said, it was far less polite and not nearly as eloquent. On main, you have SOME refuge on main if the light catches you midway across, but the other streets are fair game. It's almost like a scene from "mad max" at the way pediastrians and motorists almost DARE eachother to run into them or cross the street. Enforcement in the city NEEDS to be enforced in downtown. That alone would do two things: It would keep traffic moving smoothly. It would also put some money in the city's coffers. Ricco

I figured I'd re-post this particular article since we never had an opportunity to discuss it at length. Personally, I think jaywalker enforcement in the Medical Center AND Downtown should be more stringent. In the medical center, it's the jaywalkers that cause most of the problems when it comes to traffic there. Personally, I think they should position police in the area from 11a-3p and again at 4p-5p as these are the worst hours. At the same time, they REALLY need to be more patrols along the route for traffic violators as well. Ricco

Aug. 29, 2004, 8:45PM MOVE IT! Metro would be wise to start impressing those who matter By LUCAS WALL Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Metro has been busy cultivating its relationship with a powerful lawmaker. But it must strive to make other friends, too. The transit authority's new leadership has been getting cozy with U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay recently. DeLay, well known as the guy who stopped federal funding for MetroRail, has praised the new direction at Metro. The Sugar Land Republican, in two high-profile speeches this month, has lauded the new board and president's willingness to examine other rail technologies and collaborate with other agencies on regional mobility. Metro's leaders still have work to do, however, in convincing their new buddy to snatch the $830 million they want for light rail expansion. Metropolitan Transit Authority officials also would be smart to improve their relationship with millions of their constituents, some of whom have written me in recent weeks with various complaints. And I have gripes of my own. Downtown leaders have been irate with Metro after its police officers issued a pile of jaywalking tickets to pedestrians at Main Street Square, which my colleague Rad Sallee reported last week. That is certainly no way to make pals. Most people think pedestrian-crossing lights are advisory. If the blue man is glowing, you have the right of way. If the orange hand is lit, you don't. In either case, you should look both ways before crossing. If no vehicles or trains are coming, you should be free to cross. After all, this is how millions of American pedestrians traverse city streets every day. We're not stupid; we're not going to walk in front of a car or train. But we're also not going to stand baking under the 95-degree sun when we can clearly see no traffic heading our way. The priorities of Metro police are odd. I ride MetroRail almost every day. It has been four months since I have seen a police officer on a train checking for tickets and providing security. We all know about the crash problem, yet I rarely see Metro police patrolling the rail line for drivers making illegal turns and running red lights. A man has recently robbed at knifepoint a few riders waiting at McGowen Station in my neighborhood, and some passengers have told me they've been harassed on board by homeless people who don't appear to have bought a ticket. All this is going on, but officers are sent to Main Street Square to ticket people walking across the street? Bus troubles I've had two bad experiences with Metro this month. Three weeks ago I was heading to Hobby Airport. The bus I was waiting for never showed up. I had to call a taxi and scramble to make my flight. The cab cost an extra $21. Last week, I went to a luncheon at the Hilton Americas-Houston. Metro recently decided to again have trolleys stop every block downtown, but all the signs aren't up yet. I waited on McKinney adjacent to the street construction Metro is doing on Travis; there was not a sign. The trolley stopped at the red light and I approached to board. I knocked on the door, not sure if the driver saw me. She had. She shouted, "This is not a stop! I stop at Main." Metro spokesman Ken Connaughton said there's no log of Route 101 being late the morning I almost missed my flight. But Metro can't verify driver logs until next year, when its "smart bus" system comes online. Connaughton advises riders not to wait at bus stops unless a sign for your route is posted. But he also said Metro policy requires drivers stopped at a red light in the curb lane to open the door for a passenger regardless of whether it's a marked stop. New trolley signs should be up this week, he added. Please e-mail comments and questions to traffic@chron.com, call 713-362-6832, fax to 713-354-3061, or mail to Lucas Wall, Houston Chronicle, 801 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002. Make sure to include your name, city or county of residence, and daytime phone number.

Sept. 1, 2004, 10:54PM Hundreds voice opposition to plan for Metro route cuts Many speakers from Kingwood area come forward By LUCAS WALL Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Hundreds of bus riders and their supporters, hoping to spare their routes from the chopping block, crammed Metro's board room during two public hearings Wednesday. The Metropolitan Transit Authority has proposed major cuts in service on 23 routes and modifications to 25 others. Executive Vice President John Sedlak called them the most drastic adjustments to the bus system in a decade. "We have carried a lot of routes that are poor performers," he told some 150 people overflowing into the hallway at the noon hearing. "We have to look at how much it costs to operate these routes." If the plan is enacted by the Metro board of directors later this month, it's estimated to save $12.4 million in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Sedlak noted higher costs for fuel, employee benefits and other items will add about $11 million next year. Metro must find a way to offset those charges if it is to again avoid raising fares, he said. About 50 people spoke at the first hearing, all of whom pleaded for particular routes to be salvaged. While dozens of buses were mentioned by speakers, the most pleas came from riders in the Kingwood area in far northeast Houston. Several speakers criticized the planned discontinuation of Route 55 from Greenspoint to Kingwood via Bush Intercontinental Airport, which just began June 1. "I was shocked when I heard 55 is proposed for elimination," said Robert Conachey of Kingwood, who uses the bus to get to his job in Greenspoint area. "This route has not been in existence long enough for ridership to increase." Metro statistics indicate an average of 541 boardings on Route 55 per day, requiring a taxpayer subsidy of $22.55 per passenger. That is the third most highly subsidized route, according to the figures. Those lobbying to save Route 55 complained Metro has done nothing to entice more riders. "I ask Metro to market the route; give it time to prove itself," said Jack Drake, director of the Greater Greenspoint District. "Given a fair chance, 55 could be a winner." Kingwood residents also asked to keep Route 284 to Greenway Plaza and the Galleria area. Some 40 riders

Just a suggestion, anyone interested in joining up at BW3's on tuesday? 2112 and I have been trying to get something organize, but I haven't heard from Doofus (2112) to confirm, so I took it upon myself to maybe round people up. BW3 @ Midtown. Anyone interested or does someone else have a better idea? Ricco

Obviously, I can't look through past posts to see a previous discussion on this so I'm asking. Driving through (a very busy!) Downtown tonight, I noticed some construction I've been meaning to ask about..It's right next door to The Montague Hotel,What's up there? It says, "Stowers condos" and something about retail on the first floor. Anyone? Anyone? Ricco

Spacecity sez: That is also a very good point. Most larger cities in the U.S. are generally near large bodies of water. This will be a major factor in their growth, I would imagine. The only advantages of being in a Geographical location like Dallas and Kansas city is the fact that it's a Major FED/UPS hubs are located in cities like that. Ricco

the thing that strikes me, you would have figured he would have learned his lesson. One: go to the bathroom BEFORE turning in the ticket... Two: STICK with your wife! I didn't have the nerve to ask what he was doing the other two times. Ricco

I was in Scurlock tower (in the med center) waiting for my car to be brought down by the valet, when I spotted this little old lady climb into the car that they had brought down to her. Didn't think a thing about it as she drove off. Just as she was turning onto fannin and disappearing from view...I heard a man behind me yelling. Turning around I saw this old man running (well..hobbling, actually) yelling: "Wait! Damnit! Wait!" I asked, "What happend? Did she forget something?" as I was getting ready to run after the car before the light turned green. "Yes, she sure did, she forgot ME!" I just stared at him in disabief and then noticed the traffic was moving....along with his ride. "Yep. Forgot I was with her..again. Don't worry, she'll get home and realize it." "Where do you live? I can give you a lift, maybe?" I asked. "Huntsville." At that point, I gave him my cell and asked him to call a relative who lived nearby. Turns out this was the 3rd time in 4 months. The people I get to meet. I offered my card in the hopes of saving this man some grief in the future. BTW: his son called a cab for him. Ricco

Mancuso... You never did tell us on what Santa is REALLY like. Ricco

actually, if it's possible, you should add "A combo of one or two" since some probably go to a park and ride, and take a Bus/train combo, and whatnot. Ricco

Aman, Subdude. I say the same thing. Besides, it takes a lot of energy for me to type out my long winded posts. AND I like the new format as well. Ricco

by "massive" commutes depends if you are planning on working on the mainland and depends on what your occupation. To get anywhere on the island isn't a major hassle. But getting on and off the island is a pain. I figure about 30 minutes to get to clear lake...assuming you're doing 40mph or so. The forum members that live in the area would probably know better than I. One thing you will learn about living in Texas, the distances are VAST, compared to Chicago, so you'll have some adjustments to make. Take to consideration my former commute time: From Jersey Village to the Galleria is approx. 16 miles. Head out at 6am, get there at 7. (if I'm lucky) Left at 4p, got home at 5:30. (if I'm lucky) You can do the math for 16 miles a day for 25 days, along with fuel and time calculations. I'm just giving you a basis of MY experience with commuting that particular distance. Your inconvience factor my vary. In galveston, you'll have to ask anyone on here to lived here to take THEIR vantage point into consideration. Ricco

shaddup, newbie. When is BW3? Next week or the week after? Ricco

Aug. 31, 2004, 12:11AM Freight lines studied for commuter rail By LUCAS WALL Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle AUSTIN - State transportation officials are beginning a study of freight rail lines in the Houston area, including examining their possible use in future commuter rail operations. Harris County recently completed a preliminary study, but the Texas Department of Transportation says it wants to take a more regional look. The county identified nine railroad crossings it considers top priorities for grade separations, which increase safety and improve traffic flow. Last year, the county's consultant finished a preliminary look at running commuter trains in the U.S. 290 and Texas 249 corridors. Commissioners Court earlier this year tabled a $420,000 contract to expand the commuter rail study to six other corridors. Harris County Judge Robert Eckels has said he wants the study broadened to include the seven surrounding counties. "It became quite evident soon on that the study needs to be expanded to a regional basis," Gary Trietsch, TxDOT's Houston District engineer, told the Texas Transportation Commission last week. "TxDOT will take on that role to look at multiple counties, looking at all rail elements including how they will tie into Metro's light rail plan, and to see if we can get agreements by all parties on where we ought to be with rail." Commission Chairman Ric Williamson said Gov. Rick Perry is interested in seeing the state help metropolitan areas relocate freight trains outside city neighborhoods and convert the old tracks into commuter lines. The governor expects to push the Legislature to address this issue in next year's session, Williamson said Thursday. 713-362-6832 traffic@chron.com

Good. go get me a beer.

Actually, it's probably for the best. Alot of the members on here were people that logged in once or twice and then left. Few "lurkers" were around. That would be an interesting bit of info, though. what were the contributor/Lurker/member ratio. Ricco

welcome to the board, Snickers. It depends on the lifestyle that you plan on leading and WHERE in galveston you plan on making your purchase. Personally, I'd stay away from literally at the beach, as this could be a bad thing once a hurricane would come by and take your take your beach with it. If you plan on living AND working in Galveston, then it would be great, if you plan on working anyplace else, then I'd say you're up for a massive commute. Just my two cents. Ricco

Truly, subdude. I, and others, need to thank Wayne for his work this past weekend, for what I'm sure was a hard fought war to get this system back up and running. As far as the attack itself goes, it may not be aimed SPECIFICALLY at HA, but rather it was an opportunisitic attack. It's a fairly common occurance on the web, unfortunately. Usually the major casualties are "smaller" websites like these. Ricco

I voted for Brown because of various issues (including light rail) that he presented to the table during his rush to get elected. I voted for white because he seemed like he would be a good mayor because of his background and experience. He also seemed like he was a very decent man as well. Sanchez struck me as fiscally irresponsible and a jerk. A number of people who met him verified that fact, so I voted against him. Ricco