Support for mass transit in Houston

[editor]

This is a press release I got yesterday from Metro. It's kind of propaganda-y, but a lot of HAIFers like chart pr0n, so here it is:

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TRAFFIC CONGESTION NO. 1 CONCERN AMONG HOUSTONIANS

MAJORITY THINK MASS TRANSIT IS SOLUTION

Traffic congestion is the top concern of Houstonians, the 2008 Houston Area Survey shows, and the majority of respondents think mass transit, including light rail, is a key piece of the answer.

The results are not a surprise to METRO, which recently conducted its own survey of Houstonians, and has seen its ridership continue to rise in the first six months of FY 2008.

[crunchtastic]

"Provides a lifeline for people in need" ????? That choice of words is a tad OTT, methinks. It's METRO, not the Red Cross.

[jb4647]

"Provides a lifeline for people in need" ????? That choice of words is a tad OTT, methinks. It's METRO, not the Red Cross.

Those that think this kind of language is "over the top" obviously hasn't had to depend of public transporation to get them to their jobs and/or school. I'm doing well for myself now careerwise but I can still vividly remember relying on Metro to get me back and forth between home-UH-work during the 90's. I had a car at the time but it was a clunker and I couldn't afford to repair it often enough to use it. Taking the bus was a pain but it was my only alternative. I always thought then as I do now that if the "powers that be" had to use the bus, they would design the system better.

I also believe that the reason the "powers that be" have fought rail tooth and nail is because if the suburbanites had that option, they'd flock to it in droves and leave their gas-guzzling SUV's at home.

[musicman]

"Provides a lifeline for people in need" ????? That choice of words is a tad OTT, methinks. It's METRO, not the Red Cross.

LOL. Sounds like something you'd hear in an ICU.

Edited April 24, 2008 by musicman

[H-Town Man]

Of course there's support for mass transit in Houston. We had a referendum about it all the way back in 2003, and it passed. We already knew there was support. But here we are, almost five years later, and not even a date for construction has been set.

[editor]

I always thought then as I do now that if the "powers that be" had to use the bus, they would design the system better.

That's an interesting thought. I don't think you'd ever see Bill White riding metro on a regular basis (even though the last two mayors of New York have made a point of taking public transit to work each day), I think it would be interesting for Metro to have a goal of 30, 40, or even maybe 50% of its employees using Metro to get to work. Maybe the bus cleaners, mechanics, service agents, etc... would work a little harder if they were given a taste of their own medicine.

[mojeaux131]

That's an interesting thought. I don't think you'd ever see Bill White riding metro on a regular basis (even though the last two mayors of New York have made a point of taking public transit to work each day), I think it would be interesting for Metro to have a goal of 30, 40, or even maybe 50% of its employees using Metro to get to work. Maybe the bus cleaners, mechanics, service agents, etc... would work a little harder if they were given a taste of their own medicine.

Of course you wouldn't because he most likely doesn't live near an existing line. When I used to argue with my friends about rail, they'd always say something like, "It doesn't go anywhere! It should go to the suburbs or something." Of course I would then have to reiterate for the fourth time that it has to be a little before it can be a lot.

Edit: I totally forgot Metro includes buses. My bad. Still though, that flawed logic I mentioned was both prevalent and stupifying.

Edited April 25, 2008 by mojeaux131

[RedScare]

Maybe the bus cleaners, mechanics, service agents, etc... would work a little harder if they were given a taste of their own medicine.

Do you have proof that they don't? I can honestly say I have never ridden a dirty METRO bus, can't remember the last time I saw one that had not been washed recently, and METRO mechanics routinely win the "bus rodeo". I realize that it is a sign of one's conservative bona fides to criticize public transit, but since I do not see the things that you claim, I feel compelled to disagree.

[houstonmacbro]

I also believe that the reason the "powers that be" have fought rail tooth and nail is because if the suburbanites had that option, they'd flock to it in droves and leave their gas-guzzling SUV's at home.

Not sure what you mean by this or where you're going with this train of thought...?

Why would anyone (locally) be against this?

Or by powers that be, do you mean big oil?