As I mentioned previously, Rad Sallee’s Chronicle story presents both sides of Metro’s new expansion plan, and is filled with interesting bites including this:
[…]the agency plans to build rail corridors served by specially outfitted buses, a system called bus rapid transit.
“Right now, we’re projecting about 8,000 on the busiest one when they open,” he said, referring to the North line from near downtown to Northline Mall.
[snip]
Wilson said opening-day ridership on the next planned light rail line, a crosstown route linking the University of Houston’s central campus, Greenway Plaza and the Uptown-Galleria area, is likely to be 15,000.
But that will climb quickly, he predicted.
It’s no secret how Metro builds rail ridership — it cancels bus routes.
Sallee also talks about Rep. Culberson’s appearance on Edd Hendee’s show (KSEV-700) yesterday when Hendee expressed his displeasure with the expansion plan.
And the funniest part is where former Metro head Shirley DeLibero offers her thoughts on the new plan:
Former Metro President and CEO Shirley DeLibero said she is pleased to see a rail line was going near the Galleria.
As for the rest of the revised plan, she said, “As long as this (bus rapid transit) is a stopgap to the ultimate rail system, I’m OK.”
What a relief! Shirley’s okay with the plan. We can rest easy.
RELATED: White changes mobility plan (Owen Courreges, Lone Star Times), Sucking up all the oxygen… (Sedosi Alhambra)
