Metro must still think the path to increased ridership includes cutting bus routes, because Metro has a new round of “service adjustments” ready to go:
METRO will conduct two public hearings to receive comments on considered service adjustments for Sunday, January 23, 2006. METRO has scheduled the public hearings for:
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Noon and 6 p.m.
1900 Main Street
Board Room, Second floor
In the Central Business District/Downtown
At Main Street and St. Joseph Parkway
Location is wheelchair accessible.METRO is evaluating the following route, schedule and facility modifications. Please review the information for any changes that may affect your daily commute.
NOTE: Routes considered for elimination have experienced low ridership for an extended time. In most cases, METRO offers alternate service in the affected areas. By discontinuing low-performing routes, METRO makes the best use of its resources, including your tax dollars, and continues to offer affordable, reliable and accessible service to our community.
I’ll put the (very long) list of adjustments in the extended entry, but I do have a question about one of them:
37 El Sol
Sunday – Throughout the day change frequency from 35 to 50 minutes to match ridership demand. Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – Modified the route to remove it from portions of Glendale, Hanover, and Woodvale (effective 8/14/05).
How is a bus rider supposed to know when the bus will arrive if the frequency changes depending on demand? How does someone plan to get to an appointment or to work if they can’t be sure when the bus will arrive?
And remember that more bus route cuts were in Metro’s new budget, in direct contrast to the Metro Solutions plan that voters approved, where Metro promised a 50% increase in bus service.
3 Langley/West Gray
Weekday – Discontinued the 12:19 am northbound trip (effective 9/9/05). Discontinue service to Goodwill Industries old location at 5200 Jensen. Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – Adjusted pullout routing for more effective service (effective 8/14/05).4 Beechnut
Weekday – Adjusted AM and PM frequencies to match ridership demand (effective 8/14/05)7 Tanglewood
Weekday, Saturday – Route renumbered to the 6 Tanglewood (effective 8/14/05).14 Hiram Clarke
Weekday – Discontinue the 5:06 a.m. southbound trip due to low ridership.17 Gulfton
Weekday, Saturday – Route renumbered to 9 Gulfton (effective 8/14/05).18 Kirby Limited
Saturday – Discontinue the 8:40 p.m. southbound trip due to low ridership. Weekday – Discontinued the 9:32 p.m. southbound trip and the 9:40, 10:25 p.m. northbound trips due to low ridership (effective 8/14/05).19 Wilcrest
Weekday – Change frequencies to 20 minute peak, 45 minute off peak for more consistent service.20 Canal/Long Point
Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – During late nights change frequencies from 30 to 60 minutes to match ridership demand.23 Crosstimbers
Weekday – Discontinue the 11:21 p.m. eastbound trip and the 12:11 a.m. westbound trip due to low ridership.25 Northline / Richmond
Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – Remove the service from the Southwest Memorial Hospital property at their request. Weekday – Discontinue the 12:46 a.m. southbound trip to match ridership demand.29 TSU-UH/Hirsch
Weekday – Discontinue the 10:02 p.m. northbound trip and the 10:12 p.m. southbound trip due to low ridership; change the 10:42 p.m. southbound trip to depart at 10:30 p.m. to match ridership demand.30 Clinton/Cullen
Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – Remove service from West Loop service road and Gate A of the Port of Houston to match ridership demand.35 Fairview
Weekday – Service proposed for elimination due to poor performance.36 Kempwood/Lawndale
Saturday – Discontinue the 9:55 p.m. westbound trip. Sunday – Discontinue the 11:32 p.m. eastbound trip; due to low ridership.37 El Sol Sunday – Throughout the day change frequency from 35 to 50 minutes to match ridership demand. Weekday, Saturday, & Sunday – Modified the route to remove it from portions of Glendale, Hanover, and Woodvale (effective 8/14/05).
44 Acres Homes
Weekday – Discontinue the 11:56 p.m. southbound trip; Saturday – Discontinue the 11:58 p.m. southbound trip; due to low ridership.47 Hillcroft
Weekday – Discontinue the 10:00 p.m. northbound trip; Saturday – Discontinue the 9:45 p.m. northbound trip due to low ridership.49 Chimney Rock
Weekday – Discontinue the 8:50 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. northbound trips, and the 9:35 p.m. and 10:35 p.m. southbound trips due to low ridership. Saturday – Service proposed for elimination due to poor performance.50 Harrisburg/Heights
Weekday – Discontinue the 12:07 a.m. westbound trip to match ridership demand.52 Hirsch/Scott
Sunday – Change frequency from 30 to 45 minutes to match ridership demand. Discontinue the 12:14 a.m. northbound trip due to low ridership.53 Westheimer
Weekday – Added a trip from Fondren to Westside High School (effective 9/19/05). Sunday – Implement new service. Weekday, Saturday & Sunday – Restructure the route, including possible Interface with METRORail, and adjust the schedule to enhance the route.56 Airline Weekday – Discontinue the Greens Parkway branch. This will be replaced by the new 57 Gears Road Crosstown. Eliminate service to Atrium & Beltway 8. Adjust running time for more reliable service.
57 Gears Road Crosstown
Weekday – Implement new service along Gears Road between Veterans Memorial and Greenspoint Transit Center, replacing portions of the 56 Airline.68 Brays Bayou
Weekday – Add a 7:43 a.m. eastbound trip; extend eastbound 12 minute frequency to 8:43 a.m. .to match ridership demand.68 Brays Bayou
Weekday – Service proposed for elimination due to poor performance.70 Memorial
Weekday – Service proposed for elimination due to poor performance.72 Westview Circulator
Weekday – Discontinued the 8:30, 8:55, 9:20, 9:45 p.m. westbound and the 5:14 a.m., 9:04, 9:29, 9:54 p.m. eastbound trips due to low ridership (effective 8/14/05).78 Irvington
Saturday – Discontinue the 11:06 p.m. southbound trip to due to low ridership.82 Westheimer
Weekday – Implement a new premium service with limited stops between Gessner and Downtown. Weekday, Saturday & Sunday – Restructure the route, including possible Interface with METRORail, and adjust the schedule to enhance service.83 Lee Road Circulator
Saturday – Discontinue the 9:16 p.m. southbound trip due to low ridership.85 Antoine
Weekday – Add a 4:30 a.m. southbound trip to match ridership demand.87 Sunnyside/Plaza Del Oro/TMC
Weekday – Add a 7:23 a.m. and a 8:23 a.m. northbound trip between El Camino/Holly Hall and Fannin/Ross Sterling to match ridership demand. Discontinue the 10:30, 11:00, and the 11:30 p.m. southbound trips, and the 10:10, 10:40, and 11:10 p.m. northbound trips due to low ridership. Service frequencies during off peak periods will be adjusted. Saturday – Change frequency from 35 to 30 minutes to match ridership demand. Sunday – Change frequency from 35 to 40 minutes, to match ridership demand. Saturday & Sunday – running times to be adjusted to improve schedule efficiency.98 Briargate Circulator
Weekday – Discontinue the 4:35 a.m., 9:30, 10:05 p.m. eastbound and the 5:10 a.m., 9:30, 10:05, 10:40 p.m. westbound trips due to low ridership (effective 8/14/05).101 Airport Express
Weekday, Saturday – Route renumbered and renamed to 88 Hobby Airport (effective 8/14/05).108 Veterans Memorial
Weekday – Combine service with the 201 North Shepherd. Peak directions trips will be added to match ridership demand.131 Memorial Express
Weekday – Discontinue midday service to the Addicks Park & Ride lot to improve reliability. Adjust a.m. and p.m. peak frequency to match ridership demand. Adjust frequency for the westbound morning trips operating from Memorial & Wilcrest to S.H. 6 & I 10 to match ridership demand.132 Harwin Express
Weekday – Discontinue the 5:27 a.m. and the 5:48 a.m. westbound trips due to low ridership. Adjust running time between Wheeler Station and Hillcroft Transit Center to improve service reliability.163 Fondren Express
Weekday – Extend the 6:24 a.m. northbound trip between Hillcroft Transit Center and downtown; add a 7:21 am southbound trip between Hillcroft Transit Center & Burdine/Gasmer; add a 8:35 a.m. northbound trip between Burdine/Gasmer and Hillcroft Transit Center to match demand. Added one p.m. northbound trip between Burdine/Gasmer & Hillcroft Transit Center, and one p.m. southbound trip between Sharpstown Transit Center & Burdine/Gasmer to meet passenger demands (effective 8/14/05).170 Missouri City Express
Weekday – Modify the schedule to reduce the level of service to match ridership demand.201 North Shepherd Park & Ride
Weekday – Discontinue this service, and combine trips with the 108 Veterans Memorial Express.202 Kuykendahl Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05). Added a 3:25 p.m. outbound trip to reduce passenger overloads (effective 10/17/05).204 Spring Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05). Weekday – Added a 6:18 a.m. inbound trip and a 5:30 p.m. outbound trip and adjusted departure time of several trips to minimize passenger overloads (effective 10/17/05).205 Kingwood Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 10/24/05). Adjust inbound am peak running time for more efficient service.206 Eastex Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 10/24/05). Adjust inbound am peak running time for more efficient service.214 Northwest Station Park & Ride
Weekday – Added a 6:00 am inbound trip and a 3:50 p.m. outbound trip to match demand (effective 8/14/05).221 Kingsland Park & Ride
Weekday – Add 2 a.m. inbound trips and 2 p.m. outbound trips to match demand. First inbound trip shall stop at the Addicks Park & Ride lot. Added a 6:56 a.m. inbound trip and a 5:32 p.m. outbound trip to alleviate passenger overloads (effective 8/14/05).244 Monroe Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated inbound a.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05).246 Bay Area Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated inbound am route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05).247 Fuqua Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated inbound a.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05). Adjust the 8:05 and 8:15 a.m. inbound trips to serve the Monroe Park & Ride lot.247 Fuqua Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 10/24/05). Adjust inbound am peak running time for more efficient service. Adjusted evening trip times between 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. to match ridership demand (effective 8/14/05).265 West Bellfort Park & Ride
Weekday – Split the p.m. outbound routing between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. along Smith to reduce incidents of bus bunching and passenger overloads (effective 10/10/05). Add a 8:30 a.m. inbound trip to reduce overloads. Added 6:39 , 7:15 a.m. inbound trips and 4:00, 5:15 p.m. outbound trips to alleviate passenger overloads (effective 8/14/05).273 Gessner Park & Ride
Weekday – Route eliminated due to poor performance and combined with the 274 Westchase-Gessner (effective 8/14/05).274 Westchase Park & Ride
Weekday – Route renamed to 274 Westchase-Gessner Park & Ride (effective 8/14/05).274 Westchase-Gessner Park & Ride
Weekday – The 7:05 and 7:20 a.m. inbound and the 4:55 and 5:10 p.m. outbound trips have been modified to service the Gessner Park and Ride lot (effective 8/14/05).283 Kuykendahl/Post Oak/Greenway Park & Ride
Weekday – Relocated outbound p.m. route to Travis Street due to completion of long term reconstruction project (effective 9/6/05).297 South Point/Monroe Park & Ride
Weekday – Added two p.m. outbound trips and adjust trip times to alleviate passenger overloads (effective 10/10/05). Added a 7:15 am inbound trip (effective 10/17/05).298 Kingsland/Addicks/NWTC/ TMC Park & Ride
Weekday – Eliminate the 6:15 p.m. outbound trip, and extend the 6:35 p.m. outbound trip to Kingsland Park & Ride lot. Adjust outbound trip times from 6:00 p.m. to 6:05 p.m., and from 6:30 p.m. to 6:35 p.m.. Add one am inbound trip and one p.m. outbound trip to alleviate passenger overloads. Extend one additional am trip to serve Kingsland Park &Ride lot.313 Allen Parkway Special
Weekday – Service proposed for elimination due to poor performance.326 TMC Campus Trolley
Weekday – Service under review for possible discontinuation due to poor performance.
