Thanks to a blogHOUSTON reader for emailing a West U Examiner story about state Rep. Martha Wong and the (kinda, sorta) proposed Westpark light rail line:
State Rep. Martha Wong’s office sent a confidential final position paper endorsing a Westpark light rail route to 25 e-mail addresses on the evening of Jan.18, seeking the recepients’ final approval by noon the following day.
The communication, addressed to the steering committee of Richmond Area Residents and Businesses for Rail, said Wong hoped to confirm a meeting with Frank Wilson, Metropolitan Transit Authority chairman, this week.
That meeting has been confirmed by Metro spokeswoman Racquel Roberts.
“We are in the final stages of getting three representatives from the business group and three representatives from the neighborhood group to speak with Martha (Wong) at the meeting with Frank Wilson,” the e-mail from Wong representative Karen K. Newell said.
It went on to say, “Please remember to keep the position paper confidential at this time.”
[snip]
The position paper, dated Jan. 17, endorses a Westpark route in part because a right of way was bought for that purpose and tree removal and traffic problems would be less significant than along Richmond Avenue.
The document also took issue with Metro claims that the new line would serve West University Place and Bellaire, adding “voters were clearly mislead” by language of the November 2003 ballot.
That’s an understatement.
