FROM THE PRESIDENT

It’s an adage old but true – if you want your opinion to count, make your opinion known. The Metropolitan Transit Authority is hosting a series of community meetings regarding its proposed METRO Solutions Plan – a multifaceted transportation plan designed to address mobility in the face of Houston’s unparalleled growth.

The plan details 37 steps designed to improve bus, park & ride, and rail services. The proposed measures include adding 41 miles of light rail track to the existing 7.5 miles that run from Reliant Park, through the Texas Medical Center, to downtown; increasing HOV lanes from 108 miles to more than 225 miles; introducing two-way HOV lanes; allowing bicycles to be carried on light rail trains during non-rush hour periods; and achieving faster bus travel times by improving coverage, extending hours, and limiting stops.

The plan isn’t final yet, and may not be until July, allowing you time to voice your opinions. In November, the finalized plan may be put forth on the ballot, and voters will say “yeah” or “nay.” While most of the meetings designed to gather public input will have already taken place when this column is printed, one last opportunity remains to provide your opinion in person. A May 19 meeting takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Greenspoint Mall community room, 12300 North Freeway, Suite 200. Those who cannot attend this meeting may still provide input or voice their opinions via letters, via e-mail and via phone calls. To write, contact METRO Solutions, P.O. Box 61429, Houston, Texas 77208-1429 or to reach Metro’s Community Outreach and Government Affairs office, e-mail ec05@ridemetro.org, or call (713) 739-4018.

In addition, the Texas Medical Center is currently communicating with Metro to convey issues that are of special interest to the TMC. For example, the Texas Medical Center must be easily accessible to all, regardless of weather conditions, time of day, mode of transportation, and departure point. The Texas Medical Center is also encouraging Metro to maintain priority for emergency vehicles; to improve road drainage to keep the campus accessible in the event of flooding; to expand road access to the Texas Medical Center, particularly from the south and east by extending Bertner Avenue and MacGregor Drive across Brays Bayou; to create new rail and bus routes that come directly to the TMC Transit Center from suburban neighborhoods, without being routed downtown; and to add a circulator bus system that will move people around the Texas Medical Center’s main campus.

During the next eight years, the Texas Medical Center population will grow by 50 percent. How will Houston’s already over-burdened transportation resources handle the extra load? By making your opinion known, you can be part of the overall solution. Every voice counts, especially yours.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/05_15_03/page_31.html