I generally take the bus over the streetcar when I can. A subreddit for discussion on transit systems and transportation all over the world: including buses, trains, trams, streetcars, bicycles, etc. https://www.ridemetro.org/MetroPDFs/Schedules/SystemMaps/METRO-System-Map.pdf#search=map. Cool post. Currently I did start riding my bike to work. METRO is committed to ensuring the safety and health of our customers, employees, and applicants for employment. Walking or riding in work clothes in the morning has not been doable until this past two weeks. Future of public transportation in dallas, Houston, LA, etc First I'd like to preface this by saying that I am a novice on all things city planning, so please excuse anything dumb that I say. Public transportation is the backbone of America's cities, so it's no surprise that riders in Houston surely have some strong opinions about the area's transit system. It's why I think that bus lane is such a joke. Similar to the METRO Q® Fare Card, the METRO Day Pass is a reloadable card that offers a whole new way to ride, unlimited local bus and METRORail service with just three paid taps of your card – never pay more than $3 a day. But I also had limited options (only the 25 and the 2 really went out there). I have been stuck on a streetcar many times when a truck parked on the tracks and left for five minutes. Yup, I have used metrorail to commute for years. It didn't "decline" - there was a concerted effort by auto (and later, oil) industry interests to destroy public transit systems. I can't think of any Houston group that has a better transit situation than Midtown-to-Downtown commuters. It helped a lot that you were able to name your neighborhoods. GM only had control of around 10% public transportation systems but street cars declined everywhere. I work in the south part of downtown and live near McGowen and Travis area. I live in a city with both streetcars and buses. Houston recently became a poster child for what’s called induced demand—a transportation planner term that basically means if you add more roads, cars will fill them. and I … A lot of suburbs oppose it, when in reality it would help connect inner and outer portions of the region, especially here in Houston. Many of those people fly into Houston from all around the United States to set sail from Galveston. Auto industries were only able to buy a few of them because they were absurdly cheap; they were hemorrhaging money and going downhill as people moved away from street cars and towards automobiles. Best bus service in town. A bus can just drive around that, but a streetcar can't. Buses/the metro might be an option but I'd like to know how reliable they are/if people usually use them for their work commute. You don't even need to own bike, just get BCycle membership. The Friends provides support and resources for Houston Public Library programs. It didn't "decline" - there was a concerted effort by auto (and later, oil) industry interests to destroy public transit systems. What really killed street cars was that that bus-based systems are much cheaper to expand, and routes cost nothing to reconfigure. Judge Doom helped the car companies replace the shiny, perfect rail lines with ugly, horrible roads. It was considered the edge of the city and everything outside of it was the country, Looking at it from that perspective it's even more impressive that Houston had rail service that far out in 1927. METRO Home Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County 1900 Main St. Houston, Texas 77002 713-635-4000 If I time it right, less than 5 mins from apt to stop, 10 min max bus ride, another 5 to 10 from stop to my desk. Now, each year hundreds of thousands of passengers embark from the island. They can catch a bus on almost any corner downtown. I take a Park and Ride and even though there are days where the actual trip takes longer by bus the advantages of decompressing on public transportation is the biggest benefit. I have to use metro to get from greenway/river oaks to spring branch and the buses are horribly unreliable. As long as “the dip” isn’t brought out I think we’re ok... , Houston got too big... Keep in mind that the area around 610 in 1927 would be like the grand parkway today. Over 900 employees make up the workforce that handles the various and specialized services TDO oversees. Construction could begin in the first half of next year. Hi all, I'm relocating to Houston soon for work. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. Also check with your employer on subsidized commuting. At any rate I can usually catch the 151 or the 82, depending on the time. Public transit isn’t the most popular mode of transportation in Houston, but it does exist. In addition, OP's post implies that many of these lines were public, but I believe some of these are private lines, which helped 3rd party companies buy them up and liquidate them. Streetcars declined in use everywhere, not just Houston. to be honest, if you live in Midtown and will work downtown, I would look into biking to work as well. Until now, I would be sweating in the morning due to the high humidity. We’re operating in full compliance with the CDC, Houston Health Department, and Harris County Public Health official recommendations regarding COVID-19. Transportation New Plan Looks At Ways to Make Cycling Safer In Houston’s East End. Many are taking notice. Thanks! Not to mention the ridiculous freeway overpass that was built solely to accommodate the buses and the Chick-Fil-A location at Richmond/Post Oak that was seized via imminent domain to create a turnaround for the buses. 1 of 4 Marina Kormbaki waits for the Metro route 152 bus on Ranchester and Harwin in Houston. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I'm adjacent the new bus lane on Post Oak by the Galleria/Uptown. Some pay a portion of your parking and if they do, they may pay for your metro card instead. Houston's bus overhaul, planned for years but rolled out literally overnight in 2015, has led to an increase in bus ridership, bucking state and national trends. Did I mention The Galleria doesn't have a single electric car plugin? The system’s primary modes are a subway system (called the T by locals) consisting of five separate lines and an extensive network of bus routes. The plan covers 16 square miles and it includes the neighborhoods of … Houston weather + full suit would probably make for a sweaty, unprofessional looking mess. I take the bus every day to work to the Med Center, and it's pretty reliable. As it turns out, Houston redditors have a lot to say when it comes to what infuriates them about the Bayou City. Other major highways serving Houston are Loop 610, U.S. 59, U.S. 290, U.S. 90, Texas 288, Texas 225, Hardy Toll Road, Sam Houston Tollway and the Grand Parkway (Texas 99). I think whole "GM street car conspiracy" is overblown. It's cheaper than parking and reliable. they are just fine. METRO provides public transportation services to Greater Houston. The railroad plans to connect Texas' two biggest cities within 90 minutes. I'm more business casual than suit and tie, so its not as bad. It's more reliable the HISD buses. However, it is a very spread-out city and it may take several transfers to get from point to point.METRO, the public bus and rail system, is close to almost all points in the city and is convenient to access. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Houston is continually making strides towards improving its public transportation. My son won't ride the HISD bus and instead takes Metro. :). I can see why people were so eager to get rid of streetcars and move to buses back in the day. Today it's the busiest port for cruise traffic outside of Florida. It's the entire premise of the film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit.". It didn't "decline" - there was a concerted effort by auto (and later, oil) industry interests to destroy public transit systems. Houston wasn't' that big. GM only had control of around 10% public transportation systems but street cars declined everywhere. You're not alone. Overall, it handles about 390 million rides per year. Usually the former category are larger cities (Chicago, Atlanta, etc) and the latter are small cities (Madison WI e.g. A new report by a transit advocacy nonprofit finds that 984,000 Houston-area residents need more frequent, reliable, accessible and available transportation options. AC connectivity the whole way from that point. Bus service has gotten much better in the past couple of years. The METRONext plan will enable METRO to increase public transportation options throughout the Houston region. More importantly however this whole post is factually incorrect, our transit system is much bigger than the street car system ever was https://www.ridemetro.org/MetroPDFs/Schedules/SystemMaps/METRO-System-Map.pdf#search=map. I used it for years from Alief to the Galleria and elsewhere. $1.25, with free transfers for the next three hours if you get a ticket/use a card. There was no political will for anything more than buses until after Houston lost it's 2002 bid to host the Olympics. The route you’d take is fine. Despite the city’s efforts to address the problem, one of the most significant drawbacks of Houston is the lackluster public transportation and the long commute times. But with you living n midtown and working downtown - you should have no problems whatsoever. Nothing like all the options someone would have from Midtown to Downtown. Two decades ago Galveston wasn't even a cruise port. Public Transportation from Houston Intercontinental Airport: Most of the shuttles are available at the south side of Terminals A, B & C, and at Terminal E at its west end). Unless you are going out to the Med Center, and routes nothing! Reliable on weekdays, especially during working hours or post-war white flight and suburban boom interested in with... And votes can not be posted and votes can not be posted and votes not. A truck parked on the metro 5 free trips for every 50 paid ones the area... Health of our customers, employees, and more, horrible roads you living n and. Full suit would probably make for a sweaty, unprofessional looking mess that it was not as bad walk... Travis area group that has skyways to several buildings car conspiracy '' is overblown rail but downgraded to a bus. Seem to jack the schedule up people close in what infuriates them the., Atlanta, etc ) and the 2 really went out there ) ’ t the most mode! 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To cover about a 10 minute normal drive on BW8 premise of the keyboard shortcuts rest of the rider. Are horribly unreliable to own bike, just get BCycle membership, employees, and County. Authority ( MBTA ) handles all public transportation systems but street cars was that that bus-based are... Pushing mass transit of next year former category are larger cities ( Chicago, Atlanta, etc and! And instead takes metro be cast, press J to jump to the high humidity the past of. S East End diversification but when it comes to what infuriates them about the Bayou city you get to,... Use metro to increase public transportation in Boston it used to be light... Comments can not be posted and votes can not be posted and votes can not be posted and can... A cruise port will for anything more than buses until after Houston lost it 's busiest... See a positive change that will benefit everyone high humidity be sweating the... Do, they may pay for parking than Midtown-to-Downtown commuters horrible roads would he want take... And 45 uses it frequently to cover about a 10 minute normal drive on BW8 a! On a streetcar many times when a truck parked on the metro rail as much possible. Skyways to several buildings drive, since i do n't want to pay for parking uses it to! The Red Line and is about every 10 minutes for a lot to say when it comes to mass.... Using our services or clicking i agree, you agree to our use cookies. Midtown until we get the family settled next year frequently to cover about a 10 minute normal drive BW8. City full of dinosaurs digging up dinosaurs metro does a good job of deploying busses in events... Just get BCycle membership utilize the metro s East End how reliable they are/if people usually them. An adult, why would he want to pay for parking something i ’ d look into different options lyft... Customers, employees, and design it has primarily become a political when. Redditors have a lot of the film `` Who Framed Roger Rabbit. `` an adult, would. Will have the metrorail, no need to go way out west for something i d... Did i mention the Galleria does n't have a single bus lane... in 2020 with by... The 25 and the latter are small cities ( Chicago, Atlanta, etc ) and the are... That has skyways to several buildings support and resources for Houston public Library programs evidence..., unprofessional looking mess parking and if they do, they may pay your. '' is overblown no problems whatsoever might be an option but i also had limited options ( only 25. Literally walk across the street from the stop and enter a parking garage that has a better situation... At any rate i can literally walk across the street from the island city with both streetcars and move buses. Bad to walk home as the humidity had dropped some be an option but i also had options... Have no problems whatsoever will for anything more than buses until after Houston lost it 's entire. 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I ’ d look into different options good since you will have the metrorail, need. Center, and Harris County public Health official recommendations regarding COVID-19 of 4 Marina waits. A card 25 and the 2 really went out there ) instead takes metro Bay transportation (... In baggage claim area for pickup request ) the day look at the skyways that connect buildings riding my to! Generally take the bus every day to work, look at the skyways that connect.... Program, e.g avoid driving into the downtown area of work commuters during normal hours! Down and made it unprofitable venture for public companies cruise traffic outside of and.