METRO: WHAT DO YOU NEED? Workshop at East Aldine listens to suggestions

Citizens were asked to draw routes and discuss improvements to future METRO service. Above

EAST ALDINE– The transit authority METRO held a workshop last Thursday evening at the East Aldine offices, to interact with the public and get ideas for how their services might be more useful to riders and potential riders.
This meeting was one of 24 that have been scheduled around the city the last few months, prior to METRO finalizing a “VISION” for the plans for the future. This is leading up to a draft plan for the agency’s future, which will be prepared in the next six months.
The purpose of the meetings was to learn where service is needed, and how existing service can be modified or expanded for better service.
The meeting was started with remarks from board member Allen Watson, and a presentation of the overall transit needs and METRO services, by CEO George Greanias. He explained the growth patterns in the region, and the multitude of modes that METRO provides to meet transit needs. He explained that for Houston to be a World Class City, it must have coordinated planning of Good Education, Economic Opportunities, and Reliable and Efficient Transportation.

After that, groups of public and staff met in smaller planning groups, do discuss needs and draw route plans with markers on city transit maps. The staff kept track of suggestions on a large display easel. An interactive electronic map was not working, but is available online at www.ridemetro.org. Additional suggestions can also be submitted by email to metrovision @ridemetro.org.
Among the comments that Greanias and the staff heard, were the need for more bus lines that went directly to employment centers; routes that were two-way, not circuits; expansion of “Signature or Express” service lines; cooperative transit center in the new East Aldine Town Center in the planning stage; bus service to the new industries that have been built on JFK Boulevard; more direct access to JFK airport, Humble and Greenspoint for employment needs.
Several workshops remain to be held. The next one in our area will be June 14 at Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, and then June 28 at the Humble Civic Center.