Livability News - Houston

Gulf Coast Rail District pursuing Hempstead commuter rail study

Trains could run in 5 years

Steve Hawley, Mar 12, 10.

The agency is using $715,000 in stimulus funds to pursue the study. It is the first time money has been spent on commuter rail in the Houston region.

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No evidence of METRO wrongdoing

No support for allegations

Steve Hawley, Mar 12, 10.

An attorney who accused METRO of destroying documents has admitted he has no evidence or witnesses to support his claims, and a judge ruled in METRO's favor.

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H-GAC reaches 35-year milestone

Metro Planning Organization

Vilas Bhuchar, Mar 04, 10.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council, an MPO for transportation planning in the 8-county region, recently reached its 35th year in existence.

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Galveston plans affordable, mixed-income housing

Includes green building ideas

Steve Hawley, Feb 25, 10.

The Galveston Housing Authority says it has included green building principles and open spaces in its plans for three mixed-income developments.

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HISD head vows to make district best in the nation

State of the Schools speech

Vilas Bhuchar, Feb 25, 10.

Terry Grier vowed to eliminate ineffective programs and teachers and to push all high school students to take college-level courses.

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Clear Lake Shores Town Center Project referendum on election ballot

May 8 election ballot

Vilas Bhuchar, Feb 22, 10.

City Council voted unanimously to place the referendum on the May 8 election ballot to seek voter approval of $900K in sales tax revenue bonds for the project.

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Houston among Forbes’s worst commutes

Ranks 8th-worst

Steve Hawley, Feb 19, 10.

Houston fares poorly in commute times and travel delays. Among Texas cities, only Dallas was worse.

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Wolff: METRO shouldn’t eliminate fares

Rejects Parker's suggestion

Steve Hawley, Feb 19, 10.

The METRO chairman said that Mayor Parker's suggestion that the agency consider eliminating all fares to better serve its customers would lead to "catastrophe."

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Houston region receives no TIGER money

Dallas gets $43 million

Steve Hawley, Feb 17, 10.

The 51 grants, totaling $1.5 billion, were applauded by smart growth and environmental groups, but the only Texas recipients were in the Dallas area.

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Judge Emmett calls for improved infrastructure and transportation

State of the County Address

Vilas Bhuchar, Feb 15, 10.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett delivered a State of the County address in which he asked the audience to evaluate the county in human terms.

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