Silver Line Proves Our Transit System Is A Joke

We lost our United Flight Training Center to Denver. Wasn’t that enough to wake up the leaders of our city? As our city’s density increases every year, more concrete clearly does not solve the challenge of moving people around this huge metropolitan area.

As long as we continue to waste money on outdated projects like the Silver Line, our public transit system will continue to be a joke, on a good day.

George Hawkins, Houston

I live about a 10 minute walk from the Silver Line stop near the Uptown Center and have an office about a five minute walk from the Lower Uptown Center. Recently I rode to the office and back. Took me two to three times longer than driving each way. I arrived at LUC, which was practically empty, with an empty three-level car park.

Most of my trips, both ways, I was the only pilot. Anyway, the bus stopped at every bus stop, with no one getting on or off.

I can think of no greater public service you can render than publishing a report on the cost of setting up this “service” and how much it loses each year. It would also be interesting to know how much pollution is produced by each of these 60ft passenger buses running (virtually empty) every 12 minutes. And all the extra pollution produced while all that traffic is idling, waiting because of the delays caused by the bus.

Cole Thomson, Bellaire

Welcome balance

Regarding “Opinion: Biden should learn from Reagan and pivot on energy security now” (March 10): Thank you for posting the article co-authored by former US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, regarding Ukraine / energy policy. Reading it, I was transported to a bygone era, where Texas politicians, at odds with those of the other party, could do so with respect and civility. Before criticizing President Joe Biden’s Ukraine-related energy policy, Hutchison said his administration “deserves a lot of credit for its diplomatic efforts and military assistance thus far.” Contrast that with today, when politicians from both parties see every political disagreement – ​​no matter how serious the matter – as just another opportunity to attack, undermine and raise funds. Exhibit A in this respect is that of the man who succeeded Hutchison Kay Bailey in the Senate, Ted Cruz, for whom the terms “respect” and “civility” seem to be foreign concepts. It’s truly amazing that Cruz gets as much attention as he does, considering how little he accomplished as a senator.

David Bradley, Spring

Regarding “Editorial: Sorry, Dems. Republicans not to blame for Harris County election woes” (March 9): As a conservative Republican, I almost always disagree with your editorials, but thanks for this one. I appreciate that you can see things from more than one point of view.

Larry Roland, Weston Lakes

It’s good for a change not to see divisive equality stuff. George Will was right. Bret Stephens (of The New York Times, no less) offered great insight. And your op-ed on the Harris County voting mess was well balanced.

Shame, shame on the Bail Bond Board! Thank you for naming the people involved.

Chris StaufferRichmond

Dual standard

Regarding “At CERAWeek, climate czar John Kerry and oil and gas chiefs try to find common ground” (March 7): I see that John Kerry was in town for CERAWeek where the main topic was probably Russia’s war with Ukraine and soaring energy prices. Does anyone have time to check if Kerry flew here on a commercial plane or on his private jet?

Sheryl S. McNally, Houston

Regarding “Harris Lands in Poland Amid Turmoil Over Jets for Ukraine” (March 8): Let’s take a look at this situation. Vice President Kamala Harris can fly more than nine hours from the United States to Poland – an air travel distance of more than 5,000 miles – but can’t find a plane that can fly from Washington, DC, to Austin – a 1,300 mile air travel distance.

In Poland, she must defend the role of the United States in the Ukrainian crisis (good luck) but does not have time to deal with the border crisis here, in her own country.

Dave RaineyHouston