The Houston Chapter of the Texas Economic & Demographic Association presents…

What’s METRO Doing with Light Rail—and Why?

Christof Spieler, P.E., Principal, Matrix Structural Engineers, Inc.,

and Board Member, Citizens’ Transportation Coalition

5pm ~~Thursday, January 17, 2008 • Federal Reserve Bank • 1801 Allen Parkway

     Houston is beginning a significant transit expansion, with five new light rail lines in the next five years. These plans have led to much public debate. But beyond rail vs. bus or Richmond vs. West­park is a much more important question: where do we locate transit to get the maximum benefit? Houston’s an­swer is very different from what other cities—like Dallas—are doing. And it’s based on a vision of the city’s form that’s counter to common assumptions. How well is this strategy working? And what might come next?

Christof Spieler has been following transportation in Houston for a decade and has written about transit, highways, airports, and railroads in Cite Magazine, Architecture Magazine, and the Houston Chronicle. His blog, Intermodality (www.ctchouston.org/intermodality), covers transporta­tion issues in Houston. He serves on the boards of the Citizens’ Transportation Coalition and the Rice Design Alliance and on the editorial committee of Cite Magazine. A 1997 graduate of Rice University, Spieler is a structural engi­neer and a downtown resident. 

Advance registration is required to enter the facility. RSVP to teda@houston.org

Security officers will not grant access to anyone who is not preregistered.

Enter the parking garage frorm Gillette St. on the east side of building.

For directions to the Fed’s free parking, visit http://www.dallasfed.org/fed/direct_hou.pdf

Networking with complimentary buffet at 5 p.m.; meeting 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Free for TEDA members; $10 per person for guests. For more info, call Rita Ricard at 713-844-3620.

Visit TEDA at www.teda.org