IRVING - Houston leaders responded with enthusiasm Friday to an apparent warming of relations between U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
"I consider this to be a real positive, and perhaps a turning point, for improved mass transit in our region," Mayor Bill White said. "Metro has established a good relationship with Mr. DeLay, which is critical to getting the mass-transit funding we need."
DeLay, who has opposed Metro rail plans for more than a decade and blocked federal funds for the Main Street light rail line that opened in January, told the Texas Transportation Summit here that he's impressed with the agency's commitment to explore possible alternatives for future lines.
"Metro's new leadership, it's becoming clearer by the day, has a vision for a mobile Houston region, and the kind of open minds and flexible management style it will take to realize that vision," DeLay, R-Sugar Land, told attendees Friday morning.
Harris County Judge Robert Eckels called DeLay's comments a welcome development: "It is good for the city to see a Metro board and a mayor that are interested in working with Tom to really get the solutions for transit in our community."
Eckels, who campaigned against Metro's light rail expansion plan that voters approved in November, has spoken in favor of commuter rail outside Loop 610. He praised the agency's announcement Friday that it will hold a rail-technology forum in October to solicit proposals for future routes.
Among the modes Metro is likely to hear about are monorail, subways, and airport-style people-movers.
"The majority leader is challenging us to work together as a region," said Garrett Dolan, vice president of the Greater Houston Partnership."He's painting a picture for us to look at innovative rail solutions, and we are 100 percent behind the idea."
Previously, DeLay has suggested that Metro needs a more advanced system than light rail.
After his speech, DeLay said he was pleased "they are finally doing something that Metro has never done: They are holding a forum to look at all forms of technology and how those technologies fit into the mobility in Houston, and how it will benefit the taxpayers in getting the biggest bang for the buck."
The mayor stressed that plans for the next two light rail lines are ahead on schedule. Metro will submit its application next week to the Federal Transit Administration to begin design work on the Main Street extension to Northline Mall and a line from downtown to Long Drive at the South Loop.
