METRO caught red handed
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In August and October Metro officials assured the public they were not spending any money on the Uptown bus project.
They weren’t telling you the truth.
Records obtained by Dolcefino Consulting show Metro has spent more than $685,000 on the Uptown bus project so far, even continuing to spend tax money while the Texas Attorney General (AG) decides, if the project is even legal.
The records, released under provisions of the Texas Public Information Act confirm Metro had spent more than $502,000 by July. On August 15th just days before Metro officials made the assurance, another $87,000 was paid to consultants. On September 15th another $95,000 was paid.
“This is a blatant broken promise to taxpayers,” says Jim Scarborough of the Uptown Business and Property Owners Association. “Until this project is ruled legal by the Texas Attorney General every penny METRO is spending could be illegal. Who is going to pay taxpayers back? The work should stop until the AG rules.”
The Uptown bus project is riddled with secrecy. Uptown refuses to provide details of their real estate deals or the appraisals on property being bought for the dedicated bus lanes, even though we know members of the non-elected Uptown Boards stand to financially benefit from the project.
Uptown’s promise of transparency wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.
In the past few weeks photographs and surveillance of Uptown bus stops show ridership is grossly inflated. Uptown will apparently have to spend so much money on real estate they have cut back on promised parking at transit centers and advanced communications that could end up being paid by the rest of Houstonians.
Dolcefino Consulting has repeatedly asked Uptown Board Members to disclose potential conflicts of interest, a requirement prior to filing a criminal complaint for violations of state law.
Documents detailing METRO’s spending on this controversial transit project can be found on www.saveuptown.com.
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