Houston MetroRail
 

I'm staying near the Galleria and need to get my group to the George Brown Convention Center Thursday and Friday. I'm concerned about the traffic and parking on these weekdays.

Is the MetroRail a good option? Looks like the route is about 49minutes from Galleria Area to George Brown Convention Center. Is that better than the city traffic?

How safe is the MetroRail?I'm traveling with a team of teenagers.

Thanks.

Your post makes no sense. The Metrorail doesn't go to the Galleria.

I think what you're looking at would be taking a bus from the Galleria. The Metrorail is safe, but it only has a few routes, and unfortunately it does not go to the Galleria area. Obviously with a bus you're not really avoiding traffic.

If y'all take cabs or rent a bus for the whole group, it's about 20-25 minutes to the convention center. If y'all have your own cars, there are underground garages you can park at.

I went to the Metro site and plugged in my destinations. I led me to believe that there was a 4 minute walk to the Post Oak Dr station for a 10 min ride to Old Katy Rd. Then a 2 minute walk to NW Transit for the bus. Which takes me on a 12 minute ride to Smith Street. Then a 1 minute walk to the Theater District to get a tram. That's a 8 minute ride to the Convention District with a 3 minute walk to the George Brown Center.

I have four vans and an considering this option in order to save on PARKING FEES and the search for parking itself.

With kids from Florida, I like to expose them to things like mass transit that they don't experience at home. It was a thought I read $30 a day to park each van! I'm looking at $360 to park?!?! Plus, a walk in the theater district, etc. is a new experience for my kids.

I was just looking for the insight of locals. Is it worth it.

You specifically said "metrorail" and asked if that is a good option. <b>There is no metroRAIL in the Galleria area.</b> Therefore, it is not a good option.

Instead, you would be taking buses. There are buses in every city in the country so your Floridians have to have seen similar and had the opportunity to experience them unless they all live in the boonies. Even the little beach towns on the Gulf Coast have public buses. There's nothing unique about them, nor interesting. Buses are also slow and run infrequently.

Your plan is self-evidently ridiculous. First, you don't even account for wait times at the bus transfers! Do you think the buses are chartered for you? They won't necessarily be at the transfers and they won't necessarily be there soon after you arrive.

Second, you want to herd dozens of kids through THREE bus trips and two transfers just to go one way? That will bore the kids, and will also tick them off. And then, you'd have to do the same in reverse. This is not "expos[ing] them to things like mass transit," it's the teenage equivalent of a Bata'an death march. The kids will despise you and you will ruin their experience.

To get parking for less than 30/night, check out parking panda. It will have deals in the area that you can use. It may even have a bargain deal for your own hotel or a neighboring hotel.

BigRuss........................................wow , just wow.

Back from Houston!! I'm happy to say that traffic from the Galleria Area was never a problem and parking was easy at the George Brown Convention Center.

Parking lots across from the GBCC had easy parking with kiosks. Paid $20 on Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday with the machines. All good, great tournament and lovely city. THANKs Houston!! We hope to be back next year!

BigRuss and his usual snark