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Transportation:

D

(explain this grade)

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Best Ways to Get Around Town

  • Have a car. If you are unfortunate enough to live in Houston and not have a car, you should make friends with people who have cars.
  • If you MUST find alternate means of transportation, try walking, jogging, running, biking, skating, taking the Metro bus, a taxi, or the Light Rail.

How to Get to the Airport

  • A cab ride to the Hobby Airport costs $24-$28.
  • A cab ride to the Intercontinental Airport costs $42-46.
  • The Airport Express Shuttle travels between the Medical Center and both Houston airports at a rate of $15 per person (Hobby) or $20 per person (Intercontinental). The shuttles run approximately hourly from both airports and deposit passengers directly in front of the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Suites, and Best Western hotels on Main St. The trip takes about an hour, depending on traffic, from Houston Intercontinental, and about 20 minutes from Hobby. To contact Airport Express, call (713) 523-8888.

College Prowler Take

Rice students all agree that public transportation in Houston is terribly inconvenient. While Amtrak, Greyhound, taxis, and the city Metro bus system are all available, Rice students rarely use any of these options. Metro bus stops are located very near to campus, but some students indicate that they do not feel safe riding the city buses, and the bus stops themselves are scary places if you are alone at night. The travel times on the city buses also vary with traffic, making them undependable, at best.

You should definitely bring a car if possible, despite the cons of parking. Most students have their own cars, or rely on the kindness of friends who have cars to get them around town. Houston traffic is a nightmare, as are Houston drivers (although students from other large U.S. cities seem to think the driving is comparable). The recently completed Houston Light Rail has improved the public transportation situation slightly, although it has done little to alleviate traffic. The Rail has a Rice University stop and links the Rice campus to University of Houston downtown, two Houston Community College Campuses, the Houston Zoo, Market Square, Minute Maid Park, the new NFL stadium (Reliant), and some other popular destinations.

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Students Speak Out

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Anonymous says:

There really isn’t any public...

There really isn’t any public transportation in Houston. The Metro (bus) is a bit scary and not exactly convenient to Rice, and I don’t know anyone who’s ever used it. The Metro Rail opened in 2004, and it takes students from the Med Center to downtown and around downtown. Cars are still pretty necessary if one wants to go anywhere in Houston, but the atmosphere of Rice lends itself to making that only a minor inconvenience. There’s not usually a reason to leave campus, and there are enough people with cars that one can always find a ride.

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Anonymous says:

There is a bus system, but I don’t...

There is a bus system, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to ride. They installed a light rail, too, but it’s not yet fully operational. So for now, all that means is lots of construction to drive through.

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Anonymous says:

There’s a light rail system right...

There’s a light rail system right outside Rice going to downtown. I think they’re trying to attract the Olympics here in 2012 or something, so that should probably grow. Buses are easy to get a hold of to go into downtown, but other than that, we usually just drive wherever. Either you or your roommates will probably have a car.

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Anonymous says:

Besides a crappy bus system,...

Besides a crappy bus system, Houston doesn’t have any public transportation. Imagine over four million commuters trying to get out to the suburbs everyday.

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Anonymous says:

I ride the Metro, and it is fine....

I ride the Metro, and it is fine. You can get this thing called a U-Pass, which allows students to ride the public bus for free.

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On-Campus Transportation

Rice Campus Shuttle Service

Weekdays 6:30 a.m.-10:40 p.m.

Rice Escort

(713) 348-6000

Sunday 10 p.m–-6a.m., Monday–Thursday 10:30 p.m.–6:30 a.m.,

Friday and Saturday night, by request

Taxi Cabs

Fiesta Cab
(713) 236-9400

Liberty Cab
(713) 695-6700

United Cab
(713) 699-0000

Yellow Cab
(713) 236-1111

Greyhound

The Greyhound Bus Station is in Downtown Houston, approximately three miles from campus.

Greyhound

2121 Main St., Houston

(713) 759-6565 (713) 759-6581

http://www.greyhound.com

Amtrak

located approximately five miles from campus

Houston Amtrak station

902 Washington Ave.

1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-852-7245

lb.amtrak.com/stations/hos.html

Airport

IAH is about 24 miles and approximately 40 minutes driving time from Rice.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

(281) 233-3000

Hobby is about 12 miles and approximately 20 minutes driving time from Rice.

William P. Hobby International Airport

(281) 233-3000

Car Rentals

Advantage
(800) 777-5500

Alamo
(713) 641-0533
(800) GO ALAMO
www.alamo.com

Avis
(800) 230-4898
www.avis.com

Budget
(800) 527-0700
www.budget.com

Dollar
(866) 434-2226
(800) 800-3665
www.dollar.com

Enterprise
(713) 645-7222
(800) 736-8222
www.enterprise.com

Hertz
(800) 654-3131
www.hertz.com

National
(713) 641-0533
(800) 227-7368
www.nationalcar.com

Did You Know?

The new president, David Leebron, recently initiated a program entitled “Passport to Houston.” Its aim is to integrate the University with Houston’s dynamic urban atmosphere, and, among other things, it provides students with free METRO passes, so they can hop on the new light rail system to get around town.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Meenakshi Awasthi
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Major: English/Biology

Meenakshi made her own dimple?by accident, of course! In Kindergarten, she fell off of the jungle gym and bruised her cheek pretty badly. Today it is a nice little dimple with a great history.

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