Transportation : Airport

     Houston toasts one of the finest highway systems in North America today, and unlike other major metropolitan areas, Houston freeways continue moving even during rush hour! Two interstate highways (1-10 and 1-45) intersect downtown Houston giving the city easy access in all directions. The major freeways provide High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and the installation of an intelligent vehicae highway system for the city is nearing completion. This state-of-the-art-system
monitors freeway activity and meters traffic for optimal flow.

     Air-conditioned METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority) buses are available, departing from the Park & Ride facility located on Bay Area Boulevard, to downtown Houston, the Gaileria, the Houston Zoo and Museums, Baybrook Mail, and Space Center Houston. (For schedules call 713/635-4000). METRO operates over 1,000 buses on more than 120 routes throughout greater Houston, safely transporting over 250,000 riders per day. It is ranked ninth in the United States in terms of size.

     The Houston Ship Channel is a 52 mile inland waterway that connects Houston to the Bay of Galveston, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the Gulf of Mexico and ultimately the major shipping lanes of the world. The wharves and transfer facilities lining the Houston Ship Channel collectively form the Port of Houston, which ranks eighth in the world in terms of tonnage handled. Both domestic and international ships ply the waters of the ship channel and numerous free trade zones exist for duty-free transfer of cargo between ships.

AIRPORTS

      Houston has more than 1900 domestic and international flights daily through the two public airports. Hobby Airport offers convenient access for air travelers from the Clear Lake Area.

     If your flight requires that you use George Bush Intercontinental Airport you might want to inquire about the Airport Express shuttle service to and from area hotels. For information, call 713/523-5694.