For a while last week, the posted agenda for Metro's monthly board meeting contained a blockbuster item: the go-ahead for four Bus Rapid Transit projects that eventually could become light rail lines.

But when Thursday's meeting rolled around, the item was marked "deleted." The topic did not come up in the public session, and neither side was saying much afterward.

Linda McDonald, spokeswoman for Houston Transit Partners, the joint venture negotiating with Metro for a long-term agreement to design, build and operate the lines, said she thought the vote would be rescheduled soon.

Last week's complaint about funeral processions blocking or slowing all lanes of a freeway prompted thoughtful comments from Mitchell Gipson, who has been knocked off his motorcycle twice while escorting funerals.

The 46-year-old Houston firefighter and reserve constable deputy for Precinct 6 is recovering at home from the second accident, which fractured his back, a rib and an eye socket.

"I plan to go right back to doing it again," he said. "You have to realize this is a profession, and this is my means of taking care of my family."

The reader's complaint was about the numerous weekend funerals at three cemeteries along Cullen Boulevard in Pearland, between FM 518 and Hughes Ranch Road.

Lengthy processions often travel on nearby Texas 288, and the question was why police sometimes block all three lanes of the freeway to escort them.

If the convoy has a long way to go, officers want to move it "on the rail" (the inside lane), said Precinct 6 deputy Thomas "Andy" Thrash, who conducts many such escorts.

Even though the inside lane normally is for fast traffic and funeral processions travel slower than average, it's the best place "to avoid on- and off-ramps and keep the procession together," Thrash said.

Keep in mind, he said, that separate lanes are required for the procession and the officers, who need their own lane for maneuvering and some measure of protection from other traffic.

"The primary factor is safety and keeping the procession together, as well as keeping vehicles out of the procession if they are not a part of it," Thrash said.

Gipson's latest accident happened after his procession had left a church on Navigation in the East End and headed for Hollywood Cemetery off the North Freeway at Main. They headed up a ramp from Navigation to westbound Interstate 10 and set up positions to hold traffic back while the motorcade entered.

"Another gentleman had cut in and was asked to pull over onto the right shoulder," Gipson said. "I saw another officer point at the guy and tell him, 'Don't move yet; there's traffic coming.' "

After the mourners were on the freeway and apparently safe, Gipson began moving forward with his lights and siren on to help direct traffic ahead.

"I work two jobs to take care of my family, my wife and three daughters," he said. "Now I have to try to survive off workers' comp and any other insurance or benefits I have. I expect to heal fully and go back to work."

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