SuperBus, supermodels and the Grand Parkway: Here's Houston in July 1989

>> Keep clicking through the following gallery to see photos of Houston in June 1989. >> Keep clicking through the following gallery to see photos of Houston in June 1989. Photo: Houston Chronicle Photo: Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 143 Caption Close SuperBus, supermodels and the Grand Parkway: Here's Houston in July 1989 1 / 143 Back to Gallery

It's a bus. No, wait, it's a tractor-trailer.

Metro riders 30 years ago this month got a taste of what could potentially shuttle them in and out of the city with the SuperBus, a $250,000 vehicle that looked like it was meant to haul goods rather than passengers.

"I didn't know what that was coming down the street," Shell employee Sally Tierney told the newspaper.

Reaction from passengers was mixed. Some praised the roomy, plush interior and comfortable seats, but thought the ride could have been smoother.

Judging by Chronicle coverage, and this author's own observations from back then, it doesn't appear the SuperBus got beyond its trial run in Houston.

MISSED JUNE? KRBE's own Ghostbusters, a hospital closes and more from June 1989

Also this month in 1989, construction officially began on the Grand Parkway, the idea of which was first conceived in the early 1960s. The photos shown here were taken at Peek Road and Colonial Parkway, just north of the Katy Freeway. (Three decades later, it appears the project might not see completion anytime soon.)

Just to the east on I-10, the Bangles turned out to officially open the Sam Houston Tollway at that freeway. And judging by the photos, this appears to have been the first concert in history where the bathroom to concert goer ratio was 1 to 1.

Click through the slideshow show to see Houston as it was in July 1989.

STAY IN THE KNOW: Get caught up on what's going on around Houston. From sports to news and entertainment, check out the newsletters we're offering.