OT: Bored and curious

[Ribalding]

..."Bored and curious". Is it just me, or does that sound like it should be on Craigslist instead of RealGM?

Anyhow...

Here's the light rail expansion map:
http://www.piersystem.com/external/cont ... -15-10.pdf

Will the light rail expansion affect you?
Will you use it?
Do you already use it?
What do you think of the plans?

[zapatasblood]

Since I don't live in Houston or work in Houston I do not use it but if I did I would. I think more people should use the light rail along with the buses. I will be using it when I go see Rockets, Astros, and Texans since the Rail is expanding. Also this Rail is suppose help in increasing property value and is doing so since my grandmas lots on Harrisburg have increased in value as the began to break ground for the rail.

[Mr. E]

I am a big proponent of trying to bring more mass transportation to Houston.

So I am very much against the current METRO direction and their future plans. We should be looking at elevated rail, not ground level. This does not help to alleviate traffic concerns (it adds to them, actually); and it does not address the fact that most of our problem with overcrowded freeways and roads comes from the fact that people are driving in from Kingwood, Sugarland, the Woodlands, Katy, etc.

We need elevated rail. We need it servicing the outlying areas. And we need the interior main lines to go down the areas which make more sense - this means Westheimer and Bellaire, not Richmond or Westpark.

[zapatasblood]

I am a big proponent of trying to bring more mass transportation to Houston.

So I am very much against the current METRO direction and their future plans. We should be looking at elevated rail, not ground level. This does not help to alleviate traffic concerns (it adds to them, actually); and it does not address the fact that most of our problem with overcrowded freeways and roads comes from the fact that people are driving in from Kingwood, Sugarland, the Woodlands, Katy, etc.

We need elevated rail. We need it servicing the outlying areas. And we need the interior main lines to go down the areas which make more sense - this means Westheimer and Bellaire, not Richmond or Westpark.

The fact that Houston is spread out make it hard to have mass transportation. I can not explain it but I am sure you would know the reasons. I love Austin because it has a great mass transportation that is easy to get around once you learn the bus routes. I am sure they will continue to expand the light rail even more so in the future specially to Westheimer bars and clubs. I am sure they will expand it to Washington with that area looking better and having club, bars and music venues along that street. As time goes on the Metro Light Rail will get bigger and better. I do find it crazy that they are putting the rail in some wards. I do like the idea of raising it.

[Mr. E]

I know what you're talking about. Houston cannot be compared to any other major city because we are talking about an area close to 700 square miles. That's why I'm bringing up the imporatance of having lines which go to the outlying areas. If they want it to really have any positive impact then they need to get people from Sugarland, Kingwood, Friendswood, etc. to start using it.

Now for that I understand that central lines need to go in place first, but I don't see the logic of some of these planned lines.

And yeah, elevating it will make all the difference. Noise won't even be that much of a concern (compared to Chicago) because of improvements in technology & construction. We should be looking at Mag-Lev types of systems to see if they are feasible.

I had long been under the impression that a "subway" system couldn't work here because of the geography of the Gulf Coastal Plain, and the lack of solid bedrock at certain levels, but I've been told that it could actually be done in some areas. So that might be an avenue to explore.

[zapatasblood]

Yeah but are to asking Houston to pay for lines to cities that have little to do with Houston? Or the other cities need to jump into this? NOt sure what cities are under Houston's control. I live in Stink-O-Dena and I am sure that they could not pay for a line into Houston but that Harrisburg line is not far from Old Galveston. I know METRO can not be paying are everything in creating these lines. Another thing people can take a bus to get to these lines. That is what some of my friends and family do to get to school or work. Like I said overtime these lines will expand and maybe in some area be elevated.

[zapatasblood]

Also like I said before these lines have increased property value in some areas since some businesses would like to open a business by one of these lines. I remember the Harrisburg area used to look like dump but they have broken ground the area has gotten cleaner and better looking. I have also heard rumors of making that Harrisburg area like the French Quarter. What I mean by that is tourist and bars.

[Kal El]

i like the elevated rails idea. i think flooding is too big of a problem to have a subway? there are park and ride systems for people in the friendswood, sugarland areas... but i do agree there needs to be a more efficient system and convenience to get people to do it.

me personally i live about 30 min. north of downtown but im there most of the week. i have a parking pass and i use the toll road so the rails doesn't affect me in that sense.

[moofs]

THAT'S what we've been waiting for? THAT???

The pink line looks usable for bypassing that hellish section of 610 if you're going to the Galleria or Westpark, but what the hell is the rest of it going to do?? Where did the UH line go?

I swear, how do we fire Metro?

THIS IS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR EFFORT FOR CRYING OUT F****** LOUD

[Ribalding]

THAT'S what we've been waiting for? THAT???
Where did the UH line go?

I swear, how do we fire Metro?

Far be it from me to defend metro, but the UofH line is there. It abuts campus by Robertson, then works around on Elgin.

It's there...in theory.

[moofs]

Yeah, I meant to edit that out - misread the green line.
It wasn't the basis for the rest of what I said, anyway.

[Ribalding]

The pink line looks usable for bypassing that hellish section of 610 if you're going to the Galleria or Westpark, but what the hell is the rest of it going to do??

1. The pink line is for tourists and will serve (sadly) as a glorified transfer point for Memorial's domestic workers, as best I can tell. It's the least viable of them all, imho. Something to put on a postcard. (What neartown 9-5 worker is going to purposefully aim their car for the transit/parking center at I10 & 610 at rush hour?? Nobody, is who. They'll keep driving to work.)

2. The Harrisburg line is kinda interesting, historically. You know how 225 abruptly ends in Pasadena? It was supposed to be the Harrisburg Freeway, extending all the way into downtown. (Was proposed as a relief valve, to ease conjestion on 45S and 10E.) The community went nuts b/c their neighborhood was gonna get bisected by a freeway, the 70's gas crunch strapped the state budget, and by the time anybody got around to resuming discussions, the hispanic community actually had a little political clout in Houston. So no go. That was Houston's last proposed freeway. The Harrisburg line will serve some of that purpose. But just 'some'.

3. The rest are just commuter lines/offset freeway conjestion/serving predominantly minority communities.

Then there's the REAL reason Metro wants these lines...

It's cheaper to run a rail line than a bus line. Lots cheaper. And for every flashy rail line they can put in, they kill a BUNCH of bus lines: typically, the little ones only poor folks use to get to the major commuter lines.

So there's that, too. They're basically evil.

[Ribalding]

Before anyone bothers:

Yes, I'm a geography dork.

(If anyone's interested, there's a 300 page book/e-book about the history of Houston freeways. Flawlessly researched. Great pics, too.)

[Mr. E]

Before anyone bothers:

Yes, I'm a geography dork.

(If anyone's interested, there's a 300 page book/e-book about the history of Houston freeways. Flawlessly researched. Great pics, too.)

I'm interested. What's the name of the book?

Did anyone read the article in the Barnicle this past Sunday about the problems that Metro is experiencing because of the way that the former administrator tried to circumvent federal regulations?

Such a well-run govenment entity! Let's give them more money!

[moofs]

Yes, do tell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_State_Highway_225

Also, I was trying to look at the rail lines in terms of highway traffic decongestion, as opposed to bus route replacements. How come public transportation availability has be confined to the poor in this city?

[Ribalding]

Houston freeway ebook link: http://www.houstonfreeways.com/ebook.aspx

Moofs, the answer to your last wuestion would belong on the off-topic page. I'd get perma-banned for political stuff. But DAMN I'm tempted.

[moofs]

Inquiring minds want to know.

Yo TMU, can we get a 2 day ban-exemption with pending-lock stipulation up in hyah?
(I'd also settle for a forwarded PM)