Saturday Metrorail Service

[AustinSpartan]

Originally Posted by jobert

The other Catch-22: it takes just as long to get to one's destination downtown using the train as it would if they had just driven in the first place.

We're trying to treat the symptoms (unsuccessfully), but ignoring the problem. The train runs on diesel, so using it to combat fuel costs is another catch as well.

Drive time is not the only variables that plays into ones decision. Parking, traffic (accidents), weather, fear of getting lost.

Public trans is not a bad thing, just that Austin's goes to nowhere and doesn't really connect the high density areas. I can't imagine many people living downtown are hopping on a train for a visit to Leander.

[eepstein]

Believe it or not, the idea of light rain in Austin is not useless. The problem is that Capital Metro doesn't have a clue how to efficiently run it. They have literally failed for decades at most everything they have tried. Why?? Not really sure. I suspect a lot of it is that "austin arrogance" speaking again with not wanting to study other cities and wanting to "do it ourselves". Therefore, the current "light rail" is a complete failure before it even started.

Originally Posted by M1EK

The reason Saturday's trains were so full and Monday's (and every other weekday's) are so empty: M1EK's Bake-Sale of Bile: Epic MetroFail

Don't buy the hype. This thing is nearly completely useless.

[calien]

I'd like to see a study comparing the metrorail to the 183A toll road. Both originate and travel the same route for the 1st 10ish miles. One is overbudget, behind schedule and gets you nowhere - the other is looking much better.

My only complaint on the toll road is that they didn't reduce costs at the Lakeline plaza rather than expand further north so soon. I think a price reduction at Lakeline would get more users onto the toll road and would prevent some of the accidents at the Lakeline Mall exit.

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Believe it or not, the idea of light rain in Austin is not useless. The problem is that Capital Metro doesn't have a clue how to efficiently run it. They have literally failed for decades at most everything they have tried. Why?? Not really sure. I suspect a lot of it is that "austin arrogance" speaking again with not wanting to study other cities and wanting to "do it ourselves". Therefore, the current "light rail" is a complete failure before it even started.

The current line isn't light rail, and that's a big part of the problem. It's commuter rail; and doesn't penetrate enough of the city to hit enough major activity centers to be successful. (People don't like to transfer to shuttlebuses on the work end of their trip).

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by M1EK

The current line isn't light rail, and that's a big part of the problem. It's commuter rail; and doesn't penetrate enough of the city to hit enough major activity centers to be successful. (People don't like to transfer to shuttlebuses on the work end of their trip).

.....or walk for that matter which is unfortunate given the girth of some Central Texans.

The density of the activity centers around stops will be built up over time as it already has around Crestview station.

One more thing to add is that you can actually be productive, e.g. read or use your laptop, on the train versus a personal motor vehicle. That and stress is reduced when you aren't the one responsible for navigation.

[passionatearts]

I saw a train pass through the intersection at 2222 and Duval St at 8:20 this morning and it looked there were only about 5 people on the entire train. Has ridership been that low?

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

.....or walk for that matter which is unfortunate given the girth of some Central Texans.

The density of the activity centers around stops will be built up over time as it already has around Crestview station.

One more thing to add is that you can actually be productive, e.g. read or use your laptop, on the train versus a personal motor vehicle. That and stress is reduced when you aren't the one responsible for navigation.

Density has never developed around stops on a poorly performing train - it tends to follow other density, and people also won't pay more to get 'less' when the train they ride isn't going anywhere useful. (South Florida's had a couple dozen proposed TODs that have gone nowhere in the 20 years Tri-Rail's been delivering train passengers to shuttle-buses).

As for the second argument, the express buses that beat the train on objective metrics for almost all passengers have wifi and the other advantages (less comfortable ride, slightly, though).

[eileenkeeney]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

.....or walk for that matter which is unfortunate given the girth of some Central Texans.

The density of the activity centers around stops will be built up over time as it already has around Crestview station.

One more thing to add is that you can actually be productive, e.g. read or use your laptop, on the train versus a personal motor vehicle. That and stress is reduced when you aren't the one responsible for navigation.

One can not be productive, if it is wall to wall people, and you are standing crushed between other people.

IF the train has few enough people, that one can sit and be comfortable and productive, does it end up costing more energy, than it would for each of those people to drive their personal vehicle?

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by M1EK

Density has never developed around stops on a poorly performing train - it tends to follow other density, and people also won't pay more to get 'less' when the train they ride isn't going anywhere useful. (South Florida's had a couple dozen proposed TODs that have gone nowhere in the 20 years Tri-Rail's been delivering train passengers to shuttle-buses).

As for the second argument, the express buses that beat the train on objective metrics for almost all passengers have wifi and the other advantages (less comfortable ride, slightly, though).

I have no idea if it poorly performing or not. Maybe we should ask some actual riders.

As far as development Midtown Commons around the Crestview station is shooting for upwards of 3,000 units; Leander is planning their TOD around the station there; the Highland Mall area will be developed; and there is a stop near the Domain. It will take time b/c the city wasn't developed around transit after WWII.

Express buses, unless they have dedicated lanes, will still be subject to congestion and backups whereas a train on a dedicated track will not.

The Convention Center is within the CBD. It is not in the middle of it but its close enough for a 5-10 minute walk to your DT workplace. Don't be so lazy! Of course if you work at 5th and Lamar that's another story, but remember it is possible to take bikes on the train.

As far as fuel efficiency goes it is 5 or 10 people taking the train then it may be a wash but one large highly efficient diesel engine against 100 small gasoline engines in traffic isn't even close.

I have actually read the newspaper while standing up on the Washington DC metro, its easier than trying to do the same on bumper-to-bumper traffic on Mopac/IH-35.