Light Rail Progress (Houston, Richmond, Kirby: transfer to, live, bus)

[robertrulez]

the people who bash rail are from the suburbs who complain about "traffic"... if the university line does end up happening, it will be the best thing to happen to Houston in a LONG LONG LONG time

[Univ_Texas_Alum_30]

Originally Posted by dv1033

What about the Park&Ride riders from Houston's suburbs that make up more greater than %25 of riders? What about serving Houston's largest and densest employment centers?

"KILLED a ton of people..." really define a ton.

I was referring to the light rail not the park and ride bus system. The park n ride works well. The light rail is essentially a bus but they paid millions of dollars to lay track for it. The park n ride at least gets the HOV lane but the light rail spends most of its time in traffic.

I guess you don't remember when they first got it finished there were constantly news reports about people getting hit and killed because they were in the light rail lane on the public street. It wasn't like a massacre or anything, but it was a good sized amount and, really, any one person getting killed over the light rail is too much.

[Univ_Texas_Alum_30]

Originally Posted by robertrulez

the people who bash rail are from the suburbs who complain about "traffic"... if the university line does end up happening, it will be the best thing to happen to Houston in a LONG LONG LONG time

EDIT: it will be the best thing to happen to construction crews and developers along the rail in a long, long time.

Also, the biggest traffic problems are not inside the city but are the traffic leading in and out of the city during rush hour. So, the light rail addresses the smallest problem and leaves the major problem untouched.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Univ_Texas_Alum_30

EDIT: it will be the best thing to happen to construction crews and developers along the rail in a long, long time.

Also, the biggest traffic problems are not inside the city but are the traffic leading in and out of the city during rush hour. So, the light rail addresses the smallest problem and leaves the major problem untouched.

Did you expect them to build rail out to the suburbs first???? That makes no sense.

[Univ_Texas_Alum_30]

I didn't say that. Whether or not commuter rail makes economic sense is to be determined by a separate analysis.

However, it didn't make sense to waste money on something completely pointless inside the loop. Just because commuter rail may be out of the picture now, that doesn't justify wasting money.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Univ_Texas_Alum_30

I didn't say that. Whether or not commuter rail makes economic sense is to be determined by a separate analysis.

However, it didn't make sense to waste money on something completely pointless inside the loop. Just because commuter rail may be out of the picture now, that doesn't justify wasting money.

It connects two of the busiest CBDs in the Houston area; it makes plenty of sense. I hate the layout of it, but it makes tons of sense.

[Univ_Texas_Alum_30]

Yes, it makes sense for everyone who needs to travel from the med center to downtown and who lives within walking distance of the rail. That is oh, .0000000000001% of the population. Great "planning" guys.

The rail cars are just buses but with less flexibility. You do realize that right?

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by Univ_Texas_Alum_30

Yes, it makes sense for everyone who needs to travel from the med center to downtown and who lives within walking distance of the rail. That is oh, .0000000000001% of the population. Great "planning" guys.

The rail cars are just buses but with less flexibility. You do realize that right?

Do you not realize how a transit works? Different modes of transit feed into one another, you make it seem like this rail line operates in a vacuum. You can walk, ride a bike, take a bus, or take commuter bus to connect to light rail.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by Univ_Texas_Alum_30

Also, the biggest traffic problems are not inside the city but are the traffic leading in and out of the city during rush hour. So, the light rail addresses the smallest problem and leaves the major problem untouched.

By developing an inner city infrastructure that makes it attractive for Houstonians to live in the inner loop you will be reducing the demand for those wanting to live in the far suburbs, Thus, reducing the need for traffic in and out of the city and thus addressing the major problem.

Its is fine for those who want to live as well. We have been investing for generations in having freeway systems for those residents.

We have not taken advantage of our potential in the inner city. We have low density and poor infrastructure support for urban dwellers. The light rail is a great start.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by Univ_Texas_Alum_30

I didn't say that. Whether or not commuter rail makes economic sense is to be determined by a separate analysis.

However, it didn't make sense to waste money on something completely pointless inside the loop. Just because commuter rail may be out of the picture now, that doesn't justify wasting money.

Have you ridden to light rail at least 20 times to witness this 'complete waste of money' as you call it?

The Main Street Line is an overwhelmingly success by those who track these things. Do your self a favor and ride it during different parts of the day and witness the success first hand (if you can find a seat).