1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[da1 related] New Houston Mayor to Texas DOT: Wider Roads Mean More Traffic

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Sajan, Feb 1, 2016.

  1. Sajan

    Sajan Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2009
    Messages:
    8,282
    Likes Received:
    5,741
    http://www.citylab.com/commute/2016/02/houston-mayor-turner-texas-dot-highway-road-expansion/458709/

    Turner ran on a transportation platform that says all the right things about improving urban mobility via travel alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles. His position emphasizes road maintenance without any mention of expansion and favors new public transit options, the Houston-Dallas high-speed rail plan, and the reconstruction of Interstate 45—an elevated highway that cuts through the city. His latest talk offered three specific suggestions:

    Texas DOT should prioritize projects that help increase the share of non solo-drive trips from its present 3 percent up to at least 15 percent. That means new intercity rail efforts, HOT lanes, and better local transit. “Experience shows that focusing on serving the 97% will exacerbate and prolong the congestion problems that urban areas experience,” he said.

    Highway money pegged for urban regions like Houston should be used toward enhancing roads in the core—as opposed to those on the fringes. Again his point was that expanding peripheral highways only makes the whole road system more congested.

    Texas DOT and the city need to work together to coordinate Houston’s last-mile trip options, especially along local streets that feed off major highways.
     
  2. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2002
    Messages:
    25,396
    Likes Received:
    13,270
    thank you. please. do something
     
  3. FTW Rockets FTW

    FTW Rockets FTW Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2011
    Messages:
    27,724
    Likes Received:
    21,397
    They better make 290 a 6 lane freeway like I-10

    290 is a mess
     
  4. Cohete Rojo

    Cohete Rojo Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2009
    Messages:
    10,344
    Likes Received:
    1,203
    They NEED to widen some of the freeways. Either that or put in commuter rail, which doesn't seem like it would be too difficult as many of the rail lines are already there. They exist. They don't need to be built. Just need some kind of downtown station. Now where would there be such a thing...
     
  5. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    28,627
    Likes Received:
    12,560
    Don't need the question mark at the end of "da1 related?"
     
  6. Blurr#7

    Blurr#7 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2007
    Messages:
    5,276
    Likes Received:
    3,452
    Yeah look at Austin, they got narrow roads and no traffic right?!?!?!
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. SWTsig

    SWTsig Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,935
    Likes Received:
    3,528
    Except austin also hasn't done anything else to alleviate traffic.
     
  8. CCity Zero

    CCity Zero Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2014
    Messages:
    7,267
    Likes Received:
    3,500
    Lately Austin seems worse than Houston on some of the rush hour traffic... At least in Houston there's multiple freeways/routes. I mean here it's like 2 major wrecks on 35 and mopac would basically shut down a lot of the routes, Austin's idea though is by not building more infrastructure it can slow growth :rolleyes: lol, well... Maybe not that but it's like they won't take on bigger projects because the part of the city making choices probably doesn't see a problem since they live downtown.

    I guess I'll just move downtown.
     
  9. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2000
    Messages:
    21,622
    Likes Received:
    6,257
    We need trains. Like real one not light light rail which has to stop for cars. If mexico city has one why can't Houston. We have a larger GDP than mexico city.
     
  10. texanskan

    texanskan Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
    Messages:
    4,529
    Likes Received:
    105
    I dont understand why people always say we need trains. Look, there is a better chance the light rain is torn up in 25 years than commuter trains being put in.

    We are on the verge of self driving busses, we can eliminate the single highest cost which is the driver. Focus needs to be on park and rides, express bus service and I applaud getting rid of light rail on Post Oak and having rapid bus lanes instead
     
  11. HR Dept

    HR Dept Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2012
    Messages:
    6,792
    Likes Received:
    1,223
    Seems like strategically placed heavy rail could do a lot of good for this city. Give people an option to not use thier car in order to get to business centers and entertainment venues.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2000
    Messages:
    21,622
    Likes Received:
    6,257
    Because self driving cars busses etc are not efficient. to transport massive number of people trains are efficient. I have driven in Manhattan. That was the dumbest idea ever. I did that for 1 day.
     
  13. BleedRocketsRed

    BleedRocketsRed Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    7,089
    Likes Received:
    603
    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CwinnODU0yo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  14. ipaman

    ipaman Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2002
    Messages:
    13,022
    Likes Received:
    7,788
    major pieces of the infrastructure are already in place with metro's current park n ride lots all around houston. the trick is to have rail inside the BW8&610 to alleviate traffic in the city proper. in theory vehicle traffic leaving park and ride locations would utilize both inbound and outbound during both rush hours instead of the prominent direction we have now.

    a plan like that would also make a plan to destroy the pierce and raise/bury 59 downtown feasible. which would be great because both are choking central expansion in to available properties and parks.
     
  15. texanskan

    texanskan Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
    Messages:
    4,529
    Likes Received:
    105
    It is not cost effective. The space that the light rail is on can be designated bus lanes and it would be no different. Have platforms and busses coming every 6 minutes like the metro rail
     
  16. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2002
    Messages:
    25,396
    Likes Received:
    13,270
    i lived in nyc for a while and i was thankful daily that i didn't have to drive in that city. it would drive me crazy to deal with that.
     
  17. marky :)

    marky :) Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    4,563
    Likes Received:
    4,100
    No amount of change would improve the cluster f*** that is the exit/merger at 59 and 610 going in either direction.
     
  18. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2002
    Messages:
    35,617
    Likes Received:
    7,572
    Opening the HOV lanes back up on weekends would be an easy start. They did that in December as an experiment and it was awesome.

    The park and ride is great if you live in the burbs and work downtown. But if you work anywhere outside of downtown (even a few miles), you're screwed because the local service is such a joke. Yes, even after it was over-hauled. It still BLOWS CHIMPS.

    Buses are late all the time, half the time they don't even show up or a clueless driver blows right by your stop while you're standing there and waving because he doesn't know the route. Then when you get on, there's no place to sit.

    It shouldn't take an hour and a half to get from Allen Parkway to Kingwood, but it does. No hyperbole.
     
  19. famicom

    famicom Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2003
    Messages:
    1,185
    Likes Received:
    50
    Monorail from 290 to downtown straight shot plz?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  20. TMac'n

    TMac'n Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2007
    Messages:
    3,501
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    Although it's not directly related to the over-haul, I've actually seen an increase in UH main campus students taking the park and ride buses to take the newly constructed eastbound light rails to the school from the downtown stations. That's a huge improvement since it'll mean less suburb students on the roads to congest freeway traffic.

    Not gonna lie, the current "coach" buses that are used for park and ride are much more comfortable to sit in (and sleep) as apposed to standing room or plastic hard seats of a light rail (or similar subway). Coming from a regular user, I'd much rather prefer the park and ride bus.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now