Dubious, Read this thread for more evidence that Houston cannot continue to develop in its current form. We've got to enact some change and I hope lightrail can do it and time will tell. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=109066
After the problems with street level rail became evident (not talking crashes...talking stopping traffic, etc) I thought Mayor White indicated that all expansions would be elevated. In my mind, it only makes sense.
I vaguely remember something to that effect but it was only for downtown. After realizing overhead in downtown isn't feasible, they looked at a tunnel. After realizing that was 3-4x more money, we were back to street level. It makes sense but it doesn't make dollars and cents.
I commented because I thought I heard him say that it would be all future rail expansions. It does make sense. Cost is a factor, but you do not want to be penny wise and dollar foolish. Remember that in addition to the area in question being a very high traffic area, there is the the freight train that runs right through it. Doing this at street level could very well be a disaster. I can easily envision a scenario in which it actually makes the traffic worse, not better.
I don't recall hearing that and I generally pay attention but maybe I missed it. When you are talking 3-4x more (of something like 1.5 billion already), then that isn't what I'd call being "penny wise." That is a MASSIVE $$$ increase and the voters didn't approve that kind of money. That is a good point. It probably would be easier to dig under it than build over it, however. It is a residential spot and I doubt they want some huge bridge like on Westpark. It can hardly get worse. Did you see traffic this weekend? They had to shut down the freeway exits to the Galleria on 610 and 59 because there were too many cars on the streets and no parking left. Christmas is also similar in the area. Something like this could literally ease traffic rather than hurt. btw, this is why I support running it down Westheimer rather than Richmond. It's easier to walk to Highland Villiage and the Galleria...which is the WHOLE point of light rail.
I have long been a supporter of a rail system. I have thought it crazy that we are this large of a city and did not have one. My problem stems from the level on which it will be built. 10 years from now, there will be dozens of threads titled "Man this street level rail sucks." We want something that will be serviceable rather than something that will be viewed as just another pain in the butt. When you look at how our freeways were built, they don't make much sense. Having to get over 3 lanes in a mile in order to not miss your exit is crazy. We have always built for what we have now rather than what we will have 10 years from now. We can ill afford to build the rail system the same way. Sadly, this is what we are doing. Any way you slice it, street level rail is going to be a cluster.
Street level rail exists in Toronto to this day and Toronto's mass transit system is widely regarded as one of the, if not THE, best in North America. But thanks for expressing your opinion on the future of lightrail.
This is the inherent problem with fixed rail systems. You can't move them. If population or commercial centers shift, you have to build new ones. That's the advantage buses have over rail. You can adjust bus routes whenever the need arises.
Who regards it as the best? Does it stop traffic in the most high traffic surface street areas in town (ie the Galleria area)? The disadvantage buses have is that they have stops just like rail, but in addition they have all those red lights to contend with. Add to that buses getting caught in traffic jams and having to go around accidents. It just isn't even close.
