You would think a 3 page topic over Houston transportation would contain some useful information. This thread has lead me to conclude, the transportation problem will continue to suck indefinitely.
Built two universities: one serviceable, one near-world-class, with originally no help from the state government and a lot of hindrance from its two biggest leeches (UT and A&M). Evolved from a port and oil boom-and-bust-town to the marketing and engineering backbone of the global energy industry. Apparently helped reinvent the indoor retail industry, revolutionized stadium construction and rebuilt our own city in the process. Not a bad Med Center down there, either.
KBR is pretty hot. And the Texas Medical Center, I heard Baylor is losing its teaching hospitals. What the heck is up with that? And it is going to become Baylor-Rice?
Just weighing in here but its a myth that our sprawl and freeways are the result of capitalism. If anything American sprawl is as much a government driven social engineering as European cities. Consider that without government, particularly the US Federal government, building freeways sprawl wouldn't be possible. Also consider where the other infrastructure such as transmission lines, water and sewer lines and etc.. came from? Most of that was built or funded by government. Also lets not forget that many of the old trolley streetlines were run by private companies and it was due to things like changing zoning and even collusion between local governments, car companies and oil companies that many of those streetlines were dismantled. I always get annoyed by people arguing about government money being spent on socialist mass transit when consider where the money came from to build the 610 loop. Things like the 610 loop aint a triumph of Capitalism. Its as much a Socialist construct as the LRT.
There was a thread exactly like this within the past year. I don't know if it was in the Richmond rail thread or was an offshoot, but it was a pretty long discussion.
You can thank John Culberson and Tom Delay for that. METRO had plans for I-10. Instead of the tollway in the middle, it was going to be commuter rail. There would still be an HOV lane in each direction, too. Cypress gets it easy. When 290 is expanded, they are adding commuter rail for that corridor. Other commuter rail corridors are: line to Galveston, Southwest Line, and Westpark. You should probably read about METRO's plans.
Woulda coulda shoulda Houston Monorail Proposal http://www.ararat-productions.com/monorail/HoustonMonorail.html The people spoke and the people want sprawl. There's no way a little street trolley is going to change the land use values. Build that and distract them. That's why you don't let the affluent's propaganda tell you what to think sheeple.
in before simpsons monorail reference. and yeah, no one told me to like mass transit. i used it. i liked it. i want it. end of story. baaaaah.
I guess the fact that a lot of people aren't working this week has nothing to do with it. Houston traffic problem SOLVED by Sajan = UH students!!!!
Yeah it does! In most cities where the authorities have shifted their focus to mass transit, roads have suffered and by extension drivers. Are you saying municipalities have unlimited resources and they can do one without neglecting the other? If you are, then I will tell you you are dead wrong. To me, it is very important that elected officials emphasize the idea of light rail as a way to supplement the existing system, not replace it or as a way to overhaul it. I like it as an option, nothing more, and I certainly do not want money earmarked for road improvements and new highway constructions to be diverted to a mass transit system. When we get to the point where there are 20 million people living in this city, mass transit will be a necessity and people will clamor for it then. For now, there is no such desire for wasting money and precious resources on such a massive project.
Yeah, that is it If you enjoy the smell of piss and vomit in the morning, no one is holding you back, by all means move to Boston or NYC, and enjoy those two feet of snow while you are at it.
I've riden both systems, and I didn't smell anything like that. Are you sure you're not exagurating a little?
Yeah, the monorail proposal was a dumb one, but you're lying to yourself and the world if you think the light rail hasn't raised property values.
It's better now than waiting. If Houston had started building a heavy rail system back when Atlanta started (the 70s and Atlanta was much smaller than Houston back then), then transit options would be much better. Don't wait until metro Houston gets 20 million people. Do it now before the people come. The Inner Loop is getting bigger and bigger every year (and much denser). Build now. It also gets more expensive the longer you wait.
if im not mistaken, there is only one line on their entire metro that is underground. its not comparable to houston b/c its much smaller and more walkable, but amsterdam is a model of how to integrate all forms of transport in and give them equal access. definitely not a city i would want to drive in, but neither is nyc. i took this picture when i was there - light rail, car, bike and pedestrian - each one has their own dedicated lane. taxi drivers can take a test to get a license which allows them to drive on the train tracks (note the blue license plate). ive ridden the subways in nyc, berlin and mexico city and of those 3, the best one was mexico city - i got lost in nyc multiple times, but never had a problem in mexico city (and i dont even speak fluent spanish). and they were actually much cleaner than the nyc subway. its cost like $.30 to go anywhere in the city and the stops are everywhere - in the city center, you probably dont have to walk more than a half mile before coming across one. berlin is great too - they have trains, subway and buses (double-decker!) - a day pass for all is 6 euros. here in austin we have been having our own on-going light rail drama - the first line from leander to downtown is now like 2 years behind schedule. the next one they are talking about is an airport-downtown line, which would be good.
are they not doing exactly that now? who is talking about replacing roads? obviously there is going to be competition for funds and land, but is there not room for coexistence? i think you are taking way too hardline an approach here. isnt that the whole point? expand our options? glad you are not a city planner!
The nicest subway system I've ridden was DC's. Very clean and very expansive. It is actually what made me more interested in moving there in a few years. LA's wasn't too bad either.
