In 10 years we will be walking everywhere in Houston!

When I still lived in Houston, stuck in traffic on the Gulf Freeway (which will never be finished) and listening to KFMK and later KLOL on my FM radio while playing "steering wheel guitar," I'd dream of lifting off and flying away. Once or twice I almost did.

Spoiler

 

Actually, only a couple of ramps are closed right now, and 1 lane in La Marque. Sounds about as done as any freeway. At least for now.

 

Should probably start leaving then

 

They'll find something terrible for traffic to work on. It's inevitable.

 

Kick out the Californians

 

i've already started grooming my horse for when that day comes.

 

Has the traffic really grown exponentially?

I'm curious about the impact of the rise of work from home jobs.

 

Apartment complex's are being built all over the country in areas that are in demand. A lot of younger people actually prefer them over houses. So I don't think it is as simple as blaming apartment complex's. The city of Houston is a really good place to live but the mass transit is a joke. There is really no excuse for their not to be a rail system like what exists in Chicago where people in large population areas can get to other large population centers in the greater city area. It isn't uncommon for middle and upper middle class people to use the rails up here.

 

Bro! We have a 2 billion+++ dollar HOV system that enclosed and impossible to access! Come on, bro!

 

HA! Its the same in Chicago.

 

Stop Saying ‘Exponential.’ Sincerely, a Math Nerd.
Sure, “exponential growth” sounds impressive. But it usually isn’t.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/opinion/exponential-language-math.html

 

I got tired of commuting and sitting in traffic, so I moved much closer to work. 8 minute drive vs 35-40 minute drive w/ tolls.

 

Need light rail.....

DD

 

Can't leave too much traffic.

 

Improved highways improves congestion (see I-10 West between 610 and the Beltway). Yeah it's still bad sometimes but much better than 10 years ago which includes 10 years of city growth.

What doesn't help is poor planning. 610 @Galleria (circa 2010-2015) was 5 years of construction which ended with the same amount lanes on the same damn highway. Those fools ending up breaking new concrete @San Felipe within one year. Poor planning

What doesn't help is knowing Houston is a "car city" then having freeways @Downtown --- i.e. 45 @ 59 (both directions) and 10 @ 45 (both directions) --- which reduce to 2 freaking lanes

Main Street between OST and 610 is still awesome after its expansion 20 years ago which includes 20 years of growth

What is stupid was repaving Almeda between OST and 610 without expanding the lanes. Those fools will be breaking the new concrete within 5-10 years and expanding what should have already been done. Repaving was wasted tax money. The city knows well in advance what new buildings will be built yet they constantly lack preparation for the future

 

I believe the recent increase in apartment complexes in my neighborhood has caused overload of infrastructure (like roads).. but I don't really "blame" the complexes - they're just businesses trying to make money. I blame the city for permitting too many complexes without accompanying improvements to infrastructure (as RedRedemption said here)

..like one of those sim games when you put a popular attraction someplace, but you put the bathroom too far away or not big enough... ya gotta have a plan that thinks more about the big picture and how resources are impacted.

 

I went with someone to look at a car in Katy a few months back on a Saturday. OH LAWD. It was insane. Cars everywhere. It was like Tokyo, but with only cars instead of people, and instead of cool stuff, it completely sucks in every aspect.

 

You gotta be a I-10 hauler, not a leader not a follower. You obviously weren't rolling 20 inch blades on your Impala.

@tinman

 

Traffic is a product of land use and policy decisions. I don't see the greater Houston area or Texas or much of the US addressing that question in a meaningful way anytime soon. We just don't have the courage to do the governmental things necessary or the fortitude to make the personal changes (including a change of assumptions about how we live) to bring about walkable neighborhoods and significantly reduce traffic. There's also the active opposition of those interested in predatory delay.

Eventually, it will happen because climate change and economics and popular opinion will demand it. The amount of time wasted sitting in cars with engines running is ridiculous and that lifestyle is unsustainable personally, economically, and environmentally--it creates too much stress at all levels. And yes, get an EV even though that's a temporary measure and will not stop the massive change that is coming.

As risk multiplies with climate change, complexities increase as does the cost of response and recovery. You want to be in a resilient place, which means a good government that anticipates and prevents as well as a populace that is intelligent enough to understand and work the problems. Houston and many other places are not there yet. We've all got work to do at the personal and community and national level.