But you guys are missing the point. Whatever the Bay Area has spent on rail construction, it is worth it now that T_J is a free agent, looking for an unfettered freeway wonderland. TRY PHOENIX
He should move to Chicago. With it's mature elevated rail system, it must be a driver's paradise. But if it's a lack of public transit he wants, Arlington, Texas is your place. No trains for sure, but there's also no bus system. It's the largest city in the country without public transit.
Calgary has had an LRT system for over 20 years. It’s great. It even makes money. During that time Calgary had the Olympics, and to the best of my knowledge there weren’t any significant problems. They are currently extending it on all ends and there are plans to add another leg. Don’t let Luddites lead you astray. Once you have it you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
Well, just think how bad it would be without the trains. Actually, I drove to Chicago once and didn't have any significant problems getting around the city in my car. I'll bet that the EL does alleviate some traffic issues. On a different anti-train note, there was an article in the Dallas Morning News about gangs of kids beating up random kids at the Loew's Cityplace theater in Dallas the other day. Someone within the article speculated that the thugs were getting to the theater by riding the train because no kids like that would live in that neighborhood. DART was quick to note that they had no evidence the kids were coming to the area on the train. So, there you go, another reason to be against rail. It could bring thug kids to your neighborhood.
Yeah, the car traffic is horrible right now because it seems like there's a lot of construction being done on the highways. I couldn't imagine downtown without the El though. As far as the DART thing, it's not like Cityplace is that far away from a very sketchy part of town.
Yeah, the car traffic is horrible right now because it seems like there's a lot of construction being done on the highways. I couldn't imagine downtown without the El though. As far as the DART thing, it's not like Cityplace is that far away from a very sketchy part of town.
I know. That's why I found the article kind of funny. I mean, it's horrible that people are getting beat up, but the fact that the brought the trains into it seemed to really be reaching. Not only is it not that far from a sketchy part of town, but it isn't only poor folk who become thugs and participate in such behavior (they do think it is gang-related, but who knows, really). I'm just giving my anti-train bretheren some more ammunition, though.
This is why I hate politics in this country. Everything is partisan fueled. Why can't people look beyond politics sometimes and try to think of what will help the masses. It has worked in Europe and in many cities around the world. And yeah in many north American cities. And it is never too late. I believe that there is time for everything - time to think or see things politically/partisan and when not to. And I believe that T_J take was partisanly motivated. I stand corrected.
Because it's apparently all about your side winning. I mean, even when your guy goes against the principles you supposedly stand for, you'll still defend him because winning elections is apparently more important than actually having principles and sticking with them. (and when I say "you", I mean that in a general way to apply to everyone in the country, not to you specifically).
You need a legitimate third party. With a two party system the thinking tends to become black and white, either/or. You also need to make your system a lot more democratic and representative of your population. You essentially have a plutocracy now, a plutocracy split into only two political groups. It’s not too hard to see why and how the ideas and analysis that come from that structure tend to be limited and anachronistic.
Come on.. even the air conditioner industry knows it's hard to stop train. It's also hard to stop ANY vehicle that has an IDIOT behind the wheel/controls that makes an ILLEGAL TURN... something I might add that a TRAIN cannot do. Train wins every time. SORRY
You should seriously get out of Houston more often. Your statement illustrates a poor understanding of Bay Area traffic. Getting on a bus in the morning means getting to work 1 hour late. Getting on the light rail will zip you right into the office.
Guys, somebody was driving too fast on 1960 one day and slammed into the median. We should tear up all the roads, since they're obviously a hazard.
The more I read TJ's comments in this thread, the more gobsmacked I become. A new high (or low) on the partisan stooge charts.
I apologize for staying on topic, but did anybody see the story on TV? Apparently, at that intersection, there is a no left turn sign right next to a sign that says "one way" with an arrow pointing left. People were making illegal left turns on that intersection all day, and the reporter at the scene said that two people made left turns just as they were doing the story. That's a bit confusing, to say the least... Reason # 578 not to move to Houston...
If you've driven on that road, you would see why. You can't turn left AT ALL on main. I have ignored the signs myself. Apparently the proper thing to do is to turn right and then make a u-turn.
I should "get out of Houston more". Hahaha. Champ, I have worked extensively throughout Europe and Mexico, as well as spending months working in places around the US such as the BAY AREA, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Richmond VA, Tampa and Dallas. I have seen how traffic and mass transit works, especially in the Bay Area. Baqui, take a look at the system in place in Curibita, Brazil (that's in South America in case you didn't know). They have high speed bus lanes built around the city where trains would be. They even have boarding platforms like a train does. These buses do not mingle with traffic at all. This is what I would have like to have seen in Houston. This is infinitely more cost efficient that these toy trains that we just voted on, which are stuck on the same lanes as women making illegal left turns while applying makeup. I agree that trains look cool, but when you get down to their true function, which is to move people, there are much more cost efficient means.
