in your first responce you referenced $4 gas. Gas wasn't $4 when rail opened. gas has nothing to do with people willing to ride buses vs. rail.
As a former Metro rider myself, I can say that the rail concept is infinitely better than the bus for commuting. I say concept because all Houston has right now is the Red Line, which is the backbone for the system to come. I think it's a little silly to attribute so much success to it so far, but I believe the gains in the future will be noticeable. When I used to ride the bus, it was all guesswork. They never ran on schedule and often got caught in traffic, causing huge delays on lines like the 26 and 27 cross-towns. The ride itself is uncomfortable as well. The rail probably moves faster on average than the bus, although some of the stopping at lights confuses me at times. I think that once the rail gets built, you'll see significant improvements and developments in Houston. For instance, notice where the Green and Purple Lines run parallel after 59; that's the proposed site for the new Dynamo stadium. The rail will help modernize parts of town like my native East End that really do lack in infrastructure. Sure, it's an inconvenience while it's being built (Harrisburg has already been limited to two lanes), but the long-term advantages outweigh the short-term difficulties.
But this survey wasn't taken on the day the rail opened. That wouldn't make sense. It was taken in May of 2007. The national average for that month was $3.18/gallon which, at the time, was as high a spike as we'd ever seen.
the survey doesn't ask when did you start riding rail, you would need that question to back up your claims edit: and still, the point max is making is that alot of people who wouldn't ride the bus, will ride trains. that's a here and now comparison buss today/trains today, which has nothing to do with gas prices.
Is this just the proposal or is this definately where new lines will go (if built)? I see "we don't want rail" signs on Wheeler/Richmond. I guess this is why??
I would think the person who wrote the article would need that question to back up HIS claim. That's all I'm saying. MadMax would have an excellent point if bus ridership wasn't also up for that same time period. In fact, ALL public transportation in Houston is DOWN for the month of November. Coincedently, so are gas prices. That would seem to indicate that ridership in Houston has everything to do with gas prices. Again, I am FOR more rail. I just don't think we should throw out stats to make an argument for it like the article author did without thinking them all the way through.
Also, as I remember, when Lanier was running for mayor he said he was going to use the money that had been earmarked for light rail by Whitmire towards putting more police on the streets. Of course that didn't really help the crime rate in Houston either.
Yeah - I sized this up for emphasis. This is so completely true it ain't even funny. Anyone who doesn't realize this has their head in the sand.
most of these lines are pretty much a sure thing i think the timeline is actually 2014, not 2012, but i could be wrong
he's only making two claims, people would rather ride light rail than buses, and people ride light rail in houston more than other places THAT IS BACKED UP, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT UP GAS PRICES two points, where does it say that, other than your observation secondly, no, people like to ride rail more than buses, established by the article and ridership may be down because of the overall economy, again, I don't disagree that people are riding less rail because of gas or i'm not agreeing, the only point I'm making is that its not his point. and even if you argue that its because of gas prices, SO WHAT, that's the point, people will ride rail if there is an alternative, probably moreso than buses again, what is your problem with the stats, they prove that people will ride rail in houston, regardless of their reasoning. edit: to be clear, the point is that rail is successful in Houston, compared to other cities. Gas prices are up everywhere, but in Houston, people chose to ride rail more than other places, which adds to claim that it was well planned as far as route imo.
http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_newslog2006q3.htm#HOU_20060916 this article says ridership was at 40k per day in 8/2006 http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_newslog001.htm#HOU_20041108 2004, ridership was 32,900 per day, so no I wouldn't argue that it has all or even most to do with gas prices. There are prices however that I definitely would argue it has to do with and that's parking
They say 2012 is the goal, I wouldn't be surprised if it took until 2014 though. The University line is supposed to take 4 years but I don't think they've begun construction on it yet. http://metrosolutions.org/go/page/1068/14961/
Just saw this video, thanks to the Houston Press. Enjoy! <object width="400" height="220"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3615604&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3615604&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="220"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3615604">Houston METRO Light Rail</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1388984">NC3D.com</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/04/metros_light_rail_directed_by.php
That's really cool, the neighborhoods surrounding the rail lines will see immediate growth and an increase in street-level venues.
They need to hurry and make the line to UH... I'm tired of paying for a parking pass and would rather ride the rail there..
Agreed. Working 5 mins from UHD, it'd be a huge advantage to be able to park at my job and ride the rail to UH. Soon enough hopefully.
what do you base this statement on? Metro or the city of Houston spending our tax money to pretty up the areas, or meaningful private development?
nah. It won't be Houston money. It will be everybody else's money, because of the stimulus funds being used to fund the beautification of liberal democrat venues.
