yet again, bigtexx and troll_j fail to mention in their attack on the fine people in the city of Houston is that the plan the citizens voted on and approved, also contains : 50% increase in bus service About 44 new routes Over 1,000 new route miles Longer hours of service Increased access to activity centers 9 new transit centers Upgrades to existing transit centers Over 250 miles of two-way Park & Ride Service New Park & Ride lots: Grand Parkway - Barker-Cypress -South Freeway -Atascocita -Hinman (vicinity of Hobby Airport) -Westchase -Clear Lake -Fairfield -Fannin South http://www.ridemetro.org/motion/solutions/planoverview.asp
Just think what Metro could do if it wasn't spending all that money on the ridiculous trains. Even more of an increase in bus service and real solutions which will help reduce congestion. 50% increase in bus service over 16 years isn't much when you consider what that means from a compound annual yearly growth rate. About 2.5% growth per year. Probably not outpacing the overall population growth by too much.
That's nice. I understand your frustrations. Which freeway are you complaining about? Which one doesn't have enough lanes for you? Would you prefer removing an HOV lane? I'd like to know what you see as a true solution to your desire to add yet another lane to a Houston freeway. If you've already addressed this in an earlier thread (and by seeing Jeff's response, I'm guessing this has all been said before), I apologize. I don't see why it's either an either an extra freeway lane or nothing for Houstonians who continue to see MetroRail as evil.
I'm deeply saddened that the pasty Minnesoootans are seemingly smarter than my Texan brethren. Light rail has been running here in Minneapolis for about 3 weeks with testing going on for about a year and there hasn't been a single accident, even though the local Fox News affiliate did a scare piece on it showing people trying to play chicken with the trains (I'm guessing it was some of their interns.) C'mon Houstonians! With the Stros playing bad, the Rox failing to advance further than the second round, GW Bush as President and now that you can't avoid getting hit by the LRT y'all are making me look bad here in the land of pasty white folk. Uffda!
It's funny but Sishir is kinda right. I mean, there are light rail systems all OVER the place and we are the only city that ends up with this many accidents. They have placed these in places equally as busy in terms of traffic as here and somehow, we're the only one's stupid enough to get hit by them on a regular basis. Then again, as I drive around town and see all the people with Starbuck's in one hand, the cell phone pressed up between the ear and the shoulder and a hand on the wheel while weaving through traffic in the Escalade, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. :
Are you still unwilling to admit a design flaw in the system? This evidence only buttresses my theory. Do you think the signs are readily recognizable? Do you think enough alerts are in place? I've got a list of 50 first hand accounts who disagree with you. The accidents only mask the true failure of the project -- the fact that ridership is abysmal, the damage created to downtown businesses was huge, and the cost of the project was enormous. This project does not address the needs of Houstonians -- easing congestion. I'm moving however. This is you all's problem not mine. You now must lie in the bed that you made for yourself.
Exactly. Houston porbaby has more bad drivers per capita than any other city in the US. To add to that, we have some of the most AGGRESSIVE drivers. Its going to be much easier, and cheaper, for Metro to redesign the signage and layout of the LR then it will be to retrain 3 million drivers.
Yes, it's really amazing. You have to leave the country to find a collection of drivers that are worse. That's why I laugh when I hear people complaining about Austin's traffic. It's not what we'd like, it's not what it was, but it beats the hell out of Houston's.
Of course Austin's traffic is better...there's far less people. For a town Austin's size, the traffic is horrendous.
Difference between Austin/San Antonion traffic and Houston traffic: They believe in "yield", and we don't.
Jeff, are you not willing to engage in debate on this topic? I wouldn't either with the hand you're dealt on the issue. Not exactly a position of strength!
since you have yet to provide one shred of documentation to back up your lies, errrrrr claims, in fact you ignore the dozen first-hand accounts of higer ridership posted here, you wonder why Jeff or anyone ignores you?
can you please cite evidence of this "fact?" and, no, i don't consider your unsworn testimony of counting heads while driving by a train as evidence.
