More state DOT & Metro stupidity - W. Alabama, now that there will be a large rail stop at the corner of it & Main, and w/ 3 lanes, would be a great, logical extension of light rail ifrom Midtown into Highland Village and then onto the Galleria & down Westheimer to the Hwy 6 area. Instead they are going to pour hundreds more buses & thousands of cars down its already getting congested ass! Great. I was recently wondering why there are literally dozens of houses suddenly for sale in the neighborhoods adjoining W. Alabama/Lower Montrose. Now I know why...
Well, it isn't meant to be a permanent situation. They'll divert traffic down Alabama and other streets while they renovate the spur. They'll have to do it sooner or later. The way this part of town, especially freeway access, is set up really annoys me. If you are in Montrose and want to go west, it's easy; if you're coming from the west and want to get into Montrose, it's easy. But, if you want to go east or come from the east, you can't get on the freeway. I've also noticed that all the traffic lights connecting Montrose with the Third Ward to the east are timed to make you hit most of the reds. It's almost as if they want to discourage blacks from going to Montrose (maybe I'm paranoid). I don't suppose the renovation plans include opening an eastern access, though?
this is the dreaded major one that they've been gearing up for for years. They are moving the elevated portion of 59 to go *under* Montrose. We are supposed to be getting a S. Main exit from the northbound side. Surely this is going to take quite awhile. I'd say that area behind Chipoltapec and along the westside of the spur (Access Houston area) and the Graustark to Montrose area (both N & S of 59) might benefit from losing the overpass. Also, there might be some advantage to be had from the new S-59 exit to S. Main, for commerical real estate.
