MASS TRANSIT in dallas (Houston, Austin: travel, home, college)

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by mpope409

Fine. Whatever. But before we worry about rail from Houston to Dallas (which will give the country another reason to believe that these cities coincide with each other) we need to get each individual city's local rail situations cleared up. Which will be a long while from now.

What I would be in full support of, though, is a high-speed rail from Houston to New Orleans. A city that's a smaller version of itself. That would be great.

Dallas-Houston? Thumbs down.

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by aceplace

I disagree with you, mpope. I think that Dallas-Houston-Austin-San Antonio should combine their forces and offer the public the benefits of all their advantages, instead of being bitter rivals of one another.

Just in the same way that Boston-NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington are one stellar urban area with many attractions for the visitor.

I agree. I believe there is rail connecting D.C. and Boston. If the Texas Triange had rail, then traveling would be so much easier. There would only be a few stops. Say from Dallas to Houston, a stop would be in Huntsville and Corsicana. From SA to Houston, a stop would be in Sealy. From SA to Dallas, a stop would be in Austin(duh), Killeen, and Waco. The only down side is that the cities inside the triangle, or outside the triangle may feel left out.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by aceplace

I disagree with you, mpope. I think that Dallas-Houston-Austin-San Antonio should combine their forces and offer the public the benefits of all their advantages, instead of being bitter rivals of one another.

Other than good-natured ribbing of my friends in DFW I like to steer clear of the city rivalry stuff. Each place is unique and has something of its own to offer.

We do need to expand rail and transit within the cities first. It's still economical and feasible here to do SWA to Dallas - just extend that rail out to Hobby first and people can still get to Dallas (or wherever) without driving. Airliners are still a form of mass transit, and less fuel is going to be used than if everyone on every flight to Dallas drove there instead. I really can't see inter-city HSR in Texas in the next 20 years, but then again 20 years ago they said nobody in Houston would ever want to ride on a light rail line. They were wrong, so I might be on this as well.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by lh_newbie

Two comments:

1. Who cares if people think our cities coincide with each other?
2. I very much disagree that we need to have local rail cleared up. Both Dallas and Houston have a clearly defined plan with lots of stations and steadily increasing ridership. Why run these sort of plans serially? I say run them in parallel, especially since a rail line this long would take a long time to plan and execute anyway. I would assume the earliest a HSR system could be run would be 8-10 years - and that's assuming the best.

Because Dallas to Houston is not crucial right now. Houston rail is very crucial, and Dallas needs to complete theirs.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

What does that mean? Can you elaborate?

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

I agree. I believe there is rail connecting D.C. and Boston. If the Texas Triange had rail, then traveling would be so much easier. There would only be a few stops. Say from Dallas to Houston, a stop would be in Huntsville and Corsicana. From SA to Houston, a stop would be in Sealy. From SA to Dallas, a stop would be in Austin(duh), Killeen, and Waco. The only down side is that the cities inside the triangle, or outside the triangle may feel left out.

I could care less if it did, but it can still happen. I'm just saying that we need to take care of our own, first. That's where priorities get out of line. And you have to admit that Houston to New Orleans would be a good idea.

[lh_newbie]

Originally Posted by mpope409

I could care less if it did, but it can still happen. I'm just saying that we need to take care of our own, first. That's where priorities get out of line. And you have to admit that Houston to New Orleans would be a good idea.

Houston to NO would be very cool and I'd think ridership would be quite good. Imagine if the "TX triange" were also built. Dallas to NO in 5 hours on rail? Not bad, considering that's roughly equivalent to plane travel if you factor in parking, early arrival, etc. I've honestly never been to New Orleans, but give me a rail option like that and I could see going once every other year or so. That'd be great! I hate the hassle of airplanes.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by mpope409

What does that mean? Can you elaborate?

I didn't understand what you meant about giving the country another reason to believe the two cities coincide with one another. Having a rail line connecting the two cities would not make it appear that the two cities are one in the same, or occupy the same space.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by lh_newbie

Houston to NO would be very cool and I'd think ridership would be quite good. Imagine if the "TX triange" were also built. Dallas to NO in 5 hours on rail? Not bad, considering that's roughly equivalent to plane travel if you factor in parking, early arrival, etc. I've honestly never been to New Orleans, but give me a rail option like that and I could see going once every other year or so. That'd be great! I hate the hassle of airplanes.

Well I can't imagine how often anybody would be going from Dallas to New Orleans. I only mentioned NOLA because that's a city closely related to Houston, in my opinion. I mean, they're almost just like each other in a lot of ways. Mostly now because HOU/NOLA is Katrina evacuee territory. They just have more in common with each other. Thus, a need for fast connection.

[Guerilla]

Man, this type of HSR plan is a lot different than inner city rail. Both Houston AND Dallas are building more rail lines in the city. Houston will have a commuter rail line to Galveston, Sugar Land, and Cypress by 2020. By that time, this Texas High Speed Rail should be completed.