Are METRO screw-ups hurting Houston? (Dallas, Athens: university, taxi driver, live)

[TDAlmighty]

Here is the most recent examples:

Officials playing defense on transportation issues
Rush hour looms today after crowded trains, buses frustrate NCAA fans Saturday
Rush hour will put Metro's NCAA changes to test | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle


Metro land buys point to less than a dream scenario
Metro land buys point to less than a dream scenario - Houston Community Newspapers: News: mcdade, todd mason, $41 million, $168 million, hakeem olajuwon

And for those of you that want the future METROrail lines to be built as planned, lets hear your rationalizations about how that will be managed better than past projects or existing operations...

[travelguy_73]

In the grand scheme of things, any money Metro wastes is money that isn't available to fund other transportation initiatives. Metro is like any other political entity that is affected by city and county leadership, and that direction can change every few years. The people who survive aren't the ones who make waves, which can be unfortunate when novel thinking is needed to solve our problems. Hopefully Greanias, who has been a breath of fresh air (at least what has been reported publicly), will continue to put changes and controls in place that will survive the next administration's desire to undo everything and start all over...again.

I'm certainly not a Metro apologist, but I wouldn't really place all the blame on Metro for the Final Four problems. Too many people all leaving the same place at the same time, and it's no wonder there weren't problems. I'm trying to think of a city that could handle those crowds without overwhelming its infrastructure.

[Malvie]

Originally Posted by travelguy_73

I'm trying to think of a city that could handle those crowds without overwhelming its infrastructure.

New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Dallas, Denver all deal with this size crowd regularly.

We went to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and had a cab pretty quickly.

I am a fan of the University of Arkansas and the Southeastern Conference. All of those small towns--Fayetteville, Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Athens, Knoxville, Columbia, Oxford, Starkville, Nashville (ok, Knoxville, Columbia, Baton Rouge and Nashville are small cities)--handle traffic from 80,000+ seat stadiums every Saturday in the fall. Most I've EVER waited to get out of one of those stadiums was 90 minutes.

Metro is a disgrace.

[RCH99]

Originally Posted by Malvie

New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Dallas, Denver all deal with this size crowd regularly.

We went to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and had a cab pretty quickly.

I am a fan of the University of Arkansas and the Southeastern Conference. All of those small towns--Fayetteville, Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Athens, Knoxville, Columbia, Oxford, Starkville, Nashville (ok, Knoxville, Columbia, Baton Rouge and Nashville are small cities)--handle traffic from 80,000+ seat stadiums every Saturday in the fall. Most I've EVER waited to get out of one of those stadiums was 90 minutes.

Metro is a disgrace.

Malvie, if Arkansas has it figured out, how do you explain highway 7?

[jfre81]

I guarantee I'll get out of the stadium tonight in less time than that. I live about a 45-minute walk from the stadium, normal walking pace.

Yessir. Can't beat the gas mileage. I'll be moving faster than the cars.

[predatorprey]

And we want them to build more rails? They're just any Mayor's political cronies.

[jfre81]

Actually, part of the problem is there isn't enough rail.

For starters - we are not Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is a major city. Major cities have large crowds every day, not just on Saturday football gameday. Guess what's going on just north of Reliant? People are getting off work. Like they do any work day. There's more going on in the city than just the Final Four tonight.

So we have a lot of people. Rail is more efficient than buses to move large groups of people. Buses are better for moving smaller groups. Smaller groups is not what we have here tonight.

Just imagine if everyone on the trains tonight were driving in and out in their own cars, taking up parking at the stadium etc. You think it's a cluster**** now? It could be a lot worse.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by Malvie

New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Dallas, Denver all deal with this size crowd regularly.

We went to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and had a cab pretty quickly.

I am a fan of the University of Arkansas and the Southeastern Conference. All of those small towns--Fayetteville, Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Athens, Knoxville, Columbia, Oxford, Starkville, Nashville (ok, Knoxville, Columbia, Baton Rouge and Nashville are small cities)--handle traffic from 80,000+ seat stadiums every Saturday in the fall. Most I've EVER waited to get out of one of those stadiums was 90 minutes.

Metro is a disgrace.

They deal with Final Four crowds, all rushing after one big concert, to the same train stations? Couple that with normal, everyday big city life? I don't think so. NYC, Chicago, and DC are the only ones. Dallas (lol), Denver, and Atlanta don't.

[Malvie]

Originally Posted by RCH99

Malvie, if Arkansas has it figured out, how do you explain highway 7?

7 is a "Scenic Highway". It's not supposed to be a "freeway". I can't help it if every bluehair in the universe wants a freeway to Branson.

Try I-540. Scenery AND 80 mph.

And 90 minutes after a game ends at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (78,000 v. Reliant's 75,241 last night), you can drive anywhere you want around town at posted speeds. Just don't try to get into one of the good restaurants without a reservation...

[Trae713]

My experience on Saturday, leaving the Big Dance, wasn't bad. The trains were just crowded. Everyone just pretty much followed where the big crowds were going. Not sure how it was after the game, and city taxi drivers messed up by not being there at curbside afterwards. They should do a better job today, but rush hour is going to make it more tough.