Map of Houston's New Light Rail System (Spring, Portland: mover, how much)

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by kpoeppel (on the first page, from November '07)

Good to see that now that gas prices are going through the roof

Hey, wait a minute....did you change your mind about rail in Houston over the last three months?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

are they currently building anything, or is it all still in planning?

It's all still in planning. And I'll bet someone a case of beer that the 2012 plan will not happen by 2012.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by tstone

It's all still in planning. And I'll bet someone a case of beer that the 2012 plan will not happen by 2012.

I'm thinking late 2013, although it's plausible they could have at least some new sections running by the end of 2012.

[C2H (ComingtoHouston)]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

The Hardy Rail Yards is another just north of Downtown.

We haven't heard anything about the Hardy Rail Yard project in a while (about 2 years now). Are you sure its still alive?

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

are they currently building anything, or is it all still in planning?

About to being construction. Planning is basically done.

[kpoeppel]

Originally Posted by jfre81

Hey, wait a minute....did you change your mind about rail in Houston over the last three months?

Yes, since I learned that busses could achieve the same thing for much cheaper.

I suppose money is no object to many, though. Status symbols are what they are. Cities want to "one up" each other just like individuals want to "keep up with the Jones's"

[robertpolyglot]

Portland Oregon metro has been real diligent about opening their lines on time. The 4th rail line appears to be on schedule for a September 2009 start date.

A lot of cities are real late with getting rail into the airports. I don't think that taxi companies like that very much. SF got linked up to the airport by BART 31 years after the system opened. Is heavy rail really in the plans? Actually, most of Houston's system should have been heavy rail, befitting America's 4th largest city that will eventually be the 3rd largest. Atlanta has rail on dedicated tracks and it was great. I loved taking it to work. What are the purple lines up to The Woodlands and Kingwood (I keep zooming in and out)?

[Guerilla]

There was a proposed system for heavy rail in the 80's, but it was short and VERY expensive, so it didn't pass. Cities that are getting heavy rail expansion now, already have heavy rail. The Feds won't fund a new heavy rail system.

Rail can be on dedicated areas without being heavy rail.

[AGGIEZ]

Originally Posted by robertsd247

They are not going to have any of this done by the year 2100, let alone 2012!!! Light rail is a joke anyway. Houston does not have public transportation, it is has buses for its second class citizens who cannot afford a car and live inside the city. First class citizens live outside houston and drive a car everyday.

I'd LOVE to see this guy's definition of "first class". I guarentee you my household income is higher than this fellas and I do more "first class" things than he does, yet his miopic view of "first class" is someone living outside of the city? I bet our neighbors in Cut and Shoot and Manvel are excited to hear about this. Stinks for those of us in Tanglewood, River Oaks and West U. though. CRAP!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Portland Oregon metro has been real diligent about opening their lines on time. The 4th rail line appears to be on schedule for a September 2009 start date.

Yeah but Portland needs to be diligent about this. That town's road system is one compressed nightmare due to the state's anti-sprawl attitude. (Although I will say it's a neat town to visit, esp if you're into beer.) We have a lot more breathing room on our roads left, so being behind other cities regarding public trans is understandable.