Two new Metro light rail lines are now open, has anybody checked them out yet ? (West: medical center, business)

[testmo]

Why would the city of houston pay to have anything serving katy? Keep the light rail lines within the beltway plus lines to both airports

[testmo]

Originally Posted by geolvl

Baloney, how many students live in the area the trolley goes to? Not many.

Actually Griggs st near uh has quite of lot of apartments that arent slummy. Had to be down there and it was definitely student living. Saw a mix of ethnicities

Its on the new line

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by testmo

Actually Griggs st near uh has quite of lot of apartments that arent slummy. Had to be down there and it was definitely student living. Saw a mix of ethnicities

Its on the new line

New student housing is also going up soon on the site of the current Page Center (bye bye, Red Rooster!), across the street from MacGregor Park station.

It's also employees at UH that I think would ride.

That said, UH-generated ridership will only be so much. I've always felt that the METRO Board did a disservice by upgrading the plan for these low-density lines to light rail, thereby taking funding away from the lines that would serve a denser population and potentially connect better into suburban commuter services.

[geolvl]

This will be a text book case analysis used in graduate school for poor planning/use of funds in urban areas.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I've always felt that the METRO Board did a disservice by upgrading the plan for these low-density lines to light rail

Just so you know, population density can change
if you don't believe me, just look at any area next to the Grand Parkway

[Spade]

Originally Posted by geolvl

I agree, straight down Westheimer, but all the way to Katy.

That would have been a bad idea. Have it end in the Galleria. For Katy to be served, you really need a mass rapid transit system.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Just so you know, population density can change
if you don't believe me, just look at any area next to the Grand Parkway

That's true, it's just that you would think to spend your resources where it was most appropriate first - and in the case of transit, that's generally serving the areas of greatest density, especially of jobs. Now that METRO's funds were all spent on light rail, which cost more than BRT like originally proposed, there's no funds left at all for things like the University or Uptown lines (Uptown TIRZ and TxDOT are having to build the BRT) nor much-needed improvements to bus service - the new bus plan had a cost constraint of whatever is being spent now.

[westhou]

Originally Posted by geolvl

I agree, straight down Westheimer, but all the way to Katy.

I love that idea. But not to Katy. Maybe to like West Oaks Mall. Build a transit station at the mall and have Park and Ride drop and pick up people at the mall.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

That's true, it's just that you would think to spend your resources where it was most appropriate first - and in the case of transit, that's generally serving the areas of greatest density, especially of jobs. Now that METRO's funds were all spent on light rail, which cost more than BRT like originally proposed, there's no funds left at all for things like the University or Uptown lines (Uptown TIRZ and TxDOT are having to build the BRT) nor much-needed improvements to bus service - the new bus plan had a cost constraint of whatever is being spent now.

I was saying this before the lines were built and all I got was a bunch of slack for saying it.

I feel if you're going to build rail, than do it right.

However, if you're just going to throw a couple of toy trains in the middle in the street in places no one goes to, than just enhance the BRT system we already have in place.

More money gone down the drain. WTG Houston!

[Spade]

Originally Posted by blkgiraffe

I was saying this before the lines were built and all I got was a bunch of slack for saying it.

I feel if you're going to build rail, than do it right.

However, if you're just going to throw a couple of toy trains in the middle in the street in places no one goes to, than just enhance the BRT system we already have in place.

More money gone down the drain. WTG Houston!

Imagine Houston whether it's elevated, subway, or both had this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiP9krPvyc0

I do realize that Houston doesn't have the density this type of system would require but the density is growing in the city. I mean light rail is nice. But the one Houston has shouldn't really even leave the loop becuase it's basically a tram. No city uses a tram as a transportation system to get people around an entire area. It's basically a fixed bus. Those wanting a line to Katy, Sugarland, Pasadena, Spring should advocate heavy rail (not commuter rail). Unfortunately, I don't see the United States building another one from scratch unless a city can really justify it.