New 288 toll, why not a rail system ?? (SF Bayarea - Houston) (Post: cost, law)

[bu2]

And our original Red line had the 2nd highest ridership per mile of any light rail system in the country. It was easily 2nd, well ahead of San Francisco and others. Only Boston's green line was higher.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by Houston321

If we install rail, that will mean more Californians will move here and that would just be terrible. I am very familiar with San Fran. Stepping over the numerous bums, the exceptionally outrageous cost of housing, the regular state income tax...oh, don't forget the "Healthy SF Tax", and the many other pitfalls of living in an extremely liberal/socialist city.

Not only this but the BART people use in the Bay Area if so fitly and gross that people have BART shoes and pants to wear over their clothes when they use BART. (I live in the Bay Area). I have a friend who posts videos of his daily commute rides on BART...some of the things he posts are outrageous and just gross. It's also not cheap...it's expensive to ride on a daily basis.

Examples of how gross SF BART is:

Thousands of Bedbugs, scabies and lice on SF BART train!

Assault on SF BART Train Caught on Video

Large Group Of Teens Carrying Out Robberies On BART Trains

See how they turn their heads in the Bay Area, criminals have more rights then non-criminals. Bart Withholding Crime Video, Fearing Racial Bias - San Francisco, California

The police in the Bay Area and everyone including residents turns their head at homeless folks bad behavior. I don't think we would have the same issues in Houston as the police and citizens don't turn their head to the types of behaviors we see in the Bay Area.

I used to commute to the Texas Medical Center via the Light Rail (when I lived here)...there was always Metro Police presence along that Rail checking for tickets or rowdy/drunk folks.

It would be nice to see a cost comparison between building a Tollway System and a Rail System for Houston.

[houstonview]

Originally Posted by Matadora

Not only this but the BART people use in the Bay Area if so fitly and gross that people have BART shoes and pants to wear over their clothes when they use BART. (I live in the Bay Area). I have a friend who posts videos of his daily commute rides on BART...some of the things he posts are outrageous and just gross. It's also not cheap...it's expensive to ride on a daily basis.

Examples of how gross SF BART is:


Thousands of Bedbugs, scabies and lice on SF BART train!


Assault on SF BART Train Caught on Video


Large Group Of Teens Carrying Out Robberies On BART Trains

See how they turn their heads in the Bay Area, criminals have more rights then non-criminals.
Bart Withholding Crime Video, Fearing Racial Bias - San Francisco, California

The police in the Bay Area and everyone including residents turns their head at homeless folks bad behavior. I don't think we would have the same issues in Houston as the police and citizens don't turn their head to the types of behaviors we see in the Bay Area.

I used to commute to the Texas Medical Center via the Light Rail (when I lived here)...there was always Metro Police presence along that Rail checking for tickets or rowdy/drunk folks.

It would be nice to see a cost comparison between building a Tollway System and a Rail System for Houston.

First New BART Train Goes On Maiden Voyage « CBS San Francisco

The new first NEW bart train actually just took its first ride this weekend. But yes Bart does have its problems like any other subway. I would like to see the cost VS the huge highways they have to build, I would think 288 from the suburbs would have a very efficient process and great commuters going to the medical center for work and downtown, also riding to get to sports stadiums.

Reason I brought it up the conversation is because 288 had the huge amount of land in between 288 to make it happen.

[houstonview]

its been very efficient instead of worry about traffic going to a games or concert at the oracle to just pay $5 and get dropped off right at the stadium from the suburbs, its free to park at the bart station on weekends and its great for people who may be drinking at any of these events, it keeps drunk drivers off the road, and don't have to pay $30-50 for parking and deal with traffic leaving. Just wish Houston would at least try it

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by 979Texan

Only idiots think rail is a good idea in Texas

Originally Posted by Houston321

If we install rail, that will mean more Californians will move here and that would just be terrible. I am very familiar with San Fran. Stepping over the numerous bums, the exceptionally outrageous cost of housing, the regular state income tax...oh, don't forget the "Healthy SF Tax", and the many other pitfalls of living in an extremely liberal/socialist city.

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

It's hilarious to see so many from elsewhere trying to change Houston or Texas. It will never happen. People here do what is the norm, and most could care less what others think. Maybe that's the first and more important thing to know/understand about this area.

Too many people in the city with regressive mentalities, like the three quoted above: that's the answer to your question OP.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by houstonview

its been very efficient instead of worry about traffic going to a games or concert at the oracle to just pay $5 and get dropped off right at the stadium from the suburbs, its free to park at the bart station on weekends and its great for people who may be drinking at any of these events, it keeps drunk drivers off the road, and don't have to pay $30-50 for parking and deal with traffic leaving. Just wish Houston would at least try it

To be honest it sounds like it benefits you to go to events vs. using it as a daily commute. It costs to park your car at a BART station during the work week. It also costs a lot to ride it to and from work daily. It's much cheaper to commute on my motorcycle in the Bay Area...and a lot faster!

BTW rolling out new BART trains is not going to do anything to curb the nasty behaviors and just grossness you find on the BART. Before the end of this year those BART cars are going to be just as gross as the ones they replaced. Until laws are passed and the police actually enforce those laws...things will continue on as they have on BART.

I've ridden public transportation in Boston, London, Ireland and Paris and have never seen anything remotely close to the disgusting things you see on BART.

I would not want to see Houston copy the same system that SF has. I think Houston could do it much better.

Perhaps you guys can get a bill started on how to make this a reality? I know I greatly benefited by taking the Light Rail to school and work when I was in the Texas Medical Center....it was awesome!

[3shipguy]

Originally Posted by Matadora

To be honest it sounds like it benefits you to go to events vs. using it as a daily commute. It costs to park your car at a BART station during the work week. It also costs a lot to ride it to and from work daily. It's much cheaper to commute on my motorcycle in the Bay Area...and a lot faster!

BTW rolling out new BART trains is not going to do anything to curb the nasty behaviors and just grossness you find on the BART. Before the end of this year those BART cars are going to be just as gross as the ones they replaced. Until laws are passed and the police actually enforce those laws...things will continue on as they have on BART.

I've ridden public transportation in Boston, London, Ireland and Paris and have never seen anything remotely close to the disgusting things you see on BART.

I would not want to see Houston copy the same system that SF has. I think Houston could do it much better.

Perhaps you guys can get a bill started on how to make this a reality? I know I greatly benefited by taking the Light Rail to school and work when I was in the Texas Medical Center....it was awesome!

So your problem isn’t with light rail but with law enforcement in the Bay Area— perfect reason not to build it in “Houston.”

[hbcu]

Originally Posted by bu2

What Dallas and other cities are finding out is that rail to the suburbs is a money pit. Houston has rail in the inner city where it works well.

Houston has been increasing transit ridership without spending billions on rail. Dallas and Los Angeles have spent billions on rail and are losing ridership.

San Francisco didn't even have rail to the airport until about 15-20 years ago. BART was built in the 60s/70s but didn't go to the airport, which is relatively close in.

It was like when Bob Lanier rejected the monorail system, "Why spend a billion dollars to give people worse service?" A park n ride using a 288 toll road gives better service than a rail system. It gets there quicker since it makes fewer stops and drops you off closer to where you want to go. Not only that, it saves you hundreds of millions of dollars.

the same Bob Lanier who supported suburban sprawl for his personal interests before the Beltway was even built out?

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by Texyn

Too many people in the city with regressive mentalities, like the three quoted above: that's the answer to your question OP.

It's not about being "regressive". We are realists, not an idealists. We know how Houston works, and the reality of the situation. My personal views are often quite progressive, but I know Houston and Texas does not adopt how things are done elsewhere. So I - like others - accept the situation and go on.

The more one lives in the real world around here (on its terms), the more affective one can be, working with real options available. Otherwise, it's a fantasy-land existence. Dreamers aren't elevated here, but those who make things happen are.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by 3shipguy

So your problem isn’t with light rail but with law enforcement in the Bay Area— perfect reason not to build it in “Houston.”

No that's not what I said. Perhaps you need to go back and re-read what I actually said.

I said I would not want to see Houston mirroring the system in the Bay Area as I think Houston could design a much better system.

I also suggested that you guys get a bill started to make this rail system a reality.

I guess you just skipped over that to insert your assertions.