Report: Metrorail plans to expand to Hobby Airport (Houston, Richmond: credit, neighborhood)

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by WRM20

A bunch of those riders came from the bus routes that used to go more places, but were removed and the riders forced to the rail.

Which IMO is perfectly justified, as the rail solidifies the previous transit routes.

BTW one could figure out which bus routes were replaced by going to old copies of the METRO site and getting old bus route schedules.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Clothahump

I cannot think of a worse design.

Cincinnati surely can.

Originally Posted by count dorkula

don't understand that this isn't the true form of Houston's mass transit plan.

FOOL! You have not even witnessed my true form! Behold!

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaha h

[Spade]

Originally Posted by Double L

Those retards built a system with the second highest ridership per mile in the country.

It had the second highest ridership before the expansions earlier this decade.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Which IMO is perfectly justified, as the rail solidifies the previous transit routes.

BTW one could figure out which bus routes were replaced by going to old copies of the METRO site and getting old bus route schedules.

Right, because it is really better to go from two buses to a bus then rail then another bus, just to inflate rail rider numbers. who cares if the ride takes longer and is less convenient.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Right, because it is really better to go from two buses to a bus then rail then another bus, just to inflate rail rider numbers. who cares if the ride takes longer and is less convenient.

It depends on the routes and how they were made. The situation you describe might have been true for some commuters, and perhaps it was often three buses anyway.

EDIT 2: I found inside 610 Loop system maps for 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20030608.../pdf/smapa.pdf and list of bus routes around 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030403...blicguides.asp

... and then 2004: METRORail map Wayback Machine and list of bus routes: https://web.archive.org/web/20040615...blicguides.asp - Please feel free to compare them

(EDIT: Seems like after 2002 and by 2005 METRO did not upload a new system map)

EDIT 3: Seems like there were system maps in 2006:
* Overall: http://web.archive.org/web/200603081...SysMap_web.pdf
* CBD and Midtown: http://web.archive.org/web/200603081...ps/cbd_web.pdf

EDIT 4: This page documented some of the changes after METRORail opened: http://web.archive.org/web/200406030...es/svcchgs.asp - In some routes the sections that would have otherwise duplicated the rail were moved to other parts of Downtown, while others were discontinued. Some others used to connect to bus lines, but were switched to rail (4 Jensen became 6 Jensen, and connected to the rail instead of 4 Beechnut).
* the segment between Downtown and Midtown of the 4 Beechnut ended
* 15 Hiram Clarke became 14 Hiram Clarke, and the segment between the TMC and Downtown ended
* 291 Kuykendahl/N. Shepherd-TMC was discontinued
* 322 TMC Red - discontinued

EDIT 5: Now I found maps of the routes which were cut to accommodate METRORail:
* 4 Beechnut: https://web.archive.org/web/20030323.../004-beech.pdf -> https://web.archive.org/web/20051028.../004-beech.pdf - It went from going straight from Alief to Aldine (via the TMC, Museum District, Midtown, and Downtown), to going from Alief to the TMC
* 15 Fulton/Hiram Clarke which became 14 Hiram Clarke: https://web.archive.org/web/20030323...-fulton-hc.pdf -> https://web.archive.org/web/20051103...m%20clarke.pdf - Old route went from Hiram Clarke to Northline Transit Center (via TMC, Museum District, Midtown, and Downtown). New route goes from Hiram Clarke to TMC, connecting with METRORail

As long as its only these two, it makes some sense since TMC-Downtown commuters made up large numbers of people on board.

291: https://web.archive.org/web/20030702...mccorridor.pdf

[Dopo]

I can't wait for this to be running and a success
I bet every conservative in Houston is going to claim that it was their idea once it's up and running.

Originally Posted by WRM20

A bunch of those riders came from the bus routes that used to go more places, but were removed and the riders forced to the rail.

Hold on to your chairs conservatives, because this is going to blow your mind
Bus routes can be changed to work together with rail lines

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Hold on to your chairs conservatives, because this is going to blow your mind
Bus routes can be changed to work together with rail lines

METRO site archives have old and new routes. It seems like most routes were realigned to other parts of downtown instead of outright cut. I doubt a whole lot of people want to regularly take a bus from Alief to Aldine or Hiram Clarke to Northline.

[Vicman]

Now that Culberson is out, we can petition METRO to build an airport line (to both Bush and Hobby) and put it online ASAP.

While I doubt we'll get any trains at the speeds of the Japanese Narita Airport Express or Keisei Skyliner, or the Hong Kong MTR lines (where it's 20 minutes from the CBD to the airport), it'll be good to make 'em as fast as possible

[hbcu]

Suburban rail also and start up the Richmond rail again and dump brt

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Now that Culberson is out, we can petition METRO to build an airport line (to both Bush and Hobby) and put it online ASAP.

While I doubt we'll get any trains at the speeds of the Japanese Narita Airport Express or Keisei Skyliner, or the Hong Kong MTR lines (where it's 20 minutes from the CBD to the airport), it'll be good to make 'em as fast as possible

The airports should definitely NOT be a priority for any mass transit expansion. Serving denser residential neighborhoods and activity centers should be the priority. Airports should be way down the list, no question.