Why doesn't Houston consider building the rail system underground? Subway? (Waco: university, live in)

[cjester]

Originally Posted by jfre81

You mean somewhere else, right?

In Houston, METRO bus drivers start out more like $25K/yr. Just looked at their job openings and it appears a light rail operator gets paid $15/hr, at least starting out. That works out to $31,200/yr gross. I guess that's the difference a union makes?

I'd say walking to get everywhere is the way around "communist stuff" but then I remembered that taxpayer dollars pay for construction and maintenance of sidewalks, and people's disdain for walking where there are no sidewalks is pretty well documented around here.

25K starting out, that is one is a trainee without a commercial license. Metro will help you get the license while you are still being paid. afterwards the pay increases exponentially. Not long ago a Metro bus driver made over 130K with overtime. (it was on the front page of the Houston Chronicle not long ago.)
As far as the city giving out medallions to private bus companies in let's say Bellaire, Holcombe route, I think it would be viable.

[triwing]

Because Houston is built on swampland and it's hard enough as it is for new construction... couldn't even imagine what would be involved with building a subway.

[wpmeads]

Originally Posted by triwing

Because Houston is built on swampland and it's hard enough as it is for new construction... couldn't even imagine what would be involved with building a subway.

Exactly.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by wpmeads

Exactly.

Not really. Washington DC is also built on swampland and they have no problem with their system outside of you know, running over people, people jumping in front of the train, malfunctions, etc. etc. Still a great system though.

[Randomuser2349]

Houston doesn't need an entire subway system. They need at least a few underground stations with a few pumps. Perhaps converting dead sections of the walkways might work. Or is all of it heavily used here now?

[bamba_boy]

You could easily build a subway in a sealed system, even with the clay-swelling problems and lack of drainage. The Hollywood-Wilshire subway line in Los Angeles literally goes through the tectonically active earthquake fault that is the active seismic zone pushing up the Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mtns between the LA Basin and the San Fernando Valley. Of course it took hundreds of millions of dollars and ran into several gas and oil pockets that caused delays. We'll see if it survives the next "Big One". There is lots of technology to make flexible water-proof walls and massive pump systems and put in shock absorbing springs and dampers for clay movement and slow creep characteristic of H-town but the big question here would the amount of ridership warrant the incredible expenditure and would the fed govt' help subsidize it in this time of huge deficits.

[Trae713]

^^Great post.

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

The Washburn Tunnel has a massive pump system that is used to pump out water during times of heavy rain. Okay, "new" isn't the word, but let's face it, most people in Houston don't ride the bus. There are park-and-rides and such (which people still drive to), but Houston is still very much a car-dominated city. Very, very, very, very few people get by without a car entirely in Houston.

How else are people suppose to get to the Park and Rides? And Houston's PnR has more riders than a lot of commuter rail systems in this country. If it was rail, people would probably change their opinion on Houston.

[Alphalogica]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

^^Great post.



How else are people suppose to get to the Park and Rides? And Houston's PnR has more riders than a lot of commuter rail systems in this country. If it was rail, people would probably change their opinion on Houston.

There's no other choice, you're right.

[PHRESHTX]

doesnt it flood in houston too??
and i think that can be an excuse.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by PHRESHTX

doesnt it flood in houston too??
and i think that can be an excuse.

It floods in many places throughout the world that has an underground subway system. But that's exactly what it is. An excuse.