I-10 is great! (Houston, Spring, Taylor: 2009, how much, costs)

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

Hey Mom, nice tagline (Hey Obama, how's Grandma?)... especially considering she just died.

Did she? I didn't know. I guess that's why I was asking.

[Mom2Feebs]

I changed it. Just for you, LIH. :-) May she rest in peace. Was Obama with her? I hope so, no one deserves to die alone.

[westhou]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

Hey Mom, nice tagline (Hey Obama, how's Grandma?)... especially considering she just died.

that is such a mean thing to say

[usc619]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

Hey Mom, nice tagline (Hey Obama, how's Grandma?)... especially considering she just died.

Considering who it's comming from, it doesn't surprise me one bit

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by westhou

that is such a mean thing to say

I don't think LostinHouston was trying to be mean...I think he/she was pointing out the need for the tag line to change given the day's sad turn of events.

[Mom2Feebs]

Yes, apparently I'm the mean one, westhou. I mean, usc619 certainly has some validity to his comments, especially considering what I was going to say about Ted Kennedy going next and sealing the deal for the Messiah.

But truly, all of this is just fluff, because we're not supposed to be discussing this in here, anyway, and we all know it. So...let's get back to pretending we're experts on Houston. Coo? Coo.

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Im still new here but what I see are those managed toll lanes empty. Seems to me that we are witnessing yet another waste of tax payers money to build something no one wants. I-10 is moving nicely now not because we lost some car counts to these toll lanes but because we did gain additional travel lanes.

Come to think of it I travel 59 north of Houston more often then other roads and those inner lanes are also empty while the travel lanes are full.

The way I feel about those lanes is we all, each and every one of us, paid to build those lanes yet only a small few are legally allowed to use them.

In today's world of discrimination and profiling being such a dirty thing to do.... the govt who forces those HOV lanes on us are not practicing what they preach.

Does anyone else feel this way?

Not at all. For example, everyone who pays taxes to have commuter rail built can't ride for free. They still have to pay a charge to use the commuter rail. Everyone's taxes went to pay for construction of all 18 lanes of I10. In each direction we have: 4-5 main lanes, 3 frontage (feeder) roads, and 2 managed lanes. Only the two managed lanes are tolled, the only riders who aren't paying are Park&Ride riders (although they do pay for Park&Ride), carpoolers, and motorcycles during rush hour. Sounds like a good deal to me considering this whole segment of I10 needed to be reconstructed for safety reasons regardless if we added 100 lanes or commuter rail down it.

Originally Posted by Beto

Not being negative at all, just stating the growth Katy is having that's all.

And just think if more people would choose a certain commuting alternative that doesn't require billions of dollars of infrastructure... I am talking about carpooling. Those managed lanes would be wonderful if more carpoolers would fill up the lanes than single occupancy riders. The great thing too is, the managed lanes function by increasing the toll cost to keep the speed flowing. Consequentially, that would make the free lanes more congested because of the increased carpool use.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Beto

I-10 splits into 5 lanes just after Kirkwood and smooth sailing from there. HWY 290 wont see any action or changes until 2012 from what I have read.

If you're curious about U.S. 290 and the plans for it, here's the link.

My290 : Home

As for the Katy Freeway, I can't wait until my next Houston trip. It was a joy seeing some finished portions and driving on them a few months back. You can now see the downtown skyline from just east of West Sam Houston. It's great.

It'll be great when I finally see the finished product next time. Wow!

[jd433]

Hey, are those managed toll lanes open to people who want to pay a toll to use them even if they are driving by themselves???

[XodoX]

I honestly pretty much HATE the tollway. I know it is expensive and I know they need the money but as already said in a few years it will be the same just because they had to build that stupid tollway instead of having just 7 regular lanes. I already pay enough taxes...