Better Pedestrian-Friendly Walkability/Activity - Houston or Dallas? (Austin, Fort Worth: apartment, foreclosure)

[Yokandyman]

They have reduced foot traffic on the streets, because as of right now it should be employees at these buildings walking the streets from the start to give some sort of action there. But there isn't because they are all walking underground and through skywalks. Basically, what Dallas is saying is this "you all need to walk outside to your cars and etc just like everyone else is doing around you." With the new park opening, it will give the spectators another reason to come the park since they actually see people walking the streets to and fro now. It's just the city's way of creating some street level vibrancy to attract more tenants there. If it starts to become overwhelming down there, the tunnels will buffer that.....believe me on this. That will yield an incentive for the city to invest money into tunnel upgrade & expansion then. I do understand what you're saying.

Moderator cut: orphaned

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

Uh...Houstons tunnel system is just a smidge larger than Dallas'...Honestly I was expecting a system that covered the entire DT Houston.

Judging by the map, Houston's downtown grid and tunnel is way more compact than Dallas' and appears to be twice the size.

When you drive through downtown Dallas it seems like you've exited just as soon as you've entered. Houston doesn't feel like that.

[stoneclaw]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

Uh...Houstons tunnel system is just a smidge larger than Dallas'...Honestly I was expecting a system that covered the entire DT Houston.

Don't judge it by the pictures. Those pictures are on 2 different scales. Since downtown Houston is at least twice as large as Dallas's, they have to fit everything into it to fit the size of the picture and Houston is shown at a smaller scale. Basically saying what MM was TRYING to say.

Dallas's tunnel system is larger than I thought though.

stoneclaw/C2H (ComingtoHouston)

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by stoneclaw

Don't judge it by the pictures. Those pictures are on 2 different scales. Since downtown Houston is at least twice as large as Dallas's, they have to fit everything into it to fit the size of the picture and Houston is shown at a smaller scale. Basically saying what MM was TRYING to say.

Dallas's tunnel system is larger than I thought though.

stoneclaw/C2H (ComingtoHouston)

Dallas' tunnel map is zoomed in so its not nearly as large as it appears.

Houston's downtown IS twice the size of Dallas'.

[JJG]

I still say Tunnels KILL downtown and the only kinds of tunnels under the city should be used just for cars and subways.

Someone suggested Downtown Fort Worth have tunnels...... I wanted to kick him in the bean bag for even suggesting that.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by JJG

I still say Tunnels KILL downtown and the only kinds of tunnels under the city should be used just for cars and subways.

Someone suggested Downtown Fort Worth have tunnels...... I wanted to kick him in the bean bag for even suggesting that.

I agree that it kills pedestrian street activity, but I sure am thankful for them in the summer.

[Nairobi]

Maybe I misread some posts, but please tell me we're not sitting here debating who has the bigger tunnel system, as if it's some sort of plus.

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

They also didn't have global warming & ozone air pollution warnings back when either.

Dallas was a small country town back then you have to understand, not the sprawling city of 1.2 mill. it is today.

I wouldn't call a city of 679,684 a small country town. Dallas County alone had a population of 951,527, ten years later it was well over 1.3 million.

[kenshi]

Also, last I checked, global warming accounted for less than a degree of average global temperature change. It's not yet significant enough to factor in here. The pollution issue may be a more significant change though.

Houston does get a point for having a somewhat more extensive tunnel system, although both cities could really benefit by expanding them. Toronto's system has its downtown much more pedestrian friendly.

[jbarn]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Dallas' tunnel map is zoomed in so its not nearly as large as it appears.

Houston's downtown IS twice the size of Dallas'.

I believe that Downtown Dallas has about 125,000 workers and Houston has about 150,000, what exactly are you referring to when you say Houston's downtown is twice as big?