What do we call the new rail line? (Houston, Dallas: high school, calculation)

[shankaupas]

Originally Posted by jobert

The only way I could see this as being worth it, is if you take your bike with you when you ride.

I was going to use my kids Heelies.

[twange]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

What's with all the hate towards the rail system?

Because Cap Metro wasted a lot of money on a commuter rail line that doesn't serve very many people and most likely never will. Had they built their starter line along a well used bus line and or established corridor (say, I-35 to Roundrock near Dell), I think people would feel better about it. Better yet, they should have started in the city core first and worked outward, serving UT, the Capitol complex, entertainment district etc...But they tried to go on the cheap by using existing rail - even though it didn't really go where it was needed most.

I don't think that the "hate" is towards rail in general (at least I hope not), just toward this particular boondoggle of a project. Although I'm very critical of the project, I don't want it to fail and hope I'm proven wrong but there is a lot of evidence to suggest that this line will not be very successful as currently constituted.

[CptnRn]

Red line seems appropriate since it will probably operate in the red for a long time.

I do hope it is successful and is the beginning of an improved mass transit system in Austin.

[chickenfry]

i would love to see mass tran here in austin. the red line is ridiculous. it cost a fortune and it goes no where. they expect some stupid thing like "2000" riders/day. but they are counting the round trip to leander as two trips, so it really is at best 1,000 riders/day. then it doesn't run at night or weekends, so that takes away any hope of the far northwest folk using it to "party' in town! and you are right, it takes just as long as to travel by private vehicle............government at it's best

[eepstein]

I dont think there is anyone here that HATES rail as a form of public transit. I think what most people respond to is how it was implemented here in Austin. It is clearly the most half assed light rail I have ever seen. The complete lack of research of the people most likely to ride it, and where the routes should be located was never taken into consideration. None of that mattered--only that it was fairly CHEAP by comparison to other cities. Where is the GIS study done for this project and why isn't it available on the city website somewhere???

I think overall light rail IS something that is benificial, but done correctly, NOT half assed.

Originally Posted by twange

Because Cap Metro wasted a lot of money on a commuter rail line that doesn't serve very many people and most likely never will. Had they built their starter line along a well used bus line and or established corridor (say, I-35 to Roundrock near Dell), I think people would feel better about it. Better yet, they should have started in the city core first and worked outward, serving UT, the Capitol complex, entertainment district etc...But they tried to go on the cheap by using existing rail - even though it didn't really go where it was needed most.

I don't think that the "hate" is towards rail in general (at least I hope not), just toward this particular boondoggle of a project. Although I'm very critical of the project, I don't want it to fail and hope I'm proven wrong but there is a lot of evidence to suggest that this line will not be very successful as currently constituted.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Ok, got it. I understand now. No hate for rail, no love for how it was done here.

[RevMen]

Lucky for us the Red Line passes somewhat close to our house and my wife works downtown. I think she'll be giving it a try pretty soon.

I would think the bets name is "Red Line" since, hopefully, there'll be other colors of lines in the future.

[calien]

Over budget, behind schedule, rates doubled before service even began. No way it will ever be maintained w/o increasing taxes on non-users making it a very unpopular choice. Compare against the 183A toll road, which is hated as well, but is expanding years ahead of schedule and has actually made an impact to congestion. Also, the user pays for 183A, where the commuter rail has no way to pay for itself - too few riders and too few available times to ride.

[DarkWolf]

I don't understand why Austin , San Antonio , Fort Worth haven't gotten on the Light Rail / Commuter Rail band wagon like Dallas and Houston have. And for a progressive city like Austin this embarrassing. Now Austin is the butt of jokes in the Transit / Rail communities. As for what this is , its a commuter line.

[austin-steve]

Will it relieve traffic? No
Will it make traffic worse? Yes, near the crossings.
Will it pay for itself? No
Will someone be killed? Yes (in the first 30 days I predict)
Will mass chaos ensue in a week when payment is required? Yes
Must you have exact change? No, but you don't get change if you don't have exact.
Is there enough room for bikes? No
Is it faster than driving before 7AM? No, way slower. Return trip may be about the same though.
Is it faster and cheaper to ride the Leander bus? Yes

Steve