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Public transit is not something to look at or just for bragging rights.
If the ridership is low, then how great a system is it? Both cities have rather crappy ridership but despite the zillion miles in north Texas Houston still does better on transit yet people say DFW has the superior system. To me that does not compute. At best they are even
I disagree to a certain extent.
If the reason for Houston's higher per capita numbers is because the system is better thought out, agree.
If the reason is that Dallasites are just averse to mass transit, then disagree and I think the system can be graded on its merits regardless of ridership. Where I live people cry about every little imperfection that our light rail has, to the point where its obvious that local attitudes drive ridership down more than any flaw in the system.
People will not come and businesses will suffer. Look no further than Fort Worth Sundance square an area known for foot traffic. Once they got rid of free parking the businesses around the square suffered and many of them had to relocate or went out of business. It’s not that simple. I mean what makes you think people would pay higher parking fees in Dallas or Houston, when Sundance square an area known for foot traffic has loss vistors and revenue due to not having free parking anymore.
If the reason for Houston's higher per capita numbers is because the system is better thought out, agree.
If the reason is that Dallasites are just averse to mass transit, then disagree and I think the system can be graded on its merits regardless of ridership. Where I live people cry about every little imperfection that our light rail has, to the point where its obvious that local attitudes drive ridership down more than any flaw in the system.
I agree with everything you said. But there is a big assumption here. For the argument to work it would mean that only Dallasites are averse to public transit. In my experience both cities are just as adverse to mass transit. So in two cities that are both averse to PT and yet the one with the better ridership numbers is being ranked lower than the one with lower ridership? Again it doesn't compute.
Houston has the edge in my opinion because it built a more urban system and it has more nodes of greater density. It is easier to use and get across the metro. People will bring up miles of rail and how it goes up and down and all around but how is the system functioning any better than Houston when a higher percentage of people in DFW are using cars? After building miles and miles of rail the percentage of people traveling by car instead of by public transit went up.
Don't get me wrong, most posters on here would jump for joy at their city building more rail. But if it's rail that isn't well implemented can we really claim it's a good system just because more miles were added?
DFW is more decentralized than Houston and that makes transit less convenient and driving more convenient. At the end of the day neither city has much in the way of transit ridership so we're really splitting hairs. DFW has the better system if you live and work in the right places but not many do.
DFW is more decentralized than Houston and that makes transit less convenient and driving more convenient. At the end of the day neither city has much in the way of transit ridership so we're really splitting hairs. DFW has the better system if you live and work in the right places but not many do.
I wouldn't say this. Houston Metrorail beats L.A., Portland, and San Diego in ridership per mile, its definitely made a name for itself in the south.
I wouldn't say this. Houston Metrorail beats L.A., Portland, and San Diego in ridership per mile, its definitely made a name for itself in the south.
Just looking at overall ridership, in Q1 of 2022 Houston had 168,000 daily transit users in a metro of 7.1 million. That's better than DFW but not much to right home about. San Diego had 178k and Portland had 148k in much smaller metros.
Just looking at overall ridership, in Q1 of 2022 Houston had 168,000 daily transit users in a metro of 7.1 million. That's better than DFW but not much to right home about. San Diego had 178k and Portland had 148k in much smaller metros.
We did mention that both are crappy. But if DFW has crappier numbers (however slight) how can people say it has a superior system? A more expensive system maybe? A fancier system? But it's it a better system if it is harder to use and has a lower ridership?
Just looking at overall ridership, in Q1 of 2022 Houston had 168,000 daily transit users in a metro of 7.1 million. That's better than DFW but not much to right home about. San Diego had 178k and Portland had 148k in much smaller metros.
I live in the city and use MetroRail. I have to give MetroRail credit. Yes, it’s not a lot of track but they are getting the biggest bang for the buck. The current rail lines service the following locations:
1. Two biggest employment centers: downtown Houston and Texas Medical Center
2. Major sporting venues: NRG Stadium (Super bowl host, World Cup host, NCAA Final Four, Houston Rodeo), Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros), PNC Stadium (Dynamo Soccer Stadium), TDECU Stadium (University of Houston Football)
3. Convention center / Discovery Green
4. Theater District
5. Hermann Park and Museum District
That’s why it has high ridership.
Where it lacks:
1. No service to Galleria/Uptown
2. No service to IAH
3. No service to Hobby
4. Not enough park and ride locations prior to arriving downtown
There is no doubt the connectivity created by MetroRail has allowed Houston to win hosting multiple Super Bowls and the World Cup. Houston benefits by having all these venues in a centralized location.
Just looking at overall ridership, in Q1 of 2022 Houston had 168,000 daily transit users in a metro of 7.1 million. That's better than DFW but not much to right home about. San Diego had 178k and Portland had 148k in much smaller metros.
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