So what is the deal with future light rail expansion (Houston: school districts, university)

[TexasTallest]

I know there was a big vote last november that passed preventing more light rail from being built until 2025 or something. Can anyone better explain what happened and what this means? Is it true more light rail wont be built, or do they still have plans on the back burner to implement some of the other lines they have planned once funding materializes? I was trying to look into it but couldnt figure it out, though i did learn that the city had planned on building more light rail than the 3 lines we have now and University and Uptown. I had no idea they were planning on extending the east end/southeast lines west of downtown to the Northwest Transit Center. it makes sense though the way the tracks kind of abruptly end on the northwest side of downtown at the moment. i wonder if they will ever follow through with these routes?

[the Instigator]

LOL sorry TexasTallest but as of now that's just a fantasy map

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I love the idea behind rail lines, but I do have to question if putting in rail lines to distant suburbia is right in the sense that you make a problem like Houston's even worse. Instead of encouraging people to live in the city and creating a larger tax base to ease the burden of paying for these things, it would make it easier for people who don't live in Houston's city limits to come in and enjoy all of the benefits of Houston, but not pay for them. It would just encourage even more sprawl. Every single one of us who lives anyplace other than within the city limits of Houston and comes into Houston to work is enjoying many of things Houston offers without realizing it.

Of course, if you live in those cities (I do), it would be great, but would it be fair to the majority of taxpayers who have to foot the bill? I guess if it were mostly funded by State, or Federal money, that would be even better.

In Europe, the majority of rail is funded by the government, so it works well that way; maybe that is what needs to happen here too? Or cities that do well can alway build their own lines to connect up with METRO's.

[Schumacher713]

This is actually a good question that I have no answer for. Metro is so damn confusing. They run all the buses. They spend massive amounts of money on roads. They also do the rail. I know they have spend rail money on roads. That is a referendum that passed and it the wording was so confusing I think most people did not even know what they were voting for. So, in 2012 you never voted for any rail funding. You voted to siphon funds from the rail. I voted no which was to keep the funds for rail only. We will have two new routes opening in about a year. The others are so far off.

People feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I get lost when trying to figure out what the hell Metro does with our money.

[hbcu]

you won't get true greenspace in the city and the new families have not shown a desire to participate in the local school districts so suburbia will always win out..cater to what you have

[Chicago3rd]

The November ballot issue was a vote against Light Rail, even though METRO and the MAYOR lied and said it wasn't. Transportation advocates predicted what would happen, NO MORE NEW LIGHT RAIL until 2025. When the transportation advocates warned the public (a small majority who now support light rail) METRO then the MAYOR came out and said while this bill makes it legally impossible for METRO to fund Light Rail's future....it would somehow magically pay off some debt and that would allow money from other sources to fund the Light Rail. BOLD LIE.

[HouTXmetro]

We have a Mayoral Election coming up soon. Somebody needs to hold Annise accountable and flat out ask her about her vote and position on Light Rail and how she plans to help get it funded. I think she's been a good mayor but this still pisses me off.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I love the idea behind rail lines, but I do have to question if putting in rail lines to distant suburbia is right in the sense that you make a problem like Houston's even worse..

light rail encourages high density development around the rail station
it also gives a community such as... let's say Katy, to build a small network of bus lines with the rail station as their main hub.

The key to its success is to also have a railline loop around the city, in this case, that would go through what is gonna be the Grand Parkway (just an example)
because that would also give the opportunity to people in those communities to travel to other places around the city without being forced to travel to the "downtown hub"

[TexasTallest]

So no matter what happens after the next mayoral election Light Rail wont get any more funding until 2025? can it still receive federal funding?

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by Schumacher713

This is actually a good question that I have no answer for. Metro is so damn confusing. They run all the buses. They spend massive amounts of money on roads. They also do the rail. I know they have spend rail money on roads. That is a referendum that passed and it the wording was so confusing I think most people did not even know what they were voting for. So, in 2012 you never voted for any rail funding. You voted to siphon funds from the rail. I voted no which was to keep the funds for rail only. We will have two new routes opening in about a year. The others are so far off.

People feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I get lost when trying to figure out what the hell Metro does with our money.

Metro definitely had some bad leadership, but that bad wording on the ballot goes to the city. And more rail not being complete already (plus a better Red Line) did not happen because Tom Delay,John Culberson, and Cornyn blocked federal funding. Those funds were sent to Dallas, where their congressmen gladly accepted on behalf of Dart. Imagine if houston didn't have those idiot politicians...