How can anybody in Houston not support expanding metro rail to the whole city?

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I've driving down Main since the light rail went in, numerous times. It hasn't really been an issue, unless you're turning left (you can't, but it had always been illegal anyway) or want to turn right on red. For going from UH-D to the Rice, it's fine - maybe a couple of red lights last a little longer? I'm not getting your beef. And what about Fannin and San Jacinto?

Absolutely not true. As I stated in a post way above, I used to drive from downtown to Rice U area all the time, down Main St. It was a great 3-lane each side fast-moving street.

Now it's a fustercluck. The lights are no longer timed as well, since the rail throws them off. With a single lane, all it takes is one car moving slower than prevailing traffic to create havoc and a line of cars behind them. And if heaven forbid an actual train comes by, all lights turn red and you just sit. And. Sit.

Not until you cross under 59/69 does it start flowing again.

You can say it's not an issue, but I drove it several times a week, for decades. And it's nothing like it used to be.

[Vicman]

Again, just don't use Main Street the whole way. There are plenty of alternatives in Downtown.

Originally Posted by astrohip

Absolutely not true. As I stated in a post way above, I used to drive from downtown to Rice U area all the time, down Main St. It was a great 3-lane each side fast-moving street.

Now it's a fustercluck. The lights are no longer timed as well, since the rail throws them off. With a single lane, all it takes is one car moving slower than prevailing traffic to create havoc and a line of cars behind them. And if heaven forbid an actual train comes by, all lights turn red and you just sit. And. Sit.

Not until you cross under 59/69 does it start flowing again.

You can say it's not an issue, but I drove it several times a week, for decades. And it's nothing like it used to be.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Again, just don't use Main Street the whole way. There are plenty of alternatives in Downtown.

I agree. There's still plenty of north-south streets in the area that are 3-4 lanes each way. San Jacinto is an excellent alternative.

[KerrTown]

I hope Houston can get a 1,000,000 people for the next Astros World Series Parade. Chicago can get 1,000,000 commuters in and out of their downtown every day. We could not successfully transport 1,000,000 people just for a special event and stranded 250,000 on their way to downtown.

Houston should examine Chicago's Downtown transit system. We probably would have been on the short list on Amazon's HQ2 if we had adequate transportation to downtown. Fixing this problem may come in handy for the next nationwide HQ search of a major company.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by astrohip

Absolutely not true. As I stated in a post way above, I used to drive from downtown to Rice U area all the time, down Main St. It was a great 3-lane each side fast-moving street.

Now it's a fustercluck. The lights are no longer timed as well, since the rail throws them off. With a single lane, all it takes is one car moving slower than prevailing traffic to create havoc and a line of cars behind them. And if heaven forbid an actual train comes by, all lights turn red and you just sit. And. Sit.

Not until you cross under 59/69 does it start flowing again.

You can say it's not an issue, but I drove it several times a week, for decades. And it's nothing like it used to be.

There is nothing wrong with having given Main a "street diet", whether or not there it involved a train in the middle. Main didn't need 3 lanes each direction. Even though METRO had made it a "bus sewer" before light rail was even contemplated. Other Houston streets could use diets as well, if it means expanding sidewalks and providing on-street parking.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I've driving down Main since the light rail went in, numerous times. It hasn't really been an issue, unless you're turning left (you can't, but it had always been illegal anyway) or want to turn right on red. For going from UH-D to the Rice, it's fine - maybe a couple of red lights last a little longer? I'm not getting your beef. And what about Fannin and San Jacinto?

I've avoided Main from midtown to UH-D since long before rail went in. The restrictions on turns makes it a pain. Its Fannin that is the problem in the medical center area. It got pretty bad until they built the Bertner and Cambridge bridges over Braes Bayou. Those eased it a little.