Are "Hot lanes" a scam?

[gwarnecke]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

If making the commute a bit easier induces demand for growth, wouldn't a rail line do the same?

The decentralized nature of Houston's business districts makes it tough for rail to compete with Metro P+R and vanpool services. Why board a train, stop at a transit center, then transfer to another train/light rail/local bus, when you can instead take a P+R bus that can take you right to your office with no transfers required? Or, even better - take a vanpool that might pick up within your neighborhood?

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

If making the commute a bit easier induces demand for growth, wouldn't a rail line do the same?

Theoretically, yes, although, as others have said, the way Houston is laid out makes it unlikely that rail would work as well as it does in other places.

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Yeah, in Houston, residential development occurs whether there's improved freeways or not, just because demand is there, especially in "preferred" school areas. I do think expansions like the Katy Freeway and 290 induce more dense commercial and higher-end development than might otherwise have occurred, however.

Look at all the development in the 70's and 80's along FM1960, which was a really crappy two lane road for a long time.

[timtemtym]

I'm glad for the HOT lanes which paid for the crazy capacity expansion of the Katy Freeway. Because of the, people were able to move farther out and afford the house they wanted. Because of this, big trucks can get through Houston which helps our port and industries. I do wish they would separate the general lanes into express and local traffic like some other states.

The old Katy Freeway was 3 lanes in each direction with 2 lane service roads. It was a nightmare and kept people from moving to Katy. That area would not be the behemoth it is today without that expansion and adding the Westpark. If they could go back, they would probably add another tollway along 529 from 290 out to North "Katy"/Cypress.

I remember when the Southwest Fwy. was two lanes through Sugarland. They fixed that and now Rosenberg/Richmond are booming. I wish they would have made Hwy 90 a freeway from the South Loop through Sugarland. That would really help the area.

At least we aren't the Orlando area where they only have one non-tolled expressway.