How can a Mass Transit for Houston Suburbs work? (home, mall)

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

Ah, understood.

Still, the reality that transportation planners need to accept is that - for those who have a choice in how they commute, 99% of people will choose the quickest and most-convenient option 99% of the time. In a city like Houston, that option is almost always the car.

P+R from the far suburbs to downtown/med center/greenway plaza is one of Metro's most-successful ventures, precisely because it is one of the few scenarios where it may actually save users time (if buses use HOV lanes and can drop users off within a couple blocks of their destination). It doesn't hurt that P+Rs save on parking charges (for the few Houston-area business districts where paid parking is the norm) and are often subsidized by employers. For folks who live relatively close-in, driving is usually quicker than local bus services, and is preferred.

That Memorial/Eldridge intersection should not be advertised as a successful pedestrian-oriented construction project, at least not to anyone who's lived in the area. The intersection is nicely designed and aesthetically pleasing, but for a number of reasons - it was under construction for over five years, snarling traffic the whole time! Among West Memorial residents, it is a universally-derided debacle. And as someone who drove through it daily for years both during and after the rebuild - and who occasionally even used its sidewalks to run home! - I can confidently state that the area receives virtually no pedestrian traffic, primarily because there isn't much to walk to (a CVS, a cemetery, a couple of tired strip centers, an abandoned church, and a couple of half-empty office buildings). Maybe further south on Eldridge is a different story.

I think the Memorial - Eldridge intersection was done because it was a chance to take advantage of a bigger project that was going on - the intersection was going to get redone regardless, so why not make it more pedestrian-friendly? I wasn't aware that residents were complaining only about that intersection - what I remember was complaining about the entire Memorial project - wow they HATED the selected contractor.

But yes, it's definitely fair to say that if you were prioritizing a part of Eldridge for pedestrian and bike improvements, Memorial wouldn't have been at the top of the list. The areas that currently have the most pedestrian activity are from Kendall Library south to Ray Miller Park.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Yep that's it! That's why I don't understand when people make excuses for Houston's lack of walkable areas when they say "It's too hot and humid". I literally see tons of people walking everyday in that part of the Energy corridor. From joggers to teens to families. That area is ready for a more pedestrian friendly environment. Because people are walking despite it's shortcomings. Like I said before, I personally prefer to walk in that area than to ever get in my car. It's just gets pretty dangerous crossing the street especially when you have a little one. A more pedestrian friendly neighborhood could also probably lessen the congestion in that area.

This article goes into detail about Houston's pedestrian problem and focuses on the Energy corridor and the Memorial and Eldridge intersection specifically.

https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/20...yet-pedestrian

How Houston fails to see the huge potential in making this area more walkable is beyond me. I really don't get it. It's prime real estate in this section alone.

Yes yes yes. Of all the suburban areas of Houston, Eldridge / Briar Forest is in some ways the closest to making a more pedestrian-friendly transition because of the existing activity and because, as you've noted, it was fortunate enough to be built with decent sidewalks in most of it (and decent crosswalks at some intersections). Plus, it's mixed-use with both daytime and evening / weekend population and has a fair bit of density. The block sizes (big blocks are an obstacle for pedestrian, as opposed to Montrose- or Heights-sized blocks) are a problem that's difficult or impossible to solve, and I've already mentioned the need for additional safe crossings of Eldridge. There's not a good common public space - the little park areas at Briar Forest and at Parkway Plaza aren't really appealing places to hang out in.

Lastly, the private development needs to be allowed to connect to the sidewalk without an intervening parking lot. This does happen in a couple places, like BB's and Sylvia's, but a good continuous block of street-facing businesses would be great, especially on the side streets that allow street parking. It would have been so nice for Dog Haus' patio to be right up on the street! That will take modification of the commercial deed restrictions which mandate the setbacks. Believe it or not, the Energy Corridor District is looking into this very issue, so there may be hope of evolution...

[Ghost Town]

How many people actually do need that walkability? Even not in summer. What percentage of residents of the most walkable areas are actually willing to walk? Some will verbally support this idea. But try to take away that pizza from them and take them out for a walk

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

How many people actually do need that walkability? Even not in summer. What percentage of residents of the most walkable areas are actually willing to walk? Some will verbally support this idea. But try to take away that pizza from them and take them out for a walk

'Ever go to a Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Lowes, HEB, or any business with a large parking lot? Do you notice that everyone wants to park next to the door, even people who are not handicapped, but somehow drive cars with Handicap signs? The same people who should be walking more want to walk less. Almost no one wants to walk further than they have to in Houston.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

'Ever go to a Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Lowes, HEB, or any business with a large parking lot? Do you notice that everyone wants to park next to the door, even people who are not handicapped, but somehow drive cars with Handicap signs? The same people who should be walking more want to walk less. Almost no one wants to walk further than they have to in Houston.

Yeah of course I know that.

And as a person who walks a lot I don't complain about walkability.

You can waste tons of resources but people still won't be willing to walk.

Same thing with the transit.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by elnina

I think those tunnels, and in some other cities, above ground skyways, are created because there was no safe way to allow residents to live, work, go to a gym or a bar, and shop downtown without being subjected to ground car traffic.
Those are created just for pedestrians. No traffic, no parkings, controlled climate and everything what people desired from barbers, and cleaners, to post offices, dedicated shops, restaurants, bars, recreational facilities, to direct connections to large departments or supermarkets. The tunnels are loaded with park like spots to sit and relax, kiddies playgrounds, even art to enjoy. That wouldn't be possible above the ground where everything is already designed for cars.

In other words, tunnels make downtown Houston very walkable!

[mojo101]

who wants to want in the summer ?

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by mojo101

who wants to want in the summer ?

Well, in much of the northern U.S., you can say the same for winter - and furthermore, it requires having a bunch of extra clothes you have to put on and take off and put somewhere. Yet folks still do walk.

There's also cities with Houston's summer climate all around the world, and here in the U.S., where people walk all year.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Well, in much of the northern U.S., you can say the same for winter - and furthermore, it requires having a bunch of extra clothes you have to put on and take off and put somewhere. Yet folks still do walk.

There's also cities with Houston's summer climate all around the world, and here in the U.S., where people walk all year.

It's possible to walk in Summer, unless you have to wear dressy clothes, and there's no shower at your destination. I tend to sweat a lot, so walking and cycling are out for me for getting to and from work.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by WRM20

It's possible to walk in Summer, unless you have to wear dressy clothes, and there's no shower at your destination. I tend to sweat a lot, so walking and cycling are out for me for getting to and from work.

I'm talking less about commuting and more about local / neighborhood trips, either from your home or your workplace. I too sweat a bunch (and that's putting it mildly).

Not sure why when walkability is brought up so many automatically go to "walk / bike to work." That's never going to be more than a very tiny share of folks. Realistically the more applicable scenario are commuters walking (or possibly biking if attire allow it) to and from a bus at the beginning and end of their work commute.