METRO releases rendering of METRORapid Katy fwy line

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

I suppose (I could be wrong) that Kerrtown was referring to a commuter rail line that involves a stop in IAH as well as the Woodlands, Conroe, etc

Well, that would at least have a veneer of greater justification, though commuter rail (assuming he's talking about traditional commuter rail like the TRE in DFW) has additional issues in Houston that generally make me oppose it - like the frequency of service (or non-frequency really) and distance of downtown station location from riders' ultimate destinations. Plus the freight rail operators will NOT give up space for it anyway, so the whole idea is moot.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

You also have to keep in mind how huge Houston’s urban core is compared to the places you mentioned.

It's huge, but most of it is at low suburban-style densities.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

It's huge, but most of it is at low suburban-style densities.

Nope. Uptown, TMC and Greenway for the sakes of transit are just as limited to space as all of these downtowns. The portion where the Inner Katy route is isn’t and that’s why that’s being done fully elevated.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Just out of curiosity, have you been to other light rail systems around the country? I ask this because the other light rail systems in the nation are usually even more street car-y than Houston (i.e. Denver). Even Calgary's system was more street car.

Dallas light rail outside of their downtown is one of the least street car ish light rail systems I have seen in USA with Los Angeles being one of the few places to top it. If the D2 subway plan goes through, this might even elevate Dallas ahead of Los Angele's (light rail portion only, not their heavy rail portions). DART is in no way shape or form a traditional Metro system or anything remotely close, but the portions outside of downtown get as close in USA as possible.

Ofcourse, outside of USA, this is a different story. London's Docklands Light Rail is basically a metro system.

To be clear, yes I have been and rode on all of the systems I described.

Obviously we aren't going to agree on the metro budgeting and how they should plan their next routes, so no point on continuing that conversation, but I was curious about this.

Actually the closest LRT system to form like a traditional metro system in the US is probably Metrolink in St. Louis. Fast forward through the video to see the example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FC4mP-Dijc

IIRC, the entire system is built like this. It is one of the best examples of a light rail rapid transit system in the US. You are correct though that DART outside of downtown is much like a ligh trail rapid transit system as well. I've made that argument plenty of times. The majority of Houston's system looks like a London Tram. Which is fine for urban transit systems. But a rapid transit system not interfering with the road or surface areas outside its own ROW is what Houston needs.

I think if Houston even built their system like St Louis did whether underground or elevated, you will see less objection to the project from the very start.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Spade

Actually the closest LRT system to form like a traditional metro system in the US is probably Metrolink in St. Louis. Fast forward through the video to see the example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FC4mP-Dijc

IIRC, the entire system is built like this. It is one of the best examples of a light rail rapid transit system in the US. You are correct though that DART outside of downtown is much like a ligh trail rapid transit system as well. I've made that argument plenty of times. The majority of Houston's system looks like a London Tram. Which is fine for urban transit systems. But a rapid transit system not interfering with the road or surface areas outside its own ROW is what Houston needs.

I think if Houston even built their system like St Louis did whether underground or elevated, you will see less objection to the project from the very start.

I’ve never been to St Louis. From the pictures it looks like you’re right and St Louis has the most metro like light rail in USA. Only the Docklands light rail in London is more metro like that I’ve seen

[Spade]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

I’ve never been to St Louis. From the pictures it looks like you’re right and St Louis has the most metro like light rail in USA. Only the Docklands light rail in London is more metro like that I’ve seen

Yeah when you search Houston light rail in youtube, you will see people from Europe comment over and over that it's more of a tram. In the US, we have replaced the word tram with the word, streetcar. Some say trolley but I think we have really relegated trolley to something else over the years personally. I can't find any other system like Metrolink. Maybe Boston or LA is like that? I don't know.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Nope. Uptown, TMC and Greenway for the sakes of transit are just as limited to space as all of these downtowns. The portion where the Inner Katy route is isn’t and that’s why that’s being done fully elevated.

Again, not sure of your point...try restating. I was referring to the housing and jobs density in most of Inner Loop area, which despite having TMC and UK/Greenway, is mostly low to moderate.