Finally get a real metro route and they're scaring folks already to be negative (Houston: mattress, construction)

[hbcu]

https://abc13.com/metrorapid-metros-...tion/12047354/

This is a line that actually connects areas East-West and they're already starting scare tactics - if they would've done this earlier this could've been done

[Ghost Town]

Hmm..

An average of about 750 people rode METRORapid a week in May 2022.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

Hmm..

Useless statistic. Metro rapid isn’t connected to the Metrorail. Once it is that number will easily multiply

[ParaguaneroSwag]

This is not a new thing. Everytime they mention a transit line of any sorts being built, you’ll hear “the small businesses will be hit, the construction in the meantime, I had to relocate, blah blah blah”. Some people don’t like progress. They’d rather let a place decay. I don’t get it either. They should have no say in this

[SanJac]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

This is not a new thing. Everytime they mention a transit line of any sorts being built, you’ll hear “the small businesses will be hit, the construction in the meantime, I had to relocate, blah blah blah”. Some people don’t like progress. They’d rather let a place decay. I don’t get it either. They should have no say in this

If those store owners were good business people they would plan for it now. Back in its heyday Gallery Furniture’s Mattress Mack ran his business as if I-45 could be shut down at any moment. That mentality served him well!

[Dopo]

Houston news media is in the pocket of anti progress politicians

Public transportation is built to help people, not businesses
Not everything has to be built or changed only to help businesses

[gwarnecke]

Not to be dismissive of these business's concerns, but

1) The construction disruption threat is ever-present for any business facing an aging thoroughfare like Richmond Drive, it's hardly unique to a BRT project. If "construction disruption" is considered unacceptable under any circumstances, then we might as well put a stop to all major construction/infrastructure projects.
2) They've been given over three years of notice to evaluate whether the traffic disruption justifies relocating or not.

Having said that, I'm doubtful that the ridership on this proposed BRT will ever be higher enough (vs ridership on existing E/W bus routes) to justify it. The MetroRapid poor ridership is a troubling sign - this line was intended mainly to capture commuter traffic from the far west suburbs to the Galleria-area offices, and it isn't meaningfully doing so. If it can't convince commuters to forgo a 1+ hour slog through rush hour traffic, how will a Richmond BRT line be a more-attractive option for inner-loop residents vs a 10-15 minute car journey?

At least it's a cheaper and simpler experiment than a new light rail line would be...

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

Not to be dismissive of these business's concerns, but

1) The construction disruption threat is ever-present for any business facing an aging thoroughfare like Richmond Drive, it's hardly unique to a BRT project. If "construction disruption" is considered unacceptable under any circumstances, then we might as well put a stop to all major construction/infrastructure projects.
2) They've been given over three years of notice to evaluate whether the traffic disruption justifies relocating or not.

Having said that, I'm doubtful that the ridership on this proposed BRT will ever be higher enough (vs ridership on existing E/W bus routes) to justify it. The MetroRapid poor ridership is a troubling sign - this line was intended mainly to capture commuter traffic from the far west suburbs to the Galleria-area offices, and it isn't meaningfully doing so. If it can't convince commuters to forgo a 1+ hour slog through rush hour traffic, how will a Richmond BRT line be a more-attractive option for inner-loop residents vs a 10-15 minute car journey?

At least it's a cheaper and simpler experiment than a new light rail line would be...

The metroRapid in the Galleria is literally a short line in Uptown. It makes 0 sense whatsoever to judge that against a line that against a a line connecting the Galleria to Downtown, TMC, our universities etc. It's honestly common sense. How the heck does a short line on the Post Oak compare to that? It's the lamest excuse for anti transit people. If you're anti transit just say it. But at least use common sense to justify it. Not bringing up the numbers of a short unconnected line on post oak. Lol what? XD

[atmcclel]

This is all well and fine, but if we really wanted to be a 21st century city, we'd just built this route as a light rail. But this is TX and while I'll never leave I'll just have to accept mass rail will never happen here.

[hbcu]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

The metroRapid in the Galleria is literally a short line in Uptown. It makes 0 sense whatsoever to judge that against a line that against a a line connecting the Galleria to Downtown, TMC, our universities etc. It's honestly common sense. How the heck does a short line on the Post Oak compare to that? It's the lamest excuse for anti transit people. If you're anti transit just say it. But at least use common sense to justify it. Not bringing up the numbers of a short unconnected line on post oak. Lol what? XD

Lol - time you get to the station you're pretty much at the galleria - don't think it was designed for that in the short term