When will Houston have world-class mass public transit?

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by Black Jack22

Was not the new building of the 40-50 mile rail project supposed to start this past June, that would be completed in 3-4 years???

Has it not got off the ground yet?

Write On METRO : East End Groundbreaking Celebrates Beginning of Light-Rail Line

East End Corridor Updates

[blkgiraffe]

I wish we could get some world-class sidewalks as well.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

I wish we could get some world-class sidewalks as well.

we do in Westside Houston, even all of Alief. too bad its not maintained properly in some sections especially on vacant lots.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

we do in Westside Houston, even all of Alief. too bad its not maintained properly in some sections especially on vacant lots.

I mean sidewalks where I can actually walk and not be forced to walk in the grass everytime someone walks past me.

[dv1033]

Yea we got those fancy sidewalks where two people can walk past one another in parts of SW Houston. They aren't everywhere but you'd be surprised how much you can walk if you don't mind terrible heat/humidity and long distances.

[yesman]

I'm not using this forum to argue with people, but here's why I say that it won't happen in our lifetime:

Houston has a very low cost of living. Gas is cheap there. Land is cheap there. Housing is cheap there. With that combination, people can afford to burn gas, park cars at work, and then come home to a big, affordable suburban house with an oversized garage that would be astronomical in price in any city that has world class public transportation.

My opinion? You don't (shouldn't) want public transportation that is world class. That means that your city has gotten so expensive that you can't afford to independently travel.

BTW- I drive a motorcycle that gets 60mpg, and my wife drives a hybrid. We recycle. We love the environment and treat it well, but until we can get semi trucks switched to natural gas, public transportation in our big cities makes as much difference to the environment as spitting in the ocean.

[nyc2va76]

Originally Posted by yesman

I'm not using this forum to argue with people, but here's why I say that it won't happen in our lifetime:

Houston has a very low cost of living. Gas is cheap there. Land is cheap there. Housing is cheap there. With that combination, people can afford to burn gas, park cars at work, and then come home to a big, affordable suburban house with an oversized garage that would be astronomical in price in any city that has world class public transportation.

My opinion? You don't shouldn't want public transportation that is world class. That means that your city has gotten so expensive that you can't afford to independently travel.

BTW- I drive a motorcycle that gets 60mpg, and my wife drives a hybrid. We recycle. We love the environment and treat it well, but until we can get semi trucks switched to natural gas, public transportation in our big cities makes as much difference to the environment as spitting in the ocean.

In the case World Class transportation is condusive to making an area accessible by other options. Driving your car should not be the only option available. So what Houston is a city where the cost of living is low. I could not deal with the madness of driving 30 miles somewhere and still be in the same city.
While having a car is a good thing, You should not have to depend on your car for everything. Give me mass transit anyday over driving.

[Black Jack22]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Write On METRO : East End Groundbreaking Celebrates Beginning of Light-Rail Line

East End Corridor Updates

I know that. I am just saying that I have not seen them start the construction. I assumed that construction was going to start in June.