Has anybody thought of using self propelled LRT's.  They are like the present units except the central unit had a diesel-electric unit.  That way, you can have LRT without the overhead (wire), at least to begin with.  NJ Transit has such a line.

Have they detailed where the interconnecting track(s) will go where the two lines cross?  (Presumably a means to get the railcars to the car barn at Fannin South will be provided there.)

All I have to say is---thank GOD METRO didn't choose the BRT thing because with many people who may want to ride, it would be a waste of time trying to convert when it would be done anyways.  Good luck to METRO and hopefully they can try to perform the same feat they did the bike racks thing.  That would be nice.

For those of us who work at UH and for our students, this is great news. You guys have done a great job on the planning and consultation, and I look very forward to the fruits of your labors.

Mary, the Q card is not ready for the general public, I found out Friday and if I missed it here, oh, well, my husband and I enjoyed the ride to the Lee Brown bldg and back home.

Godspeed, Metro. I'm looking forward to becoming even less car-dependent than I am now.

Godspeed, Metro. I'm looking forward to becoming even less car-dependent than I am now.

ChloeMireille,

Does that wish include stripping Mr. Wilson of his enormous monthly CAR allowance even though, according to channel 13, he lives a mere stones throw from a park & pillage lot?

"Does that wish include stripping Mr. Wilson of his enormous monthly CAR allowance even though, according to channel 13, he lives a mere stones throw from a park & pillage lot?"

That just doesn't make not one ounce of sense.  What are you talking about?  NOTE:  Not that I care but inqiuring minds want to know.  People like me just doesn't care about what the news thinks because they, too doesn't have the final say in things around here---and I do mean ANYTHING!

Deal with it and move on!

Mr. Collins,

METREAUX, in addition to Mr. Wilson's salary, also has been paying $1,300 per month car allowance in addition to his expensive Downtown Health club membership dues.

For the President and CEO of a gigantic transit agency which appears to be squandering so much of our precious taxpayer resources, such an enormous CAR allowance might appear to some as excessive, if not hypocritical.

Does anyone know if the new plan has the option of driving cars and bikes along side the rail, or will they totally tear up the streets so only the light rail will be able to go through?

Indeed, Frank Wilson's $1,030 per month car allowance is way too big!

Colleen said:  

"Does anyone know if the new plan has the option of driving cars and bikes along side the rail, or will they totally tear up the streets so only the light rail will be able to go through?"

They will do it just like they did the Main St Line Colleen. At the least, two lanes of roadway will be permanently removed from service that were previously used by autos, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles.

The total rail line seems to be 30 miles additional and only 8 miles of that will be in a 'non-vehicular section along Westpark. 44 miles (22 dual lane miles) of roadway will be removed permanently from normal use.

In addition however, based on the Main St Line, a significant amount of street intersections will be closed to through traffic and restricted to right turns only. This was one of the reasons CB Ellis/Trammel-Crow was against rail down Richmond past their development of the multi-use Greenway Commons between Cummins and Weslayan.

They felt, correctly, that it would be restrictive to the planned egress to their development. Metro turned South just before their project.

Now though, the new apratements recently built on Cummins will have the same blocked access that I mentioned will occur MANY other places. On top of that, they will have a solid ramp barrier in front of them that will be the light rail ramp over Hwy59.

We go to the Edwards Grand Palace Theater that is at Weslayan and Norfolk. Many of the workers and visitirs to that area use Portsmouth to go to Timmons, which offers a direct entry to the Hwy59S ramo. That will no longer be a way to trravel and it will increase congestion at other intersections.

Multiple this by the other 29 miles as well as the 7.5 miles that already have altered permanently traffic and you get more congestion as the price for rail at grade, in-the-streets.

Metro and pro railers are saying that we are now going to be like Dallas. Dallas has very little in-the-street tram service. There's is in dedicated row's.

JUST on Richmond, it appears that there are approximately 33 intersections in a 2-1/2 mile stretch that will be closed to cross access. In order for MetroRail to even 15mph average speed, they cannot have too many crossings.

Basically, the rail lines will divide the city and be more restrictive than currently. On Main Street, you used to be able to cross at every cross street and now you are forced to cross at limited points.

Case-in-point is downtown where they threw up the cable barriers to keep people from crossing the rail lines. Unsightly, restrictive and makes that area even more depressing than before.

And, we're not even discussing the locations where they pass HISD schools and residential areas as concerns many on the East side.

Metro in 1991 was planning on building the first monorail line that was to go from UH Downtown out Richmond and on to the Westpark row (prior to the tollroad even being thought of) and out to Hwy 6. That design would now have been built for approximately 11 years, would have been fully automated and allowed for complete crossing at any point other than the support columns.

Such is life in Houston. To quote Chairman Wilson;

"It does allow this generation to leave a legacy of 37 miles of rapid transit," said Frank J. Wilson, METRO president and CEO, at the board meeting.

Notice the word rapid used? 15 mph. Restricted by existing speed limits on roadways. Not so for grade separated transit.

The election was won by a very slim margin and using proposed rail in areas where voters consistantly vote straight Democrat no matter what the issue.

Often wonder what would haeve been the outcome if Metro had even hinted that the line called Westpark would have been on Richmond?

On a final note. Here is a quote from John Sedlak, executive VP Metro;

"We have been able to prove here in Houston that people ride the Houston light rail system just because it is rail," said Sedlak.

Metro's own 1999MIS report on that line stated that they had close to 39,000 bus boardings in 1997 to count on to force over to the rail line. Current ridership 10 years after that is 40,000.

Again, ask a bus driver how fast he could make his trip if he only had 18 stops from 610 to UH Downtown and a dedicated lane.  

Well let's see.....

Like gas through a funnel?

Like eggs through a hen?

Even without stopping cross traffic I can still beat the rail...

But I am good at what I do.

Something that I have wanted to ask is: Why synchronise the lights in the downtown area if MAIN is usually the bottleneck going east/west on every street as the rail puts the lights at odds with all the others on the same street?Master plan? I didn't think so..

wi11ie

1. I did not say that we "are going to be like Dallas." I said that we're going to catch up to Dallas. I do not aspire for Houston to be like Dallas at all...well, maybe a bit more progressive in certain sociological situations, but whatever. I want us to be the best city in the world, but let's just start with being the best city in our own doggone state, 'kay?

2. About Mr. Wilson's car allowance. I...don't...care. I would be far more eager to point out my amusement at the fact that a car *dealer* is on the Metro board, but as long as I can get to work from my poor, disadvantaged, minority neighborhood full of handicapped and elderly people, I'm not worrying about it.

I always enjoy reading Don G and wi11ie's comments on this blog - interesting and well stated, never offensive to other people.

I wish Metro's blog had a "Recommend" button for each comment like many other blogs. Just a thought... I know I know - it costs extra and some people don't care about bells and whistles... As far as the extra cost - maybe Frank Wilson could spare some money from his excessive monthly car allowance?..

Ms. Sit, the photo in this post is really nice. Maybe, you could include picture credits/source in your future posts?

Based on train operator position, it appears that the train with passengers on board is going towards us using a set of track on its left. It is possible, but rather unusual. The picture also illustrates how much space two sets of tracks take. As Don G points out, “At the least, two lanes of roadway will be permanently removed from service that were previously used by autos, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles.”

Ms. Sit,

I have lots and lots of photos, and would be happy to she some with you.

Thanks for the clarification, Ms. Sit.

txilya

I'm extremly pleased with the agressive, yet necessary plan for increasing the METRO Rail footprint in Houston. The more and more I ride the current spur, the more I grow in appreciation for what the future holds.

Now if we can get the Mayor's office to increase it's encouragement of business along the rail route, all would be right with the world.

Thanks METRO!!

Does anyone here remember the comments made by Metro when they removed that old 55 Kingwood PR - Greenspoint via Bush IAH route several years ago (only lived for 3 months)?

Several people in the neighborhood by FM 1960 And West Lake Houston Pkwy complained about the route going through the area, and Metro response was something like (if my mind recalls) - we don't want to go where we are wanted".   Business owners among Richmond and else where don't like the rail coming in, yet Metro wants to force the businesses to close or struggle to get by while the construction is going on like what happened during the regular Main line.

I remember voting yes several years ago on the Metro board issue, but I voted YES for extra bus routes (like the Louetta and the Willowbrook to NW Station PR/Hwy6 routes).  I wished I voted NO on it.

txilya said:  

"Ms. Sit, the photo in this post is really nice. Maybe, you could include picture credits/source in your future posts?"

Yes, all photos should include the photographers name.

As another interesting example. I wonder who took the footage currently being used on the Metro homepage to try and get Texan fans to use the trams to get two blocks to the stadium (and then walk a looooonnnng ways to the entrance.

Watch the loop video they have online and tell me what you see that is illegal and has been the cause of many an incident where a pedestrain has either been hit by a tram or tripped and fell?

txilya continued saying:

"Based on train operator position, it appears that the train with passengers on board is going towards us using a set of track on its left. It is possible, but rather unusual. The picture also illustrates how much space two sets of tracks take. As Don G points out, “At the least, two lanes of roadway will be permanently removed from service that were previously used by autos, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles.”

That photo appears to be when the line was brand new since the concrete is now covered with a rusty and dirty coating. It was shot also for a 'glamour' (sex-driven( view rather than functional view. Show us pictures with the trams running full alongside heavily used roadways and you get truer representation of the function of trams.

In that shot the rail lines take up not only two lanes but the center area is all concrete as well.

Here's a link to a great representation of what could (should) be the norm if the 1991 Metro plan had not been dumped by Lanier to plunder Metro;

http://www.yesterland.com/images-tomorrowland/monorail3.jpg

Or this one;

http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/655776.html

Here;s Sydneys and a street as well as a walkway;

http://butchhoward.com/photos/monorail_640.jpg

Again, by fully grade separating transit, you remove all other limits to speed and you remove all possibilities of collisions and accidents with all other modes as well as pedestrians.

If you read online and click on my name at the top of my posts, it will take you to a discussion group that has been talking about elevated transit for Houston.

Opps!  The third link goes to a controlled website that has a really great shot of elevated, roadway and walkway. Oh well.

Hint to Metro geeks; Please change this blog to what the norm is where we can paste in pictures, using html coding and have the ability to see if there are any new posts WITHOUT having to go into each blog post. Of course, the current method means that Metro can claim far more viewers-hits than would be normal...hehe.

Here is a pic from Malaysia's line that shows land being fully used uncer the monorail and also shows the unique ability to advertise on the vehicles and columns;

http://www.technologyinnovator.com/images/Kl-Monorail.JPG

One of the finest representations of how a fully elevated monorail line could be used say on Richmond is this shot of the Malaysia design. The rail line is in the esplanade with roadways on both sides (cannot be seen in this photo. This was proposed as a viable solution for Houston where the land under the guideways could have had walkways, bikeways and landscaping;

http://de.structurae.de/photos/index.cfm?JP=173

"txilya said:  

"Ms. Sit, the photo in this post is really nice. Maybe, you could include picture credits/source in your future posts?"

Yes, all photos should include the photographers name.

As another interesting example. I wonder who took the footage currently being used on the Metro homepage to try and get Texan fans to use the trams to get two blocks to the stadium (and then walk a looooonnnng ways to the entrance."

Am I missing something here?  What if the person who originally took the photos DID NOT want to be identified?  I for one do NOT care who took the photos.  As long as they took it and Mary wanted to use it for certain blogs (hopefully she asked first), what's the problem here?

If you really want to suggest adding the photographer's name and METRO actually listens, DON'T put it somewhere WITHIN the pic.  Put it under the pic---or on the side.  It messes up the photos and adds to the "obstruction" of what you're looking at.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Cedric really needs to learn how to quote and give correct credit to who wrote what.

I was replying to txilya and concurred with her suggestion that photos have credit given to the source. It adds value to many of us who are interested in these things and also gives credit to the producer of the item, as is usually done in newspapers.

My comment (and not txilya's) was a jab at humor since whomever shot the footage of the tram was hopefully not a Metro employee and it would be interesting to see who in Metro decided to run it on their website.

SInce it shows illegal crossing of the rail line by riders, it provides proof that the inherent design of the rail line offers easy opportunity to walk onto the tracks where one is not supposed to.

I for one, have seen many a person run across the street and jump up onto the platform at the center as well.

Don G,

Thanks for the helpfule links (where is that "Recommend" button?). My personal preferences are also in favor of the elevated rail design.

And FYI - I am a male, so it would be his - not "her suggestion". ;)

txilya said:  

Don G,

Thanks for the helpfule links (where is that "Recommend" button?). My personal preferences are also in favor of the elevated rail design.

And FYI - I am a male, so it would be his - not "her suggestion". ;)

Sorry about that! Figured it was Texas ilya and guessed wrong. That is a classic case of how people can get the wrong feelings or thoughts on a person by the way they type messages or express themselves.

Did you just join the MET Houston group last week? If so, drop me a line over there.

As I have stated before, my dislike for what Metro represents came when I wrote a very simple and serious quesstion to John Sedlak way back prior to any decision to build the Main St tram line.

He lied to me then and most of us who ask serious questions or ask for information are forced to use the Texas Freedom of Information laws to get information out of them.

My question was basically, Why not save time and money and reissue the 1991MIS done by Metro instead of completely going onto another tangent (aka at-grade, in-the-street trolley car lines).

Bombardier alone spent well over $1 Million on their proposal for 1991 and on talking to a senoir engineer there, they said they would avoid Houston based on the false procedures and basic waste of time.

That same engineer had done at grade as well at monorail designs and was heavily involved with the Disney design and construction.

I remember asking him which design would make the most long-term money for a company and without hesitation, said at grade would create far more profits.

Soooo many people will say "Oh, Disney's monorail is just an amusement park ride". Well, what would you prefer to ride in, something that amuses you or something that is at grade and slow?

Disney's one line in Florida hauls over 150,000 people, on average, every single day and all without any incidents with other modes or pedestrians...all on a wee little 6 station line.

What-Where is the 'recommend' button you referred to?

Don G - your guess was correct - txilya stands for Texas Ilya. Russian name Ilya is used exclusively by males. I am not new to this blog; I like reading other people’s comments and sometimes even leave my own for the delight of future generations.

My question about the ‘recommend’ button was a joke reference to my earlier comment which said:

“… I wish Metro's blog had a "Recommend" button for each comment like many other blogs. Just a thought... I know I know - it costs extra and some people don't care about bells and whistles... As far as the extra cost - maybe Frank Wilson could spare some money from his excessive monthly car allowance?..”

"Cedric really needs to learn how to quote and give correct credit to who wrote what."

Don G really needs to learn more about somebody before he wants to cross the line and endanger what he says because he make NO sense whatsoever!  What you have to say about that?!  ALL inquiring minds would request to know.

You don't know a *** thing about me so you need to turn your brain back on and do that.  If so, I'd be happy.  Got that?  Thank you for cooperation in advance!

For Mr. Don G,

             A certain person will not be the only person who I say this to so welcome to the bandwagon, sir.  The question is:  Your point is...?  Why don't you educate yourself and learn more about people who is NOT like you.  If you can do that, then maybe---just maybe---I'll tone it down but I doubt that'll happen so let's keep this discussion going, shall we?

In an effort to get this off my chest since some people want to cross my line, let me say this.  All you anti-METRO people only care about yourself and the precious "Fort Knox" money you have---not realizing that it's going to be spent on other things---like---trying to maintain the very same roadways that YOU and METRO drive over everyday.

Enough of that.  I say---HUGE KUDOS to METRO for trying to please transit riders like me.  I don't care what you do; just keep your head up and don't worry about what these naysayers think.  They don't own you.

Stop trying to brainwash people like me because it isn't going to work.  I don't have time for it.  As long as I can get from point A to point B with little or no problems, I'm happy.

I'm all for attacks.  I don't care!  Y'all like to attack METRO and every now and then---the blogger herself as she is trying to do her job!

My previous comment said: "...I like reading other people’s comments..."

I'd like to add: ...well, most of them...

txilya said:  

"My previous comment said: "...I like reading other people’s comments..."

I'd like to add: ...well, most of them..."

I agree.

BTW and FTI: Channel 2 is doing a news report on the 10 PM news Thursday on the light rail line and wheelchairs.

We have two pictures of Metro bike police at the Houstontrolley group that show them seeing just how easily their bike tires fit into the rail grooves.

Wheelchair operators and women in high heels were also part of our discussions back before the tram line was even being built (as compared to fully grade separated transit.

(loud yawns)  Obviously, people must of forgotten how to ignore what they don't want to read so if anybody wants to tackle that word, please---enighten us all.  The word is "ignore," BTW.  I have my fair share of enemies on this God-for-saking planet but do you know what I say to those folks?  WHO CARES ABOUT YOU!  I can go at this all alone.  I don't need any help.  I can say what I want to say and that's the end of it---unless I request to keep this going.  You will NOT silence me so stop trying, for God's sake.

I have a problem with you; you have a problem with me.  What's the point?  You have the right to hate me.  Kudos to you for that.

YES, I have said this once before and to get certain people's brains working again (sorry but I won't name names here), I'll say this once again.

Here it is (probably different from what I said last time):  If you have a definite problem with what the heck I say (since I have the right to do so---no matter how hurtful it is towards other people), then you (whoever you are) need to personally write to Ms. Mary Sit, Mr. Frank J. WIlson and to anybody else at METRO about me (Cedric Collins) and tell them how you feel about me and how you're trying to silence me.

Now I can fully understand what people like METRO feels in any situation.  I just hope that they can keep their heads up and do what's right for the community and for people like me who ride their buses and trains everyday of the work week.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, METRO!!