Yes, that trend extends into Houston as well. And particularly when certain transit agencies force riders onto said passenger trains when the commute was easier and more reliable by bus.

I'm just saying.

Question:  How many main tracks would it take to move the same abount of people on the Airbus 380 Runway Wide Katy Freeway?

Or the better question:  How long befor the above gets supper congested again?

Few realize the risks of derailment are huge for these systems.  Let alone the exposure to anti-American terrorists, especially when we continue to suffer from a pourous border.  Since most readers are public school graduates, they likely have no clue as to how dangerous train travel was 100 years ago.

Rokyo:

a) Your arrogance is astounding. How dare you draw that conclusion and hold it against someone.

b) 100 years ago is relevant...how?

c) Thousands of high-speed and millions of other trains operate every day with remarkable safety records.

Ay one time trains were the safest form of traveling. I'm not sure about today but I'm sure that they are  safer than automobiles. As far as anti-American terrorists I believe that cruise ships are the most vulnerable. What right wing publication do you get your information from Mr. Royko?

Royko,

     Do you have the proper evidence to back up what you just said?  Perhaps the reason why you think train travel was dangerous 100 years ago (if that's even relevant) is because there wasn't much safety measures put in place to make train travel safe and comfortable for those who use it---or at least none that I know of.

Gee,

Where is the market demand?  I am unaware of investors clamoring to invest in high-speed rail.

Royko,

     Gee   you may want to read up on any benefits of high-speed rail.  If if can work wonders in countries like Japan and France, it could work here in the US---in other parts, of course and not just what you already know---I hope.  

Rokyo, did you see a line out the door at TX DOT to invest in that I-10 expansion? How about to replace the air traffic control system?

The simple fact of the matter is that moving people is not profitable. Everyone knows the streets and highways are paid for publicly, but some try to point out airlines as money-making transportation. On the contrary, and as we've seen lately, their airports, runways, security, and control systems are subsidized yet the carriers are still on the brink.

Since the government is charged with providing transportation infrastructure, it should be focused on making that infrastructure as efficient as possible. Light rail is more efficient than buses which are more efficient than cars. Trains are more efficient than cars, buses, and airplanes.

James,

How many Houstonians will avoid the Katy Freeway?

The tram barely generates 25-cents per boarding.  Compare that to the tollway.

People pay the gasoline tax for the HIGHWAY Trust fund, and likely would have enough to keep up with demand if it were not for the continuous "looting" by Congress for various boondoggle urban rail construction projects.

Then the local taxpayers are forced to pay for the operational subsidies and maintenance of the rail systems, which further drains resources for rubber-tired mobility.

Royko said:  "How many Houstonians will avoid the Katy Freeway?"

Ummm---no offense but---ummm---do you honestly think anybody is going to answer that?  Why don't you just ask if anybody would avoid just about all the freeways in Houston.

Mr. CoLLins,

The obvious point is that Houstonians depend on rubber-tired transportation.  The boondoggle tram is wasting our precious tranportation resources.

(knocks on head)  Hello?  Is anybody home?!

Still think that most people will agree with you, huh Royko?  (buzzer) WRONG!  "Our?"  Who's our?  How can the LRT be wasteful.  If it was, then why is it STILL HERE?!

I ride that LRT almost daily and it suits me just fine, thank you.  As long as it shows up, I'm happy.

Wait---the train isn't going to show up?  Meh---I can STILL get to where I need to be by bus.

BTW, that's not a valid point because REAL Houstonians---like me---depend on BOTH!

I find the "public school" remark funny. I graduated from a private school and I couldnt tell you a thing about train safety.

but I do think the METROrail is a waste... there are way too many stops and its slow

a line like the one metro uses should stop at Fannin, TMC, and Main Street Square... Screw all those other stops. Its going to be interesting when the new lines are built.

All I ask from Amtrak is a train route to Dallas. Not because I want to go to Dallas, but because there's no northbound service from Houston. Your choices are San Antonio or New Orleans, and THEN go north.

If you call the Sunset Limited "service". In the short term, Texas should have multiple departures daily among the large cities. Then the Texas Triangle high speed rail should be revisited. I'm convinced it would work well here.

A nice chat I just had with an utterly useless "customer service rep."

Rep - Typical Metro introduction.

Me - Good morning, I'm traveling from Briarpark and Richmond.  The bus I normally take on Sundays, the eastbound 2 - Bellaire from Westchase schedualed to depart at 9:07am is normally late by varying amounts from 10 to 25 minutes.  Before I go out and wait in the cold for a bus that might show up extremely late and cause me to miss my connection, I'd like to know if this particular bus is already behind schedule so that if it is, I may make other travel arrangements such as catching the 82 - Westheimer.

Rep - Well, we can't call on a bus to see if it's late.

Me - Oh, okay. So, you have the technology to do this, but basically you want me to go outside and wait in the cold to see if it's late and then call back and report that you you all so you can confirm it?

Rep - Yes, and we'll confirm it with dispatch.

Me- Hmmm, makes sense, inconvenience the customer.  Thank you.

*Click*

Metro, you all are brainless, spineless idiots.

Folks,

     If mass transit just isn't doing it for ya (for whatever BS reason you come up with---even if they look like legitimate ones), THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL USING IT?!  I would like to tell ya to take the taxi but they're no better than mass transit anyways so.....