Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Mary Sit — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:37:20 GMT

All photos on this post were taken by Ernest Chou, senior community relations rep at METRO.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Cedric Collins — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:00:22 GMT

"We voted for rail on West Park, not BRT (bus rapid transit) on Richmond. We voted for real transportation solutions - not a bells-and-whistle, dog-and-pony show," said Bello. "I believe METRO's DEIS has not addressed the real concerns of the people." Trevor Bello is a FOOL! How can you put something in a certain area where there's NOTHING there? Can somebody answer me that?! That's like putting a bus route in a certain area of town and when you see the bus come by, you might as well as an almost empty bus. A TOTAL waste of time in my book. Put this where a lot of people will ride. DUH!

http://www.bloghouston.net/item/7"

...and the point is?

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

J. Liggins — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:17:27 GMT

I wish people would stop gnashing their teeth over the wording of the 2003 ballot. The line was labeled "Westpark," and guess what; it goes down Westpark. Now, how about that, crazy ain't it?

Anyone who is familiar with public transportation will know that just because a certain route is labeled "A" street or "B" street does not mean it will spend it's entire time on that particular street. Take the 11-Nance and the 40-Pecore for example; both routes only serve their namesake streets for 1/4th of a mile.

"Oh, but Nance and Pecore streets are only about 1/4th of a mile. Do better than that!"

Challenge accepted. I'll give you the 35-Fairview, 3-Langley, 5-Southmore, and the 60-S. MacGregor. The routes serve their namesake streets, just for not long periods of time. In fact, the Westpark rail line will serve more of it's namesake street than any of the routes I mentioned. Of course, let's just ignore that with more useless debate and hissy fits.

I swear, if TxDot wanted to build some sort of tollway on Richmond for better access to the Greenway Plaza/Galleria/Uptown area, all of these vocal anti rail residents could do all the squawking they wanted about businesses, homes, and trees, but they'd still be taking it with no vasoline at the end of the day. But of course, Metro has to hold 8 public hearings to commission a study on a study about a study about the impact on a dollhouse whose figures might topple over when surveyors come to commission a study on cracks in the sidewalk someone wants preserved.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

J. Liggins — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:43:32 GMT

You're telling me Metro planned to run the entire line on Richmond, and for the sake of your intelligence and credibility I hope that's not the case, or that it was an OPTION, PROPOSAL, POSSIBILITY, that PERHAPS the line would run along Richmond from Wheeler Station to Chimney Rock? You see Don, what YOU are failing to remind people is that that alignment was one of many options presented after the vote, and it STILL HAD A SEGMENT ON WESTPARK.

And why couldn't it be also called the University line? Both names fit in my opinion because you see; the eastern portion serves two UNIVERSITY'S (GASP!) and the western portion goes down WESTPARK (crazy I know because according to you all, only Richmond will be affected, forgetting all about that little residential area to the east and the numerous businesses along Westpark). So yes, either name fits the route, but perhaps not your agenda.

And your definition of hissy fit is laughable, like literally, I laughed at the ridiculousness of it. But that's just me being petty.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

DominicMazoch — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:34:24 GMT

Er, unless Westpark uses a wormhole or a portkey, its eastern end is at Kirby Drive. Now, is Richmond the best route? I don't think it is wide enought.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Royko — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:18:36 GMT

It would be further lunacy for METREAUX to build a tram, at grade on Richmond, but if you throw enough taxpayer cash at the consultants, an agency is likely to get the "recommendation" that fits an ill-devised agenda.

Where are the heavy-handed city enforcers and environmental-whacos? The tram project will destroy about 150 mature trees in the City right-of-way. If it were a property owner on Richmond responsible for killing a single tree they would face a $25,000 fine and possible incarceration in the Harris County jail.

The construction of the University line will likely not improve mobility at all, and in my view, it further negatively impact the bus service to the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

ChloeMireille — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:17:42 GMT

There are parallel streets to Richmond, though. West Alabama immediately comes to mind, not to mention Westheimer. As a matter of fact, the average person could *walk* from Richmond to Westheimer without getting tired, and it's only 4 stops on the 26/27 Loop bus.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

J. Liggins — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:55:04 GMT

Hey Paul, this isn't Sim City where you can just plop down a commuter rail line for some simoleans and be done with it. People are already soiling their diapers over the cost and time it takes to build the LRT lines, which are only a few miles each. Just imagine the sheer lunacy if Metro decided to invade the suburbs with their plans. But hey, that's real foresight and intelligence for you though.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Royko — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:14:41 GMT

CHris,

Gordon Quan demanded some developer be fined the maximum ($25,000) several years back, and no I have no proof since I did not record his statements, go ask him if you wish to challenge my recollection.

How can you determine my level of concern for the poor, minirity, elderly and handicapped bus transit dependent citizens being abused by METREAUX?

I have no idea who you are, or if I have ever had the honor of meeting you.

How do we know you are not one of the "special interests" funded directly or indirectly by METREAU or surrogates to attack critics?

What are your interests in METREAUX expanding its wasteful urban rail empire?

You referenced your peers, are they the speculators, engineering and/or architect firms who have made a fortune feeding at the publiccly-funded "trough?"

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Cedric Collins — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:35:59 GMT

"What are your interests in METREAUX expanding its wasteful urban rail empire?"

Makes no sense---that statement. PLEASE elaborate on that question.

If you don't want more and more cars off the road, then you need to get up, go to 1900 Main and tell METRO that yourself.

Also, you need to go and tell TxDOT to better maintain our freeways that constantly need caring for. You DO know that your money also goes into that, right? I say (to answer that question for you)---NOPE.

You want to know my interests in METRO (not METREAUX) expending its wonderful urabn rail empire? For one thing, it can put more and more buses where they need to be. That's one. I'll worry about more laterz!

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Royko — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:15:34 GMT

Chris,

I like the "merely an interested citizen" where you have seen me at past events. Other than METRO board meetings, where the pro-urban rail "special interests"

hang out, I can think of no "event" where you would have seen me.

I tried to unseat Queen Sheila, in a presidential election year, and was crushed by tens of thousands of straight-ticket, Democrat voters.

The Democrat incumbent has always won by a land-slide in the 18th CD; so, do you think mentioning that will in some way undermine what I comment upon concerning the ill-devised, wasteful policy of METREAUX?

What do you think about my complaints that METREAUX was shortchanging all of us by not sharing what they promised of the "Windfall" sales tax for General Mobility (yes, concrete streets for evil rubber-tired passenger cars) projects, and, then having the METREAUX board suddenly approving a whopping 65% INCREASE in GMP spending for the FY2008 Budget, where in the FY2006 CAFR and FY2007 Budget METREAUX stated they were winding down those expenditures, and/or, shifting how the money was to be spent (as matching funds for federal pork spending)?

I do use colorful and descriptive rhetoric to make a point, and hope you are not personally offended if the shoe fits.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Royko — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:33:45 GMT

Cedric,

I do go to 1900 Main Street, and tell the METREAUX board the same things I mention on their offical propagana blog.

TXDOT could spend more for roads and bridges if the federal highway trust fund were not being looted by the urban rail interests. Also, 5-cents of the state gasoline tax is diverted to the failed public school system where educrats indoctrinate the children to embrace politically correct baloney and Socialism.

METREAUX needs to refocus on providing improved bus service if they ever expect to increase boardings.

re: Public Hearing Attracts Speakers with Wide Range of Issues on Richmond Rail

Royko — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:14:25 GMT

Chris,

I do not recall ever attending any "Katy Freeway" event. Show me your proof!