METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Ian — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:06:23 GMT

Wow. Absolutely incredible. I'm so, so happy that things worked out as they did. Metro really listened to what Houstonians want and have proved that they are willing to work towards compromises and solutions that will take Houston towards our shared vision of our community. Bravo!

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Cedric Collins — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:15:25 GMT

I agree with Ian on this issue. Now that METRO has cleared this hurdle, can we now move on the the next phase of this issue with the University Corridor thigny, PLEASE?

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

J. Liggins — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:13:06 GMT

Royko, you're familiar with Kelly Clarkson's Breakway song? This is for you Royko, I think she feels where you come from? Hopefully it'll ease the pain you're feeling right now.

[Verse 1]

Grew up in a large town

What happened to downtown?

I'll just blame it on Metro

Dreaming of what could be

No rail for the University

I would pray

Trying hard to reach out

But when I'd try to speak out

Felt like no one wants to hear me

Wanted to belong here

But something felt so wrong here

They're craz-eh

They want trains....

[Chorus]

I spread my wings and I learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes to oppose the Richmond line

And I'll make a wish

To take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I got my blinders on

As that's not the camp that I'm from

I'll take no risk

Take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail

[Verse 2]

Wanna feel the warm breeze

Of tail pipes on Katy

Feel the gloom of slow motion

Get onboard a fast train

No way, are you insane?

You're craz-eh

To want trains

[Chorus]

I spread my wings and I learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes to oppose the Richmond line

And I'll make a wish

To take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I got my blinders on

As that's not the camp that I'm from

I'll take no risk

Take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail

[Bridge]

Brown building with twenty floors

Stuck inside the railcar doors

Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but

Gotta keep moving back, moving back

Do things my way, please no trains

[Last Chorus (Different From Others)]

I'll spread my wings

And I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy I will reverse time

I gotta take no risk

Take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail

Out of the darkness and into the sun

I'll drag us back into the place which we've come from

I gotta take no risk

Take no chance

Make no change

And no light rail, no light rail, no light rail

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:50:22 GMT

J. Liggins,

Was that in the key of "G?" Thanks for your special song, as it peaks ones emotions over the "Brown Streak."

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:06:54 GMT

After rereading the section, I am incorrect, the Mayor now can allow the EMPIRE to be built with our precious tax dollars.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

bui — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:06:54 GMT

With Royko's myopic vision of the public transportation will always put Houston as second-rated city. Royko, grow up (if you are in the 40's and 50's, move on and live with public decision). Look around, major metropolitans with vibrant ALL have decent rail/bus transportation. Make Houston proud, ride your light rail and it will do a lot of good !

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

ChloeMireille — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:36:07 GMT

I always thought it was ridiculous that we're the 4th largest city in the country, and the only one in the top 5 that doesn't have a reasonable rail system. And the fact that Dallas has one makes it even more embarrassing, I think.

That said....Yay for Light Rail expansion!

I'm really glad you're not starting with that whole BRT thing first, because that just seems like a ginormous waste of time and money when you're just gonna put Light Rail there later, anyway.

What I look forward to seeing is what will happen to the bus routes affected by the chosen routes. They'll be altered, no doubt...but HOW is what I'd like to see.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Rubi — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:37:36 GMT

Okay, I vote for Metro to hold the Richmond Baja 1000 before the ribbon cutting at the light rail ground breaking...

Richmond NEEDS the reconstruction Ryoko, better we get it with new features than txdot and COH just hiring Angel Bro's construction...(who messed up the Fred Hartman)

now...those who are spreading the FUD about the stray current...need to remember, Metro designed the safeties to conform to twice the industry standards for electrc rail travel.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

DominicMazoch — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:31:11 GMT

I think there is not enough ROW on Baja 1000 (Richmond) between Montrose and Greenbrier.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 10:23:18 GMT

Ian,

Baloney.

The poor folks will be further abused!

Instead of buses stopping every few blokks, we will see the elderly forced to either find another mode (CAR-contributing to congestion), walking many more blocks in the sub-topical heat and/or torrential rain trying to get to a tram platform, or staying home instead of suffering more to "enjoy" METREAUX's urban rail Utopia!

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Cedric Collins — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:53:13 GMT

" always thought it was ridiculous that we're the 4th largest city in the country, and the only one in the top 5 that doesn't have a reasonable rail system. And the fact that Dallas has one makes it even more embarrassing, I think.

That said....Yay for Light Rail expansion!

I'm really glad you're not starting with that whole BRT thing first, because that just seems like a ginormous waste of time and money when you're just gonna put Light Rail there later, anyway."

I 2nd the motion. Read this little bit, people---you'll learn something---especially you, Royko! All the other large cities have some form of large rail system but us. KUDOS for METRO for trying to play catch-up in that category.

"What I look forward to seeing is what will happen to the bus routes affected by the chosen routes. They'll be altered, no doubt...but HOW is what I'd like to see."

I think METRO will cook up something to make people happy about that issue. Maybe modify the routes so they can have easy connectivity to the rail and not get rid of them fully from that area, perhaps?

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Robert Pulliam — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:59:58 GMT

As I understand the recalculation of ridership estimates by the Federal Transit Administration: while it is true that this change will increase Metro's numbers in absolute terms, it will also increase the numbers for those other system competing for a finite pot of Federal money. If connectivity to existing or proposed systems is a sort of multiplier it would seem that higher ridership systems will produce the highest coefficient as the multiplier. Hence Boston's Green line with a daily ridership in the 230,000 range would seen to produce a more favorable case for funding of their extension than would a system with a possible 50,000 daily count. It may turn out that instead of moving Metro ahead in the race for Federal funding the opposite may occur. Metro does not operate in a vacuum and the same consultants that advise the Board are no doubt spreading this same glee in Denver, Norfolk and especially in cities where ridership is measured in the millions.

Perhaps someone out there can explain how the system will be built to a total of 37 miles for 1.3 billion dollars when, subtracting the 7 miles already built then alloting 750 million dollars for the 10 miles of the University Line we would be left with 550 million to build the remaining 20 miles or believing that the later lines could be built at 36 per cent of the per mile cost of the University line.

This perhaps could be done by adapting an earlier Metro Strategy of building the rail lines and covering them with asphalt. A layer of asphalt with the rail lines PAINTED on could perhaps be done by Metro for the projected cost of 27.5 million dollars per mile of the later four lines.

Yes we absolutely have to move away from our dependence on the automobile and all the non monetary costs associated with it, but this insanity is not the answer.

Best Regards,

Robert Pulliam

Tubular Rail Inc.

Houston TX

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Robert Pulliam — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:08:48 GMT

some info at tubularrail.com

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

ChloeMireille — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:38:05 GMT

"I think METRO will cook up something to make people happy about that issue. Maybe modify the routes so they can have easy connectivity to the rail and not get rid of them fully from that area, perhaps?"

Oh, Cedric, you have yet to see how much of a bus route geek I am. I could probably have a couple of rerouting schematics done by the end of the week for the University line. The major thing I'm fiddling around with right now is how the 25-Richmond is going to be adjusted between Wheeler Station and Cummins since the Rail's going there now. Right after that, I'd look at what's going to happen to the other routes in Greenway Plaza(53, 73, 78, and the 280-series).

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:16:55 GMT

Mr. Collins,

I am curious to learn more about just what the FTA has been told, and what they have agreed to, concerning the recent public statements coming from METREAUX.

First, let's look at any copies of communications between METREAUX and the FTA concerning the recently announced switch from the BRT expansion referenced in the Solutions Phase II plan to LRT; second, a full disclosure of METREAUX's request, and the FTA's response to specific changes in any of their modeling or standards criteria applicable to any of the METREAUX urban rail expansion projects; and last, any documentation from the FTA where they consider the METREAUX Solutions plan as a "system" rather than individual urban rail lines where each will not require separate evaluation and approvals.

I suspect that once we scrutinize the documentation, if it exists, we will learn more about this shameless scheme to shortchange the taxpayers as well as the further abuse of the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area just to squander precious taxpayer resources on the creation of a wasteful urban rail EMPIRE.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:32:21 GMT

Mr. Collins,

Your comments about not caring how METREAUX squanders our precious tax money, just so you can ride the choo choo for a few stops is akin to the typical American saying that they don't care how the federal government squanders our tax money as long as they get a modest Social Security check and willing to stand in a long line for "FREE" Hillary Health Care.

re: METRO Board Chooses University Corridor Alignment, Plus Light Rail Immediately for All Five Lines

Royko — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:25:18 GMT

Mr. Collins,

Would you like the answer in feet, blocks, or platform stops?