[Frapster]

If you live in Houston in particular - stop by the site and get informed.

[Support Free Republic]

A Recall AND a Fundraiser? I'm toast.

Let's get this over with FAST. Please contribute!

[Frapster]

Bumpety bump bump

[Blood of Tyrants]

They are trying to get a similar poorly conceived plan here in Tennessee to run from Lebanon to Nashville (about 27 miles). The problems are, 1) that public transportation in Nashville is practically non-existant, once you get off the train, you will most likely still be several miles from work, 2)the Lebanon-Nashville roadway is one of the least congested, 3)few people will even ride it because it will be neither quicker nor more convenient, 4)many people will STILL have to drive 6 or 8 miles just to get to the train station.

[BUSHdude2000]

Already Voting Against Rail Bump.

[longtermmemmory]

Miami made a metro system. Promptly after completion. Downtown took a dump. However, more parking construction relieved the problem. duh.

These metro systems need to be agressivly voted down. Its an effort to eliminate private cars.

Architects need to have some serious education in PRIVATE not collective ownership. It seems every architct I deal with is a supporter of the DNC/socialists. It seems any professionals personal politics matter.

[RobbyS]

Dallas already tried this experiment, and it has not worked: Dallas has 44 miles of light rail, 34 miles of commuter rail, and a bus system, yet only 2% are riding all of this combined. Also, they are facing a $37M shortfall and have asked for federal assistance. Dallas has spent billions on three light rail lines, a commuter line, and an expanded bus sytem, and the census shows that fewer people rode public transit to work in 2000, than in 1990 before the billions were spent on additions and expansions

Many people are in love with their private autos, which fits with their house in the suburbs that they oppose the using of transportation dollars for any other purpose than streets and highways. Many others have no choice because there is no public transportation. The result is that there are more cars than will fit on the roads, a fact that is evident to anyone who has to use I-35E during the rush hour. Improvements to this corridor would cure the problem if they had been made today, but when they are finished they will already be inadequate. Denton County has just bought into the idea of a rail system that will patch into the Dallas system. Will it eliminate traffic jams along I-35E? No. The question is, however, what can we do instead? The answer is: Not much.

Our personal experience with trasnportion in Germany showed us that given a choice people will prefer the privat Auto every time, but that a very high use of bus and rail, which takes pressure off the road net, is possible. Will it may for itself? No, but neither does the private car.

[Barney Gumble]

Although I was eager for a public transportation system, the Metro Rail isn't the way to go. It's going to stop a lot of traffic and who can ride it in its current state? People who live near the one rail?

Who in Houston actually kid themselves that they would get the Olympics. No industrial city will get the olympics. Please, it was just an excuse so "Out of Town" Brown could spend millions of taypayer money. He built 3 new stadiums in about 4 years! That's unheard of! What was wrong with the Compaq center? No corporate boxes

[Dog Gone]

The Houston light rail project is merely a scam by politicians and real estate developers. A few people and businesses will profit, at the great expense to the rest of us.

The metropolitan area covers about 2000 square miles.

Even the biggest plan proposed by Metro would have less than 75 miles of track at a cost of $8 billion serving 1% of commuters, nearly all of whom ride buses today.

We would actually save money by buying each rider a new Lamborghini.

[Flyer]

Derail Metro Ping!

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

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[Servant of the 9]

This fight has been going on for 25 years.
Is there no way to kill it forever?

Perhaps a State Constitutional Ammendment baring commuter rail/light rail in Harris County?

So9

[StockAyatollah]

The local politician-crooks in Orlando/Orange County FL are pushing a 1/2 cent sales tax to fund light rail among other boondoggles. There is a referendum next week which the sheeple will probably approve.

[jimt]

An anti-rail Houstonian bump.

[38special]

On a side note, Metro just increased the tolls on the beltway 8. It's like rubbing salt in the wound. I try to avoid the toll road as much as possible.

[tx65]

I just came back from the polls...

What made my final decision was the direct mail piece I received yesterday from Metro.

What I saw was that by 2012, the only thing MetroRail intends to accomplish is connecting primarily low income areas to downtown and the current soon to open downtown - medical center - reliant center rail line. This 2012 phase does nothing to address Houston real transit problem - commuters from outside the Beltway getting to and from major business centers.

Looking further into the future, other then connecting to Bush or Hobby Airports and the Galleria, the plan does nothing but continue expansion to primarily low income areas. Of course, the question begs to be asked "How many business travelers, convention visitors or tourists would want to ride a train that take them from the airport to downtown with multiple stops in low income areas?" Answer is few if any will ride a train like this. This reasoning has nothing to do with the racial make up of these low income areas,,,it has to do only with the fact that these areas are ugly , run down and have high crime rates.

Only when looking at future rail extensions does Metro even begin to service suburban commuters going to and from Houston Business Centers. How many billions and more importantly how much time will be have passed by the time any of the future rail extensions come into operation that even begin to address Houston true transit problems?

My take is that I graduated from high school in Houston in 1983, I graduated from U of H in 1992, I am now 38 years old. Passage of this metro rail plan would mean that by the time rail offers true services to commuters I will be close to retirement.

Needless to say, I voted against Metro's plan. I am not against rail in any way, but I am against spending billions of tax dollars by an unelected entity on a rail system that does nothing to address Houston's real mobility problems.

My suggestion to gain my vote would be a two level plan with heavy commuter rail making use of exisiting and enhanced BNSF and UP rail lines combined with light rail operating in selected areas. Following, I have listed some of these ideas. Look at a map and see what you think.

Heavy Commuter Rail Lines -

Kingwood / Humble - Downtown
Conroe / Woodlands - Downtown
Tomball / Willowbrook - Downtown
Clear Lake - Downtown
Richmond / Sugarland - Downtown
Katy - Downtown
Fairfield / Copperfield - Downtown
Bush Airport - Downtown - Hobby Airport (Airport Link)
Pearland - Downtown

Heavy Commuter Rail Lines would have no stops closer to downtown then Beltway 8 before going to / from downtown other then at intersections of light rail lines inside of the Beltway as outline below.

I would like to add that the enhancement of BNSF and UP lines has a side benefit. During late night hours when heavy commuter trains dont run, the BNSF and UP freight railroads can use these tracks to move products in and out of Houston more efficiently strenghtening Houston from a business perspective.

Light Rail Lines

Downtown - Med Center - Reliant Center - Post Oak / Main Transit Center

Post Oak / Main Transit Center - Galleria - NW Transit Center

Downtown - U of H - Hobby Airport

Downtown - Greenway Plaza - Galleria

Northside Light Rail Line connecting Tomball Heavy Rail - Greenspoint - Woodlands Heavy Rail - Bush Airport - Kingwood Heavy Rail

Only when I see a true solution will Metro gain my support. I would also like to see Metro become an elected board rather then a club of appointees from Houston City Council and County Commissioner courts.