[musicman]

H-Town Man, on Friday, February 29th, 2008 @ 3:33pm, said:

So the land prices are high because of light rail, but developers can't do pricey developments because of all the crime. But why doesn't the crime lower the land prices?

prices are high, however crime isn't a deterrent but the ability to make a buck is.

[sidegate]

This line is only featured on the news when there's some sort of controversy, so coverage is patchy at best. Would some knowledgeable person pass on any information as to when there might be a prospect of breaking ground on this line? I would appreciate it.

[TheNiche]

sidegate, on Friday, March 28th, 2008 @ 10:10am, said:

This line is only featured on the news when there's some sort of controversy, so coverage is patchy at best. Would some knowledgeable person pass on any information as to when there might be a prospect of breaking ground on this line? I would appreciate it.

I don't believe that METRO is internally knowledgable enough that anybody that think that they knows anything can be counted as a reliable source.

[musicman]

sidegate, on Friday, March 28th, 2008 @ 9:10am, said:

This line is only featured on the news when there's some sort of controversy, so coverage is patchy at best. Would some knowledgeable person pass on any information as to when there might be a prospect of breaking ground on this line? I would appreciate it.

METRO doesn't even know. CDeb usually has the latest from the engineering side.

[ricco67]

TheNiche, on Friday, March 28th, 2008 @ 10:34am, said:

I don't believe that METRO is internally knowledgeable enough that anybody that think that they knows anything can be counted as a reliable source.

Believe me, getting information from Metro is like pulling teeth and I talk to a number of people that are involved in MetroRail. They have been rather vague on a number of questions I've asked, but for the sake of propriety I have to let it go and do what I do. Believe me, I grind my teeth every time I go there.

[roadrunner]

sidegate, on Friday, March 28th, 2008 @ 11:10am, said:

This line is only featured on the news when there's some sort of controversy, so coverage is patchy at best. Would some knowledgeable person pass on any information as to when there might be a prospect of breaking ground on this line? I would appreciate it.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say sometime in 2009

[sidegate]

roadrunner, on Friday, March 28th, 2008 @ 10:06am, said:

I'm going to go out on a limb and say sometime in 2009

I sure hope so!

[musicman]

looks like it is official. line will no longer be on wheeler.

[Houstonian in Iraq]

musicman, on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 @ 11:19pm, said:

looks like it is official. line will no longer be on wheeler.

Huh? Where will it be on? Any links?

[musicman]

Houstonian in Iraq, on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 @ 7:05pm, said:

Huh? Where will it be on? Any links?

they moved it over to alabama. 13 had a story on it at 6 with miya shay

[Trae]

Any route maps?

[musicman]

Trae, on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 @ 7:33pm, said:

Any route maps?

try this

[Pumapayam]

musicman, on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 @ 7:49pm, said:

try this

A zoomed in comparison.

9 months to figure this stuff out, that some major $ right there.

[Highway6]

musicman, on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 @ 7:49pm, said:

try this

Since this is the newly modified map from Metro, I assume this is accurate and their latest and greatest...
I have issue with one of the station locations - Whats with the Tierwestah Station ?
Tsu has two stations servicing it within a quartermile of each other but UH, a campus twice as big, has one station ?!?

Wouldnt it be better to scrap the Tierwestah Station and put one up Scott at Holman ?
A) Still serves the neighborhood North of Alabama just as well as the Tierwestah Station does.
B ) Serves the UH sports complex very well.
C) 2nd stop for UH to better serve the southern half of campus.
D) Most important - this stretch of Scott street serves the Uni line plus the SE green line... wouldnt it make sense to have one shared station in order for riders to switch lines ?

Has all this been addressed before and Metro scrapped a Scott street station for engineering or political reasons ?

[Highway6]

What are they thinking exactly here ?

How can you have future proposed line where another line is already existing?
Why does it turn south.. is that temporary or even when the full yellow line is built out, it's going to have an odd back track to it ?
If that is the shared station, how come it's not on the just recently put out modified map ?

again.. if two lines share 1/4 mile of track, why wouldnt you have a station somewhere along that shared stretch ? ...instead of 3 stations on 2 lines all within a quarter mile of each other

This post has been edited by Highway6: Friday, July 25, 2008 at 11:37 AM

[Pumapayam]

Highway6, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 11:32am, said:

What are they thinking exactly here ?

How can you have future proposed line where another line is already existing?
Why does it turn south.. is that temporary or even when the full yellow line is built out, it's going to have an odd back track to it ?
If that is the shared station, how come it's not on the just recently put out modified map ?

again.. if two lines share 1/4 mile of track, why wouldnt you have a station somewhere along that shared stretch ?

Looks like they did not even try to update the Southeast line station map properly when the University line went from Wheeler to Alabama.

I am sure it will move up in the end.

[Highway6]

Pumapayam, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 11:34am, said:

Looks like they did not even try to update the Southeast line station map properly when the University line went from Wheeler to Alabama.

I am sure it will move up in the end.

Yah.. but they just did update the University line map.. and they still show no station between Tierwester and Cullen...

The updated part was farther up the line.. The university line was on alabama between ennis and scott both before and after the realignment.
I think its more an issue of p.p.p

This post has been edited by Highway6: Friday, July 25, 2008 at 11:55 AM

[Trae]

I was thinking the same thing. They need to erase the Tierwester Station, and move it up to a share station with the Southeast Line. We'll see what they do.

[tierwestah]

Highway6, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 11:13am, said:

Wouldnt it be better to scrap the Tierwestah Station and put one up Scott at Holman ?

Whoa! whoa! whoa! what's with all the talk about scrapping the Tierwester Station. I would use that one alot thank you very much!

BTW, i appreciate you thinking bout me by puttin my user name in the mix. Nice to know i'm important. Maybe they'll name the station after me!

This post has been edited by tierwestah: Friday, July 25, 2008 at 6:09 PM

[Original Timmy Chan's]

Trae, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 11:51am, said:

I was thinking the same thing. They need to erase the Tierwester Station, and move it up to a share station with the Southeast Line. We'll see what they do.

Don't scrap the Tierwester Station, it would do a good job of serving both TSU and Yates. I would think the "TSU Station" could be moved west a couple blocks over to Ennis, but maybe it's a land-availability issue.

Just make sure there's at least one station on Scott at either Alabama or Elgin.

[Transit Nut]

Station locations could still change as design is advanced.

[sidegate]

Does anyone have any information on Daphne Scarborough's lawsuit against Metro, such as when it's going to be heard? Will construction be delayed as a result of it being heard or are there additional things that have to play out?

[Pumapayam]

sidegate, on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 @ 12:23pm, said:

Does anyone have any information on Daphne Scarborough's lawsuit against Metro, such as when it's going to be heard? Will construction be delayed as a result of it being heard or are there additional things that have to play out?

From June 11th, 2008.

Quote

Metro lawyers said the agency is protected by sovereign immunity, which basically says government can't be sued for legally carrying out its duties.

They also contended that because construction of the line has not begun, Scarbrough has not been harmed.

Taylor asked Benton to deny Metro's request for dismissal.

If his client cannot bring suit until she is actually harmed, it will be too late to stop a possibly illegal rail line from being built, Taylor said.

Quote

If this thing does go to trial, based on what Taylor was saying in court it sounds like that might happen in September.

[lockmat]

[dbigtex56]

Quote

The project’s alignment of light rail down Richmond Avenue was chosen in 2007, Childers said, but is awaiting funding before construction can begin.

“The goal was to open in 2012, but there’s a financial crisis. The city government has chosen the alignment, Metro has approved it, but it’s a federal issue at this point,” Childers said.

The problem can be summed up in one word: Culberson.

Were it not for his obstructions and lies, the line would be well on its way by now.

Nothing infuriates me like seeing those "Culberson: He keeps his word" campaign signs. No, he doesn't.

He claimed that in Iraq we would be greeted as liberators, our involvement would be for six months at the outside, and that American taxpayers would be more than reimbursed by Iraq oil revenues.

Of more relevance to this issue, he singled out Houston as the only city in America to be ineliglbe for federal funds for rail. After claiming that he would respect the wishes of the voters, he continues to obstruct federal funding.

We can only hope that the filthy little crook is thrown out on Tuesday.

[Pumapayam]

I ♥ the yard signs, "Culberson Keeps His Word". . .

He must think we have short term memory

Skelly for me, all the way.

At least the rail project down Richmond is not dead.

[musicman]

dbigtex56, on Friday, October 31st, 2008 @ 3:34pm, said:

The problem can be summed up in one word: Culberson.

Were it not for his obstructions and lies, the line would be well on its way by now.

if it were only that easy. METRO moved the route again just this yr cause of one neighborhood complaining and a vocal councilperson backing them up.

This post has been edited by musicman: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 3:55 PM

[RedScare]

musicman, on Friday, October 31st, 2008 @ 3:54pm, said:

if it were only that easy. METRO moved the route again just this yr cause of one neighborhood complaining and a vocal councilperson backing them up.

This is basically true. A close reading of the Richmond allignment fight shows that as time went on, METRO realized that Culberson was losing the fight. Recall that he tried to damn the entire line. He failed. 80 percent of the line went exactly where everyone wanted it to go. Only the last section moved, and that is not a bad thing. It actually now runs through an area that can be in-filled when economic conditions warrant it. For all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the current allignment is not bad, and Culberson's desire to get rid of it altogether was thwarted.

[MetroMogul]

I never understood the whole "Westpark" argument in the first place. Every alignment that Metro has shown to the public included a significant section along Westpark Dr. I think the "Westpark" designation had less to do with where the line would go and more to do with the ultimate terminus at Hillcroft TC, which is *drum roll* on Westpark Dr! Most rail opponents aren't familiar with bus routes so I'll excuse their ignorance of the 11 - Nance bus route, a former streetcar line. If you look at the route or ride the bus, you'll see the 11 - Nance runs along it's namesake for about 1/4th of a mile. Whether it be Nance or Westpark, the name of a bus route or rail line does not restrict it to that street. It'd be nice to bury the whole "Westpark" argument once and for all.

With that said, Metro is still a subpar and wasteful agency and Frank Wilson needs to be run out of Houston on a rail (Westpark or Richmond, take your pick).

[Jax]

Quote

We can only hope that the filthy little crook is thrown out on Tuesday.

I voted for Skelly and told all my Rice friends to do the same.

If Obama wins I think our odds of getting federal funding will be better than under a McCain spending freeze. Oops, I hope I didn't turn this thread into a political discussion. Let's stop the politics here!

[TheNiche]

RedScare, on Friday, October 31st, 2008 @ 4:24pm, said:

This is basically true. A close reading of the Richmond allignment fight shows that as time went on, METRO realized that Culberson was losing the fight. Recall that he tried to damn the entire line. He failed. 80 percent of the line went exactly where everyone wanted it to go. Only the last section moved, and that is not a bad thing. It actually now runs through an area that can be in-filled when economic conditions warrant it. For all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the current allignment is not bad, and Culberson's desire to get rid of it altogether was thwarted.

I think Musicman was referring to the eastern segment, through the 3rd Ward, which was the most recent change to the route.

[lockmat]

1. Did anyone go to this or know what the outcome was?
2. What's the update for groundbreaking/financing on this and the rest of the lines? I know it's been rehashed a million times that some are being financed by COH and the others partially by the Fed Govt., but what's the status on that? I wonder of Obama's job creation plan will affect our lines?

1.
Public Hearing on University Corridor Eastern Segment
Thursday, November 6, 2008

METRO is conducting an Open House and Public Hearing to receive comments on changes to the eastern segment of the University Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative. This is your opportunity to submit questions on the modifications to the eastern segment of the alignment.

What: Open House and Public Hearing
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Time: Open House, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing, 6:30 p.m.
Location: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
Address: 3826 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004

This post has been edited by lockmat: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 8:44 PM

[musicman]

lockmat, on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 @ 7:43pm, said:

1. Did anyone go to this or know what the outcome was?
2. What's the update for groundbreaking/financing on this and the rest of the lines? I know it's been rehashed a million times that some are being financed by COH and the others partially by the Fed Govt., but what's the status on that? I wonder of Obama's job creation plan will affect our lines?

no groundbreaking on richmond line til financing figured out. meanwhile, metro dug themselves another hole by signing a long term gas contract which locked prices for them. now that prices have dropped they are paying more than they have to.

[N Judah]

Obama should redirect some funding our way as an economic stimulus. We already have our plans ready and just need funding. This is a good bet since our economy isn't hurting as bad as some other cities. Why risk it on a city that is more corrupt and doesn't have its stuff together?

A few billion is an absolute pittance compared to what they are giving to help people whose homes are being foreclosed. Why not reward the city that actually did the whole "housing" thing correctly?

Edit: In fact, we could probably have the best *real* subway line in the world for $15 billion or so. I bet it could be on time and under budget.

This post has been edited by N Judah: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 11:00 PM

[musicman]

N Judah, on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 @ 9:58pm, said:

I bet it could be on time and under budget.

where do i sign up for this bet?

[N Judah]

You already have -- with your tax dollars!

[lockmat]

I debated whether to put this in the UH Development thread or here.

Of course this is just a proposal, but never the less, maybe something like this will come to fruition.






http://www.sppre.com...eets/TOD_UH.pdf

[kylejack]

Highway6, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 12:32pm, said:

What are they thinking exactly here ?

How can you have future proposed line where another line is already existing?
Why does it turn south.. is that temporary or even when the full yellow line is built out, it's going to have an odd back track to it ?
If that is the shared station, how come it's not on the just recently put out modified map ?

again.. if two lines share 1/4 mile of track, why wouldnt you have a station somewhere along that shared stretch ? ...instead of 3 stations on 2 lines all within a quarter mile of each other

If you put a station along the shared stretch it impedes trains coming through from the other line.

[Trae]

It's not like shared stations haven't been done before.

[timedrifter]

Highway6, on Friday, July 25th, 2008 @ 11:32am, said:

What are they thinking exactly here ?

How can you have future proposed line where another line is already existing?
Why does it turn south.. is that temporary or even when the full yellow line is built out, it's going to have an odd back track to it ?
If that is the shared station, how come it's not on the just recently put out modified map ?

again.. if two lines share 1/4 mile of track, why wouldnt you have a station somewhere along that shared stretch ? ...instead of 3 stations on 2 lines all within a quarter mile of each other

If I remember right, the Elgin Station on the Southeast line has now been moved to Holman so both lines could eventually have access to it. This location also fits in better with UH's campus master plan.

[ricco67]

Well, an interesting rumor by someone who "claims" that Ted Poe pretty much shut down the project because (paraphrasing) "The route has changed so much over the past couple of years, that it no longer resembled what was voted on in the referendum."

I pretty much smirked when he commented and asked him to clarify his source but he wouldn't budge, even after a couple of whiskeys.
Call it BS, but I thought it was worth noting in case someone else can verify the claims.

[sidegate]

I really hoped I wouldn't be writing this in 2009 but.....when are they planning to break ground on this line? I can find little information on the Metro site and what little I can dig up around the web refers to the still-outstanding issue of federal funds. Would this qualify as a public works project for the Obama adminstration?

This post has been edited by sidegate: Monday, January 19, 2009 at 9:26 PM

[musicman]

sidegate, on Monday, January 19th, 2009 @ 8:26pm, said:

I really hoped I wouldn't be writing this in 2009 but.....when are they planning to break ground on this line? I can find little information on the Metro site and what little I can dig up around the web refers to the still-outstanding issue of federal funds.

for this line they are dependent on federal funds, so i would doubt groundbreaking would happen until a means of funding is found.

[TheNiche]

sidegate, on Monday, January 19th, 2009 @ 8:26pm, said:

I really hoped I wouldn't be writing this in 2009 but.....when are they planning to break ground on this line? I can find little information on the Metro site and what little I can dig up around the web refers to the still-outstanding issue of federal funds. Would this qualify as a public works project for the Obama adminstration?

METRO is poorly managed. They hedged their fuel prices when fuel prices were high; their financial status is not good and the results are manifested by construction delays. METRO officials (and some other poorly-run transit agencies) are hoping for Federal intervention but it is unclear that they will receive it. Their situation is their own fault after all.

If you live in a municipality that participates in METRO, write your local officials. Ask for dramatic reforms and the replacement of officials. Whether someone is for or against light rail is irrelevant; we need competent leadership.

[lockmat]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/hei...ws/6224829.html

The Metropolitan Transit Authority will host two public meetings to discuss ideas for artwork for the University Corridor light-rail stations.
A workshop to discuss the Almeda, Hutchins, TSU, Tierwester, Scott, UH and Eastwood Transit Center stations will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 3826 Wheeler Avenue.
A workshop to discuss the Hillcroft Transit Center, Gulfton, Bellaire, Newcastle, Weslayan, Cummins, Edloe, Kirby, Shepherd, Menil, Montrose and Wheeler stations will be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd.
The public is encouraged to attend.
For more information, visit www.metrosolutions.org.

[RedScare]

TheNiche, on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 @ 12:05am, said:

METRO is poorly managed. They hedged their fuel prices when fuel prices were high; their financial status is not good and the results are manifested by construction delays. METRO officials (and some other poorly-run transit agencies) are hoping for Federal intervention but it is unclear that they will receive it. Their situation is their own fault after all.

Name a private industry that this does not apply to.

[TheNiche]

RedScare, on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 @ 8:20pm, said:

Name a private industry that this does not apply to.

Well, let's start with Energy. Some firms hedged commodity prices deeply, others almost not at all. And they all engaged in their hedges at varying times over the last several years, resulting in dramatically different outcomes even among those companies that did hedge heavily.

Now I'll ask you a question: how is your question in any way applicable to my point?

[RedScare]

TheNiche, on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 @ 10:09pm, said:

Well, let's start with Energy. Some firms hedged commodity prices deeply, others almost not at all. And they all engaged in their hedges at varying times over the last several years, resulting in dramatically different outcomes even among those companies that did hedge heavily.

You mean like Continental Airlines?

[TexasVines]

I like it when you two argue with yourself

metro is an example of poor government in action they need to figure out a route and go with it....if people wanted the opinion of every idiot that can waddle their big but into a public hearing on an issue then they would have elected that idiot and not another....with all these public hearings why even have anyone in charge and elected just have hearings forever until nothing gets done.....that is how dallas does a lot of things

[TheNiche]

RedScare, on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 @ 10:58pm, said:

You mean like Continental Airlines?

Please explain how Continental Airlines' crappy hedging is pertinent to a debate about METRO.