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DNAguy

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  1. DNAguy
    I think the difference between all of your profitable examples and TCR is that none of the profitable rail companies had to finance any of the initial rail system. I believe all the private rail started at one time as part of the government. I'm a supporter of the project, but there is legitimate concern due to the fact that this would be the first in the world (at least I think) to be privately financed, privately run, and it turned a profit. That being said, none of the opposition articulates this / knows what the hell they're talking about (most of them at least). It's all NIMBY, xenophobia, and anti-government Fox News talking points.
  2. DNAguy
  3. DNAguy
    Amegy thread bringing out the snark! Snark on posters. Snark on.
  4. DNAguy
    Don't let Metro off the hook for their responsibility in this. They shouldn't have let it get to this point. They are a poorly run, corrupt institution that until the recent bus plan sat idly by while public transportation in Houston went to pot. Then the rail took over their focus and they fulfilled the prophecy of their detractors. What did they do from 1980 to 2000? I understand their hands were tied w/ the whole % of sales tax revenue going back to roads but seriously guys.... WTF? If they could have pointed to successful bus lines that needed to be converted to rail and showed a track record of innovation and competence, then maybe we have a better and more robust system now. They have been a sick man who refuses to die for a long time. It's to all our detriment but its true. They need to be scrapped. The leader of a new METRO needs to be elected and accountable. The status quo doesn't work.
  5. DNAguy
    I don't know if anyone wants a dual signed 59/45. The idea would be to have them separated but along the same alignment. 59 trenched while 45 is elevated or something like that.
  6. DNAguy
    What about if you made the loop go farther east by UH and then through Eado? Then you could route it a little north of DT as well? Here's my grand plan: Have a circulator line. This would have stops that transfer to existing and future light rail lines. Have a Sugar land to Downtown line that has a connection to the redline south of 610 and downtown near the Metro HQ. It would also have a connection to the University line and a stop on the east side of the med center. After the Grocer's supply center, the rail would use the median of 288 (the toll-road doesn't go that far I believe) and the ROW that will be abandoned when 45 is routed east of DT and along 59 (fingers crossed). This Med center to DT section can be built later. The east Med center station can even be incorporated into the 288 tollway and its direct connectors as well if designed w/ some sort of large parking element. Possibly have a Sugar land to Northwest transit center line. It would incorporate the west side of the circulator as well. Stops at Braeswood / Beechnut. Xfer to the University / Post Oak Lightrail at Westpark. A stop at Highland Villiage / River Oaks District. And a stop in Memorial Park. This would eventually be a backbone for the spokes out to the other suburbs.
  7. DNAguy
    Houston will never be a two hub city with its proximity to Dallas. As Texas grows and with the prospect of a Dallas to Houston bullet train, the economies of the two will become more and more intertwined. Eventually the two airports will have to be connected by high speed trains that could be incorporated w/ flights. Houston is already (well is about to be) a one and a half hub city in that SWA is going to fly internationally out of Hobby. That will funnel SWA flyers through Houston on to international destinations. It's as close to a traditional hub set-up within SWA's no hub framework.
  8. DNAguy
    http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Wall-Bus-lane-project-will-ruin-our-Rodeo-Drive-6107583.php
  9. DNAguy
    The only thing the Houston office of TxDOT has in foresight is to look at an existing road and think "I bet I can add a couple more lanes to that." What you're asking is a heavy lift. I have zero confidence that this project is anything other than rebuilding the Pierce elevated w/ more lanes. It's so sad b/c this could be an amazing catalyst for Houston. I mean, I can't state just how amazing it would be to Midtown / 4th Ward / Downtown if we were to get rid of the Pierce. This would IMO spark the call for a redesign of 59 to the 59/45/288 interchange as well as a call for that interchange to be redesigned. But alas, TxDOT is TxDOT and we're going to get a really crappy recommendation unless politicians get involved. What city council person has downtown in their district?
  10. DNAguy
    I called the Representative's office to voice my concern that he is targeting private business and creating a situation where government is unfairly burdening the private sector and encouraging one form of travel over another. I used words like 'crony capitalism' and 'government regulations' to try and speak his language. From what I gather, its a matter of him opposing the project in any form as he says it only benefits a few while hurting many. His rep even used a pipeline as an example of public good and this project as not affecting the public / hurting the public good. It's mental gymnastics, but it is what the office believes. Here's his office #: (512) 463-0726
  11. DNAguy
    http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/25/lawmaker-files-bill-could-stop-proposed-bullet-tra/ Remember two things people: HB1889 Will Metcalf Here's the facebook post: Today, I filed House Bill 1889. This bill will require county approval for the use of eminent domain for electric railways. Numerous county officials have come out in opposition to the Texas Central Railway and their use of eminent domain. This bill would help give more local control and would let individual counties decide what is best for them. Although this may not be the ultimate solution, I believe it is a good first step. I am currently working on filing more legislation regarding this issue. If you would like to learn more about HB 1889 please visit www.legis.state.tx.us
  12. DNAguy
    The municipal courts would also be closer to Metro Rail and the Metro headquarters which would mean that it would be far, far more accessible to those w/out automobiles. That's a huge plus IMHO.
  13. DNAguy
    Hardy green = future San Jacinto bridge/ Fulton connection. Nice try though developer. Iteresting transpo kindlings that would affect this site: 1.) [Mentioned above] San Jac connection to Fulton st. 2.) TCR (high speed rail) connection to downtown 3.) I45 study - Either I45 expansion.... or realignment to I10 and 59/69..... which would probably lead to relocation of I10 slighly north of UH downtown and just south of the HArdy yards.
  14. DNAguy
    Here's the article:
  15. DNAguy
    IDK. Gives me a terribly Zuul-like vibe here.....
  16. DNAguy
    There you go w/ "facts" and the "truth" (other than the implying the fact that eminent domain can only be used by the government. See Kelo vs. City of New London. Even the state law that's supposed to limit eminent domain does little to actually curb its use. There's truck sized loop holes in that bad boy.) Believe me, the opposition to this rail has nothing to do w/ the truth. It never has. Fear, stupidity, and myopia are what fuel the opposition here.
  17. DNAguy
    City Centre is such a great success story that I can only hope is replicated many times over in Houston. If I have one knock, it's that Bendwood Park is completely isolated from City Centre. I guess it can be rectified in the future, but that would require Creme de la Creme to move and the elementary school to give up some of its land. In addition, I imagine the neighborhood would resist this as it would effectively end their exclusive hold on the park. The fact is, that patch of fake green space isn't enough to support the growth of this development for long.
  18. DNAguy
    My 2ยข: The politicians and developers (not mutually exclusive) want the rail line through Montgomery county for the purposes highlighted in previous posts: Development $'s and a stop which would lead to more $'s. However, they can't come out and just say that b/c a) you don't want the base to realize that the ppl in charge are just a bunch of rich fat cats and not the down home conservative crusader they try to convey and it would cost more $ to do this.... and this is a private organization. That would mean the government is forcing a private company to spend more $. This is unpalatable to conservative dogma / base voters as they rail against unneeded regulations and the burden gov places on business all the time. What to do...... Ah yes! Because a federal approval must be given, the project is labeled 'government' (doesn't matter if true or not... just call it government). Now that this has the stink of government, fire up the base by highlighting the simple farmer who will have this land 'taken' from him. Now that we have a winning cocktail of the big bad government taking away private land from simple farm folks, use this as leverage to get the private company to do your bidding w/out voters realizing what you're doing. Then when the line is moved to where you want, highlight that this is a private project that won't get any gov $ and talk about how great the free market is. Don't bring up eminent domain again. Boom. That's how you do politics in a one party system like we have here in Texas.... oh yeah, somewhere you also get the TCR to give you campaign $. I forgot that part. I think you do that as the one last step b/f you go out and stump for the rail line.
  19. DNAguy
    So how does the development jive w/ COH's idea to extend San Jac up to Fulton?
  20. DNAguy
    I always thought that stretch would be a perfect candidate for an elevated bike & walkway (a la the Highline) above the esplanades / middle of memorial dr connecting Memorial and Buffalo Bayou park. Of course, you'd avoid the industrial look of the Highline and try to make it blend / make it look like a continuation of the parks.... but you get my idea. The parts of memorial from Detering to Shepphard without esplanades could possibly have an ivy covered wall separating the east and westbound traffic that supports the raised bikeway/walkway. IDK the cost, but it would be pretty figgin' awesome.
  21. DNAguy
    I'd find this guy a lot more credible if he was fighting Kinder Morgan or a similar company as well. If pipeline companies can use eminent domain to build their privately held assets which remain in private hands, then I don't see why a rail company can..... Not that I agree with the idea of private companies necessarily using government power for their own benefit at the expense of private land holder rights. This is something that can be argued both ways and doesn't lend itself to platitudes that probably got this guy elected...."No new taxes" "Smaller Government" "Obama" Though, this guy shows his 'butt' when it says in the article that he's a real estate developer. I mean, he wants a stop in the woodlands and he's using 'eminent domain' as a drummed up controversy that gets the base all jazzed up. Politics baby.
  22. DNAguy
    antoniobanderas.gif
  23. DNAguy
    What if we just pave ALL 21 acres for parking? It would be the suburbiaist suburban develop to ever suburban! I mean, do you really even need a store?!
  24. DNAguy
    What happened to this thread..?...
  25. DNAguy
    God that suburban-concept Wells Fargo is so out of place.
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