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illusionescape

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Everything posted by illusionescape

  1. I thought we were supposed to be getting snazzy train-lookalike buses like these...
  2. Looks like there are plans in the works for a 3-mile extension of Spur 5 from its existing terminus just south of UH campus. Extension would take it past I-610 down to Bellfort. Project includes 4 direct connectors between I-610 & Spur 5. Work wouldn’t start until 2025. Route won’t be redesignated as SH 35 until future extensions take it past the Beltway. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Long-sought-Alvin-Freeway-could-start-with-Spur-5-13656687.php
  3. I thought the bus lanes were supposed to feature a strip of grass down the center. Metro’s website shows the renderings/schematics with grass. They even refer to it as a “green guideway”. The photo above looks like it’s solid concrete. https://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/UptownBRT.aspx
  4. Metro is about to award the $30m contract for the Hughes overpass to McCarthy. The company is being given 18 months to build it with incentives to finish earlier. At some point, Harrisburg (from Caylor to 66th) will need to be closed for 4 months. Traffic will be routed to Navigation. http://blog.chron.com/thehighwayman/2015/01/harrisburg-overpass-construction-pending-along-with-painful-closures/?cmpid=houmhcat
  5. I read somewhere that this line won't have priority at intersections within downtown. That's gonna suck.
  6. Board recommended overpass design with rail and one lane of vehicular traffic. Other vehicular lane will be at grade. METRO will negotiate with city council to aide with financials for this design. If by summer nothing has come to fruition, then METRO will proceed with overpass design with only rail (2 vehicular lanes at grade).
  7. No plans for separate trains running on the east portion according to the Green Line office representative I spoke to. The rails and stations will sit there unused until the bridge is completed.
  8. Board to approve revised overpass plan on Thursday... http://blog.chron.com/thehighwayman/2014/05/east-ends-over-under-debate-likely-to-end-thursday/?cmpid=houmhcat
  9. I think to appease the East End residents & business owners, the design will be modified to only allow for the train lines to travel on the overpass. The vehicular traffic will remain at grade.
  10. So since the Hughes Underpass won't be ready when the rest of the line completes construction next year, what is the plan? Run the light rail service all the way to the Altic/Howard Highes Station, then transfer all the passengers to bus to continue on down Harrisburg to the Magnolia Park Transit Center? Or something else?
  11. Nice find! The PDF says all of 2013 is for final design phase. Looks like construction will take 2 years (2014-15).
  12. As far as I'm concerned, I-10 is the Katy Freeway from downtown all the way to California.
  13. I've obtained the Buffalo Bayou East End Trails project status map as of January 2008, which is more current than the one on their website... http://www.zshare.net/download/571545249aef1554/
  14. I think it is supposed to be converted into an Ashley Furniture, if I'm not mistaken.
  15. Will the sidewalks upgrade be done at the same time as the light rail construction? Or is it another one of those "long term projects"?
  16. I have seen a lot of activity at the warehouse on the north side of the Dowling-Polk intersection. They have replaced all of the windows and the upper level has been given a new stucco exterior finish with green-toned paint. Looks like it could be highrise lofts or something like that. Anyone know for sure?
  17. Does anyone know if METRO plans to improve sidewalks in the general vicinity (~5-10 minute walk) of each METRORail station to help feed pedestrian traffic and those living/working near each station? I will be able to use the Bastrop Station once the line is up and running, but the sidewalk route for me to the station is horrible. Many areas don't even have sidewalks.
  18. Hey kylejack, where is this bike path that you're talking about? Looks nice from the photos. It actually runs on Commerce? Or is it on Harrisburg? I can't tell from the website description.
  19. The only work done so far has been utility work. So there is not really much to see. I drive down Harrisburg almost daily and all there is too see is some big orange drums on the side of the road, a few segments of new asphalt, and a big display sign reading "Rail construction ahead". The actual construction of the line (repaving road, laying tracks, adding stations, etc) hasn't started because they have yet to sign the contract with Parsons.
  20. There is a freight rail line that runs down the center of Commerce Street between St. Charles Street and Palmer Street. Does it even get used anymore? I don't think so. But it is an annoyance driving down the street since it creates a very uneven roadway for drivers. There is a lot of development on this street with the Tricon Home development and the Urban Lofts Development. Anyone know if the East End plans on removing the tracks?
  21. METRO had planned to pay out of pocket for the East End and Uptown lines. However, since the Uptown line cannot function without the University line, which is government funded, construction on the line cannot be started. The East End line ties in directly with the existing system ("Red Line"), so that is one reason why construction on the line has already started. If government funding for the other lines somehow falls through, the East End line will function properly.
  22. I pass the Bells & Whistles restaurant everyday on my home from work. It's across the street from Vic & Anthony Steakhouse. And it looks like a somewhat new building from the outside, but I've never seen people eating there. Did this place go out of business already?
  23. Has anyone visited the METRO Solutions office in the Las Palmas shopping center on Harrisburg? I haven't been but I was wondering if there was any good info there about the route (i.e., info that's not provided on METRO's website).
  24. I think METRO picked the best possible east-west route in the East End. I've traveled down other routes like Navigation and Canal and they just don't have the potential that Harrisburg does. There is a new CVS Pharmacy going up on Harrisburg, plus there is quite a bit of restaurants/shopping near the Magnolia Transit Center already. Also, there are two new shopping centers with Las Palmas and the one with the AutoZone. In a way, the METRO line will tie in with another mode of transportation... international bus lines. There are two bus stations near the end of the line that provide bus trips to Mexico.
  25. Since I live very close to the beginning of the East End Line, I decided to take a drive down the entire route and film it to give those who live outside the area an idea of the line. It starts near the Lofts at the Ballpark, which is where the Bastrop Station will be located. For those who want to see what construction has taken place, you will see big orange drums in the middle of the video. That's the location of the construction so far. Also, I passed the Las Palmas Shopping Center, which is where the METRO Solutions office is for the East End Line. I finish the video at the Magnolia Transit Center Station. I uploaded the video to YouTube. Check it out here...
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