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Certainly understand that line of thought. I guess the infrastructure is more of a concern than the actual rail is. If this we're a metro rail line coming through I'd probably be one of the happiest people, but having another train just cruise by on a huge concrete bridge really doesn't do much for the areas below.

I guess we will just keep waiting to see the final alignment.

Yeah my bad, didn't mean to sound accusatory, I dislike those tracks as much as anyone else who has to drive over them, I just don't see the property value issue as being something that can legitimately dissuade TCR or the established rail companies from removing them. Which is unfortunate because they suck and I hate them. 

All well and good.  I just find it hard to believe that  a structure the size of a freeway overpass would not have a negative impact on home value.  Most new homes are 3 stories tall and an elevated rail line would still tower over those to allow clearance for the underlying freight trains.  I also don't see any certain sign that it would induce further development along the corridor considering the HSR would not even stop along the way. 

I have a love/hate relationship with the UPRR right of way, on one hand i think it allows for easy expansion of a usable metrorail route or bike trail and lends something to the urban nature of the area.  On the other hand it creates a collecting place for trash, stops traffic far too often, and of course can be noisy. 

The bike path that they created through the heights on a old rail right of way would be pretty nice, but i still think a commuter line would net the best value add to the city and area. Perhaps below grade with street overpasses, pipe dreams....

That's what I'm saying, how are we supposed to know the changes it brings on property value? Unless we look at other HSR cases...and those are all international.

Fair enough, then it is my opinion that it would negatively impact the area.    

Relative to the potential I-10 alignment, i know they plan to replace the Yale bridge just south of I-10 in 2016, hopefully that work would take an HSR alignment into consideration if that does end up being a real possibility.

If you wanna go cheap, yeah.

If they have the money they will go downtown, might as well connect to another employment center.

I recall during a TRC meeting they expected a good bulk of their ridership to have destinations in the Galleria and Energy Corridor. A terminus at NW Mall would provide more flexibility to transfer riders to any of the 3 most likely destinations.

I mean, there's absolutely no way of knowing if it adds nothing just as there's no way of knowing that it takes it away. That's all purely your opinion at this point, with no information or research that says otherwise. I understand the frustration, but at some point, residents of this area along the Washington corridor cannot keep clamoring for a "quiet and peaceful" neighborhood that is so close to downtown, and is only continuing to become more developed and "urbanized" for a lack of a better term.

It's easy to say it won't add value and will negate it, but it's just as easy to say the opposite. How can you back up that claim though?

Under the assumption there is just an added HSR track it will only pass through the area, and not directly service the neighborhoods it will bisect. Now if it allows expansion of local commuter transit then I believe there would be added value.

Id be interested to hear the perspective on how it would be a positive impact on the Wash Ave corridor. Also under the assumption the freight rail stays and it's just an HSR track.

Agreed, but I think it still needs to connect to the metro system, and not the buses...

Unless there is an express bus to downtown or the energy corridor.

There is no chance the HSR would fit at grade level and include the freight line. The HSR needs at least 50' on each side (plus the clearance for the freight line). We spoke with the president of the TRC and he noted that they already realized an elevated rail would be required.

As a resident of the affected area there is zero value added with HSR coming through and it only negatively affects the area(Assuming an elevated solution and not in lieu of freight)

Going down the train parallel to Washington wouldn't work; too many NIMBY'S that would delicate flower and whine

I'd fall into those NIMBY's and would be all for it if it were in lieu of the freight line or if it were reasonable to put it below grade.  Since UPRR has no intention of giving up their ROW the HSR would need to go over the freight lines where trains are often stacked two cars high.  The structure would essentially look like putting the I-10 over passes through the middle of the Washington ave neighborhood.  

FWIW I am all for more rail transit in Houston. In a perfect world the freight line would relocate outside the city and then the HSR and commuter trains would share that right of way. 

What was the purpose of the webinar? Any additional details about the current state? I know the environmental study findings are due soon.