713 To 214

any more news about this?

When I lived up there, I had a car and it was great. I rarely took the trains as they were grossly inconvenient.

Oh, really? Where exactly do you live? I have a place in Brooklyn, near Prospect Park, and I keep my Jeep parked as much as possible because it's such a pain to drive and park. Not to mention having to move it to the other side of the street twice a week. It's fun to drive on Sunday through Brooklyn. However, I try not to go into the city if I can help it, and especially not to the office during the weekdays. The Q, N, R, 1, 2, or 3 trains suit me just fine. . .eight minute walk to Prospect Park Station, then in about 15 minutes I'm at Canal Street.

HPD has been corrupt for a very long time. We just live in an age of technology which makes it much easier to expose the corruption.

I really wish UH and the Dyanmo would have worked together to make Robertson Stadium work. It would be a win-win for everyone

What?. . .and pass up a golden opportunity to build yet another sports stadium in Houston. How dare you think such a thing. Are you trying to destroy Houston's professional sports stadium reputation?

why are there parking lots at bars?

because they're not supposed to give you an alcoholic drink "to go." AND it's not illegal to drive after drinking. It's illegal to drive with "an open container of alcohol" in your immediate reach, or while intoxicated (See definition below).

Texas Penal Code, Chapter 49 - Intoxication and Alcoholic Beverage Offenses

Texas Penal Code,

Even though I disagree with just about everything she does for her boss, I have a crush on Condi Rice. (I feel better now)

. . .It sounds like you just want someone to share a special handshake with.

I'm looking for information regarding an old motel back in the 1950s that was in the Texas Medical Center called La Louisiane Tourist Courts located at 7025 South Main St.

Does anyone recall this place? I wonder if there are any photographs of the building? Maybe there are postcards or matches?  Is anyone old enough to have stayed here? 

Thanks in advance!

Good game by the Texans. Even though they lost, they appear to be moving closer to respectability. The Titans are just a good team. . .even without Vince Young (oops! can I say that name around here?). AND good teams always find a way to win. Great comeback, though, for the Texans.

If you don't mind my asking, 713 To 214, how do you suggest that "critical thinkers tackle the real issues of the day that face this city" in the context of HAIF? And don't you think that perhaps those people that you describe as selling something, trying to prove a point, or hell-bent on winning an argument might be doing so on the convictions of the ideas that they've arrived at through critical thinking?

IMHO, for what it may be worth, I think that in order to be a critical thinker you have to be critical. and in order to do that, generally, I think one would ask hard questions, then identify problems where they exist, instead of trying to convince him/herself that those problems are non-issues. Take a reasonable approach towards analyzing the issue(s), which encompasses all viewpoints, and opinions, not just the viewpoints that fall in line with his/her way of thinking. AND most importantly, bring research, empirical, and statistical data into the debate instead of just stating opinions, so that educated conclusions can be drawn and decisions can be made.

BTW, thanks to all who have posted responses to my question.

I understand that this forum is rooted in architecture. However, I've also watched HAIF grow into something far broader than its architectural origins, and I think it could actually be a vehicle for positive change in the city. There should be no doubt that many in the Houston area visit this site, including publishers (news organizations) who obtain their stories from the few sensible discussions initiated here.

While I think there are many things that Houston does well, there are many more things that I think it could improve on. However, the city will never improve on those things because, and as long as, people here continue to feed the inferiority complex that is so pervasive throughout the city AND exemplified on this message, day in and day out. IMHO, What this message board needs is more critical thinkers, who are ready, willing, and able to tackle the real issues of the day that face this city. HAIF could be so much more if there weren't so many jack asses, people selling something, people trying to prove a point, people hell bent on "winning" an argument, people who like to read what they type, juvenile-minded individuals who start silly threads asking silly, repetitive questions, and individuals who think Houston can do no wrong. I've been a member here for about 2 and 1/2 years, and I got to say that the level of discourse has actually gotten worse over time. I have to ask you all a real question. . . . regardless of how you might choose to retaliate. . .what does HAIF mean to you?

Austin has a W before us? Damn.

...and what does that say about "us," in your opinion? (This should be good)

As with every city, some of both, although if you look at Dr. Klineberg's Houston Area Survey polling data, 78% say Houston is a better place to live than most metros, and only 2.5% think poorly of it - so we're doing pretty well.

Is this the same study?

http://houstonareasurvey.org/

I just want to be sure as look at it in more detail.

Relatively fewer cities reach that level that are broadly diversified, like Dallas and Atlanta. Why would that be the case? Generally, as cities grow, the problems of growth get more and more overwhelming, like traffic, schools, infrastructure, taxes, and expensive housing. In cluster cities, employees and companies put up with it because they "have to be" where the action is in their industry.

That's an interesting point you've made. So, do you think that most people who live in Houston do so because they truly want to, or out of necessity because "they have to be where the action is" in Houston's highly specialized industries?

Why are you trying to compare MT Houston to UT Dallas? Why don't you try to compare UT Houston to UT Dallas?

probably because the two are similar in regards to their geographical proximity to the respective DT areas.

713/214,

You may still be misunderstanding my question. I was asking why DART line would be full at 21,000 daily ridership, whereas METRO's line can accomodate twice that. Having ridden both, the actual trainsets do not appear to be much different capacitywise.

Nevermind, answered my own question. The Red Line runs from as often as every 4 minutes to as little as every 33 minutes. It only runs at 5 or 6 minute intervals for 90 minutes or so during rush hour. In comparison, METRO runs every 6 minutes for 15 hours daily. It slacks off to 12 to 18 minutes after 7:30 pm. It also runs an hour and a half longer. Therefore, with more trains running more often and longer, it has more capacity overall.

I did misunderstand. Thanks for clearing that up.

My post

I notice that you have a penchant for putting words in others' quotes in an effort to prove your point(s). Please resist the urge to do so with me.

Your Response

I never stated that you made the comment. The article did. I understand that you may think that all of my responses to you are meant to be antagonistic, but in this case, I was merely asking if you knew why the trains are full. I suspect it is because they do not run as often as METRO does (every 6 minutes), which would reduce line capacity, but I do not know for sure.

Sorry that it sounded like an attack.

You just did it again. 1st of all, I rarely communicate in absolutes like "all," "every," "never," or "always." 2nd of all, I didn't accuse you of attacking me (because I didn't feel attacked). I just stated what I've noticed about some of your posts, which is that, IMHO, you tend to misquote words that are in others' posts in an effort to drive home a point your posts. It was as simple as that, and as an attorney you should understand the power of words, and with that understanding the realization that one word changed or taken out of context can change the entire meaning of a statement. I choose my words carefully. Therefore, I take particular notice when someone mis-quotes me.

As for the ridership numbers between the two lines, I would think that it has something to do with a fact that you've pointed out on several occasions in other threads about Houston's starter line. METRO has diverted much of its bus traffic to its Red line, including bus traffic that is intentionally diverted around/away from DT Houston and the Medical Center, even though those oldbus routes might have been more time efficient. AND whether one wants to see it as artificially inflating the line's ridership numbers or METRO smartly meshing its bus and rail components, one cannot doubt that many of those passengers (probably upwards of 40%) wouldn't be riding the rail but for these bus re-routes. Now, while there are some people who transfer to DART's Red line via bus, the vast majority of these people (probably upwards of 85% IMO), as pointed out in the article are driving to the park and ride lots at the stations from their nearby neighborhoods. I don't know definitively whether this distinction plays a role in the reported difference in ridership numbers between METRO's entire Red line and the 8 mile segment of DART's Red line focused on in the Dallas Morning News article posted above. However, I suspect that the distinction does tell us something.

You have grossly misrepresented my position and line of thought.

While I'm not a fan of the idea of a stand-alone 'starter line' (especially one financed with 100% local funds), I'm also not a fan of commuter or light rail to the suburbs or the airports. METRO does an exceptionally good job with its Park & Ride services.

I'm used to dealing with people like you. I deal with you all on an every day basis. You're very enthusiastic about telling us why/how things shouldn't be done. However, you're afraid to submit your own suggestions out of fear that someone else will summarily shoot down your idea(s) in similar fashion. So, what I'd like to know is, how would you build METRO's rail system if you had the opportunity to design and control its build out, hypothetically speaking, of course. Money should not be considered as an option in this hypothetical. I just want to know your thoughts on how the most "efficient" rail system should be built for Houstonians.

Note to 713/214: How is DART "full" at 21,000 per day on its 8 mile line, while METRO's 8 mile line carries twice that? Is the frequency of runs that much less?

Come on counselor. You used the word "full" I never stated that. I merely posted a recent article that contradicted a statement made by another poster. I notice that you have a penchant for putting words in others' quotes in an effort to prove your point(s). Please resist the urge to do so with me.

Why are people all or nothing?

The Niche is all or nothing because he believes that we should "either [build] very efficient light rail or none at all," or it's not worth the investment. He believes this even though NO OTHER TRANSIT AGENCY in THE WORLD has ever built its system all at once. In essence, "The Pedant" believes that unless METRO can build rail to the Woodlands, Katy, Sugarland, Midtown, Uptown, the Museum District, U of H, TSU, Rice, Spring, Baytown, Kemah, NASA and Galveston, including all major business and entertainment destinations in between, plus all three airports. . .and build it all within three years, with federal government support, it just doesn't merit (oh how did he put it. . .it was so eloquent) "merit [the outlay] of hundreds of millions of dollars." Pedant, I submit that you're the one who needs a dose of reality.

I don't know how DART does it. It even has pathetic ridership numbers but they still get billions to expand their lines....

Your information about DART's "pathetic ridership numbers" is incorrect.

________________________________________________________________

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ne.2de8b3f.html

DART's Red Line trains popular with the masses

Agency addressing 8-mile stretch that's short on room

10:43 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 3, 2007

By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News

tkim@dallasnews.com

RICHARDSON

But I'm not complaining....just rambling.

As usual!

Since you're so excited about the park, I think you should apply for a job at the snack bar/restaurant that will be located there. I'm sure they'll be happy to have someone with your energy/enthusiasm down there contributing to making DG an ongoing "hit."

We'd always hit Zoobar and the Whiskey Place next door. I am sure those are long gone. But my fave was the Balcony Club in Lakewood.

ZuBar and the Whisky Bar are still there. I think the Balcony Club is still at the top of the Lakewood theater, too. It's always been one of my favorites.

You guys just want to argue, and are so caught up in "winning" an argument that you're starting to look silly. Reasonable people can understand what I mean. But hey, if you'd like to continue splitting hairs in an effort to prove your point, let me save you some energy. . .