urban909

Houston (June 19, 2014) - Houston City Council members unanimously approved a funding and phasing plan that lays out the path for a new international terminal building at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The new facility would replace the existing Mickey Leland International Terminal Building (Terminal D) and would be constructed in the same location as the existing structure.

“Houston is firmly established as a key player on the global market stage and we need an international terminal building that adequately reflects that standing,” says Houston Mayor Annise Parker. “International travel is vital to both our economic health and our quality of life. We’ve been remarkably successful in attracting new international air service to Houston and now it’s time to address the infrastructure needs at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.”

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) passed by Houston City Council members on June 18, 2014 accomplishes two key goals in the drive to move forward with a new Terminal D. The MOA secures support from United Airlines in working through the logistical phasing issues inherent with a project of this scope and size, and it also enhances an existing funding mechanism used by the Houston Airport System (HAS) in securing the necessary dollars for infrastructure improvement projects.

http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3921916/0/83280/

[\quote] It is my understanding that the bill still needs to be approved by the senate and the president so hopefully there will be an ability to change the language.

Don't forget that if the language changes in the Senate, the bill moves back to the House to get reconciled.

Good point...perhaps I should have said that it would/might create some sort of dialogue.

http://www.houstontomorrow.org/commentary/story/ted-poe/

"Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce an amendment to strike section 165 from the underlying bill. Section 165 states that no funds in this or any other act may be available for light or heavy rail projects in Houston, Texas if the route goes through Richmond or down Post Oak Boulevard. This language is contrary to the will of the voters of Harris County Texas and should not be included in this Federal Government appropriations bill."

I am posting via my phone so I wasn't able to put that in the proper qoutation format. Anyways, that was spoken on the floor by Ted Poe today. It is my understanding that the bill still needs to be approved by the senate and the president so hopefully there will be an ability to change the language.

IAH never had a nonstop flight to Taipei. China Air had a horrible flight to Taipei but it stopped in Anchorage for freight pickup. It was basically a freight carrier with add seats for some passengers. The hours of the flight were horrible and the wait in Anchorage was very long. It was doomed to be a failure from the get go. Thankfully, EVA might solve this problem.

IAH's problem is a lack of wide-body room. If only they thought big like Dallas does re DFW or as HOUSTON DOES ABOUT ITS PORT, we would have a truly world-class Airport with more International flights from domestic or International carriers not to speak of room for 3-4 380s.

Actually the flight stopped in Seattle not Anchorage.

As far as lack of wide-body room:

www.fly2houston.com/TerminalD

^^ I think that that may be on the Houston First Site.

Here's the link:

http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2012-01-24/111212-GRBCC-2025_Master_Plan.pdf

The city of Houston has withdrawn from bidding on the downtown post office, Mayor Annise Parker wrote in a letter to City Council members Tuesday.

City officials said they wanted to keep their options open in bidding on the site, saying it could have a number of uses, chief among them as a location for the city's planned police and courts complex. Parker's letter also notes the site could give commuter rail an entry point to downtown.

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/City-drops-out-of-bidding-for-downtown-post-office-5475691.php

From yesterday:

Here is one for the A380 with Houston as the originating airport. Granted there is a lot more that goes into range (i.e. payload, passengers, etc).

Proposed renderings:

http://www.fly2houston.com/TDGallery

 Is this from the Exxon building?

I was at a luncheon over at the Petroleum Club and thought I'd get a shot in. I'll probably be able to do that about once a month.

From about an hour ago:

So what is Latam?  Is it the combined airline of Brazil and Argentina?

 

Wouldn't mind having flights to Rio/Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires on someone other than United (assuming they fly at all down that far?)

LATAM Airlines Group is the company created after the merger between LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines. Its more of a holding company (like Air France/KLM).

And yes, United flies to both Rio and Sao Paulo from IAH.

^  Great find!  Thanks for posting Urban909.

 

The opening line says the Houston Airport System "invited the public" to this master plan presentation and to provide feedback etc etc.  Did anyone ever see that invitation or any hint of it anywhere?  I would imagine they have another one coming up for the Bush Airport Master Plan.  I hope I don't miss that invitation too. 

Thanks. I am interested in seeing the IAH's master plan as well, especially the plans for Terminal D.

Here is a link to the updated master plan for Hobby Airport:

http://www.fly2houston.com/HOUMasterPlan

But no fist class FORGET IT.

I'm the one flying from SFO to TPE with satellite interknit. 

Tell me about it! I refuse to fly any airline that doesn't allow me to knit while sitting in some VERY uncomfortable seats. *wink face*

 

When is Terminal D's expansion going to get underway anyway? Have they even selected a design or architect?

Good question. I know there were some renderings floating around, but I can't seem to locate them. And I thought they were supposed to have selected the final design in the 4th quarter of 2013. This is the only bit of information that I found via fly2houston.com:

http://www.fly2houston.com/business-ongoing-projects/?modpage=HASProjects2-2&projectid=1130112

for sure, i was just saying no stops in reference to the 2 mph gain per second acceleration speed of the train when it starts up (and probably a similar deceleration rate when it slows down)..

 

The 2mph/sec equates to reaching top speed in 1 minute 42.5 seconds. Or (in car terms) 0-60mph in 30 seconds.

In case anyone is interested in what type of equipment might be used (as noted in Trinton's link above):

http://www.usjhsr.com/usjhsr/N700-I_Bullet.html

Check out the starting acceleration speed.

I know, I just think it's rather silly how everyone immediately says we can't tunnel or build subways because of our water table, and we were doing it over half a century ago. 

 

There's got to be a way around this.

I would imagine that it has to do more with the costs associated with cleaning up the contamination, rather than the ability to build tunnels/underpasses. Its not only having to dig up gasoline soaked soil, but disposing it according to state environmental/EPA laws. Further, that the entire area needs to be cleaned, not just the where the underpass would be built. This is probably more expensive (and possibly more damaging environmentally due to shifting pockets of gasoline/disturbed soil) than just building a bridge.

I say at this point this U-line should just utilize the Westpark ROW. At least there will be an East - West connection between the Uptown BRT and the Red Line. It might possibly be a faster connection, for the most part, because it is not interacting with street traffic along that section.

I know it's (hopefully) going up next year, but here is a different vantage point:

From this morning:

From this morning:

From what I understand the Post office is being looked at as a possible central station for the purposed dallas to Gouston rail

Talk about an amazing place for a TOD.

I passed by the site this morning and it looks like they have pulled up some of the parking lot. I have know idea if this is for soil testing or something unrelated to any building construction, but I thought I would mention it.