madmann101

If rail is important, why did you decide to move to Houston?

I love Houston and it's my favorite city in Texas! I can live without rail,but I just think rail would be a lot more helpful. I'm also moving there to attend college and get away from Waco and bad memories here. I'd choose Dallas, but Houston just seems like more of a better choice for me and also have tons of family there.

It's so outlandish, you need not get riled up by it. I could see how it's hypothetically true -- if, through a divine act of God, there is suddenly light rail everywhere in greater Houston, many people would be dissatisfied. Case closed.

I don't think anybody thinks Houston is a very walkable city -- I live downtown and still drive to places. Guess what? All my friends are in the burbs. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with driving. It's a free democracy; if you like urbanity, vote with your real estate choice; if you like rail, vote with your Q Card. Then vote for the rail propositions and make sure all your neighbors do too.

I never said driving should be banned. I'm just stating that Houston is a very big city and it's about time it got some serious LRT going. I'm moving to Houston in August and I can't take my car for the 1st semester of college, so I have to ride the bus, but I'd honestly rather ride rail. I just enjoy the fact that it moves faster with lesser stops.

Houston is too big of a city to have only a 7 mile rail system. If you don't want rail, than don't live in the core. If you think Houston is a great walkable city when you have so many streets without sidewalks and not much pedestrian traffic,than your wrong.

Huh? You're wishing for some sort of donut shaped asteroid impact?

Why do people pick Houston as a residence if they want everyone crammed into downtown? It's never going to happen.

Well the city would be much more progressive and we'd probably already have light rail,commuter rails, and even a subway system. When you have people way out there in the boonies voting for rennovations and public transit inside the core, you have lots of surburbanites out there who love their cars and see no point in voting yes to some type of public transit within the city. The city would also be much more dense and developed. Even though the city would lose its 4th biggest city rank,we'd still be a world class city!

Houston's downtown has lots of potential become very active and the park is a GREAT start. Houston Pavilions is what is going to get more pedestrians walking downtown, when they walk from the park to the pavilions,etc. I think Houston's downtown a little cramp though and the streets or sidewalks should be made a little wider to give people more space.

Also public transit is a must if you want more people walking around and the density going on in midtown is good, except I just wish there wasn't so many gated communities and parking garages. There should be more street parking, I mean it wouldn't kill anyone to walk atleast 10-20ft to get to their homes.

I'd rather Houston lose all the land outside of the loop and galleria area than keep it because I feel if that is done, more people would move closer to the city center.

Are they really going to have rail?? Well atleast within 5 years...

so rail results in walking MORE? is THAT what this is all about? we're building rail so people will walk more?

Do you even know what your talking about? The whole point of rail is to encourage more walkable areas and also provide public transportation. Building Urban areas such as these are great but people will just drive to them and once finished; get back in their automobiles and go on with life.

no...i'm wondering how NOT building parking spaces/garages is going to suddenly make people leave their cars? i know you want houston to be "more of an urban city" and not building parking spaces/garages is going to accomplish this?

I'm not saying don't build them, I'm just saying their not exactly urban with parking spaces. Houston really needs to expand rail if they want people out walking more.

how is building a few projects going to make already built out areas more dense? i.e. cars will be required for most.

You just repeated what I said. I stated what was the point of building these places if there going to have parking space/garages. Then I commented on the need to expand rail.

It's hot here, and "no one" walks anywhere (except crazy people who like hotness).

Heat isn't going to stop people from walking. Look at all the people walking in Miami and LA! It's attitudes like this that keep Houston from becoming more of a urban city. What's the point of building these dense/urban projects if there going to have parking spots and parking garages...

Their pointless if Houston dosen't get its act together on the whole public transportation issue.