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mfastx

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Everything posted by mfastx

  1. mfastx
    I would much prefer a BART type system (heavy rail) than the commuter rail. It's faster, easier to use, carries more people, and more efficient. This was the best rail proposition we've had to date IMO. Lines going out west and northwest, where the people are. An easy transfer to Uptown. Hobby airport to downtown. I would also have extended the original line to Bush Airport as well. This system, connected with the feeder bus lines, would net us 500,000 riders a day, easy. Probably more.
  2. mfastx
    Tried this out and didn't notice anything different. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.
  3. mfastx
    Really liking this.. can't wait until they start on the lobby.
  4. mfastx
    Some random HAIFer said that they visited a METRO stand for earth day and he apparently was told that METRO has a "plan" for building the university. Other than that, no good news in years about the line. I wouldn't hold my breath unfortunately.
  5. mfastx
    Nah, I'd give it to BigFootsSocks and Jack Hammer
  6. mfastx
    Idk, the trees looked kinda weird to be honest. I thought they were a little too large for the location. I'd be down for some smaller trees there, but why not show off the building facade.
  7. mfastx
    Finally this thing is picking up steam.
  8. mfastx
    Has there not been a decision yet? I was under the assumption that there would be a decision today.
  9. mfastx
    While I don't think that halting the project will "impair" future developments, I do think that this development should move forward.
  10. mfastx
    Yeah I think downtown subway stations with direct access to the tunnel system would be great. There are many cities with heavy rail lines that go through lower density areas and still receive good ridership. DC is an example, outside of the city there's lots of low density areas that still have lots of people riding the rail via park and rides.
  11. mfastx
    You're right in the likely cost estimates, I was just saying that a heavy rail line in Houston would likely only be submerged in certain areas, like downtown, uptown, TMC, Greenway Plaza etc. I believe the original heavy rail line proposition (which would have been a subway downtown and elevated elsewhere) would have cost about $4 billion in today's dollars, and it was 13 miles or something.
  12. mfastx
    $20 billion would get you a lot more than 20-30 miles of subway. In Houston, it only makes sense to subway in certain high density areas. A heavy rail system would be above ground in a lot of areas, bringing the cost down. $20 billion of spending on heavy rail would get a lot more ridership than the same amount on BRT.
  13. mfastx
    Nice, finally kicking those bums out.
  14. mfastx
    That's what she said.
  15. mfastx
    Not only does it have to be grade separated, but the tracks also have to be configured in a way which allows for high speeds. If you're going to do all of that, might as well go for heavy rail.
  16. mfastx
    Light rail is great for a short length with many destinations along the line. It has diminishing returns though when you try to make an entire system out of it over larger distances.
  17. mfastx
    If Houston builds a subway, it should be nothing less than a heavy rail subway. Why spend billions on digging a tunnel for much lower capacity and slower light rail? Heavy rail has increasing returns, transit ridership jumps exponentially the more you build. DC is a prime example, they built one of the best transit systems in the country from scratch 40 years ago. Heavy rail's speed, ridership and coverage trumps light rail. Two things need to happen before Houston can build a subway: 1) more local money needs to go to transit (no more GM payments) and 2) powerful local politicians who's mission has always been to secure funds for subsidizing highway expansion need to do a complete 180 and push for funding transit. Since neither of those things are happening anytime soon, Houston won't have a subway in the near future. As the city grows denser, people's minds will change. Look at LA, it can happen. We might be decades off, but it will eventually happen.
  18. mfastx
    We already have highways below the water table.
  19. mfastx
    Wow, nice! I like it.
  20. mfastx
    Isn't it a parking garage with retail? I seem to recall one proposed to go there.
  21. mfastx

    METRORail Green Line

    mfastx replied to a topic in Transit

    I understand the above points, I was just expressing frustration at the current setup of the Red line where there are multiple places where the train slows to like 5 or 10 mph for a gentle curve, which seems like overkill.
  22. mfastx
    Awesome. It will complement the adjacent rail station well.
  23. mfastx

    METRORail Green Line

    mfastx replied to a topic in Transit

    Thanks for the update. Very frustrating to know that the trains will go about 5 or 10 mph on those curves. Why not build the tracks at a slight angle to allow for 25-30 mph on the curves?
  24. mfastx
    I like the new rendering. Very much.
  25. mfastx
    I agree. I would venture to say that Culberson doesn't know much about public transportation in general at all. A few "important" people just came to him vehemently opposed to the project, and he's protecting their interests. That's all it is. It's how politics work.
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