mfastx
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Everything posted by mfastx
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This is huge IMO. Great building and I'm glad it's being restored instead of torn down. So from what I gather, the new parking garage will be located where that "hole" is on the north side of the block? And the tower will eventually sit on top of that?
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Apparently they had the first test run on its own power last night, per METRO's facebook page.
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There are many ways to connect a light rail line to the airport. You could have a central station with any of the following options: a shuttle bus connecting terminals to the rail station (Boston, LA are cities that I know have this), you could construct a people mover (my vote would be for us to somehow extend the underground people mover to the rail station since it is already outside of the sterile zone, the underground people mover would most likely have to be reconstructed as well), or you could have elevated walkways from the station to the terminals. A more expensive and probably not viable option would be to construct a station at each of the terminals, but you'd have to reconfigure the terminals and it would cost a lot.
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I do know the difference between light rail and heavy rail, even though I mispoke. But for the fun of it, you could say that heavy rail trains are heavier, as a 10 car train is heavier than a 2 car train, even if each car of the 2 car train is heavier individually. For example, you could not run a 10 car train on the current tracks we are building. Different specifications need to be met. And I'm very excited, and thank you.
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Like Editor pointed out, I was using the APTA classifications. Heavy rail trains are usually 8-10 cars long while light rail is usually 2-3 cars long. Capacity is much higher and while our current fleet is capable of going 65 mph, it is very rare for light rail to travel that fast in service. Btw, our new cars will have a top speed of only 40 mph roughly. But it is great to agree on something!
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Well, us transportation geeks refer to systems like the ones I mentioned as heavy rail. Due to the fact that the rails are configured for heavier trains.. What you were referring to is commuter rail.. which is indeed "heavy rail," but it is not referred to as such in the transportation geek world. lol
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?? I'd like to see a source on this. Heavy rail would travel at much faster speeds than light rail. It's well documented that the average speed of heavy rail is double that of light rail, even in places where stops are only about a quarter mile apart (New York, DC) EDIT: to be clear I am talking about heavy rail systems like the MARTA, BART, and DC Metro. NOT "commuter rail" which does indeed take longer to start and stop. Maybe that is what you are referring to.
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I think this here is the root of ideological differences between the two sides here on this forum. There's certainly valid points for either argument, but what is tough to define is when exactly we "need it." It seems very subjective.
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Wow. This is IMO the best looking development in Houston I've seen in a long time.
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I agree. Eliminating at-grade crossings will also help improve on-time peformance for buses as well. -
Well first off you have to understand that heavy rail technology usually has at least twice as fast average speeds as light rail. The light rail trains we have in Houston aren't designed to go fast. For example, completely grade separated heavy rail is going to be much faster than at grade light rail, even if there are the same amount of stops and they are the same distance apart. Let me reinforce that just one rail line from downtown to IAH won't generate much ridership, the issue is connecting people that might live in other areas of town to that line that goes to IAH.
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Oh okay I think there was a miscommunication. I never suggested an express line, just faster technology. It would still have stops. Ha, well we almost did in the early 80s. But the original line proposed seemed too expensive to voters and thus it was voted down. Unfortunate, because if the entire system had been built out as Kiepper (METRO's leader at the time) had envisioned, we would have a much more effective transit system.
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The MARTA in Atlanta is efficient enough. In fact, heavy rail would be more efficient over longer distances than light rail, simply due to lack of ridership on light rail.
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IMO a rail line to the airport shouldn't be express, but just fast. Like the MARTA in Atlanta. Of course, if there are crosstown rail lines and good quality bus lines connecting to the rail line that goes to the airport, this creates an easy transfer for people going to the airport that aren't coming from downtown. Just one rail line to the airport won't do much by itself.
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Agreed. For light rail to work there'd have to be a very limited number of stops on the way to the airport. Alternatively, heavy rail technology could be used (which would be faster and generate more ridership), but it would be somewhat redundant since we are already going that way with light rail.
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I'm sure they will re-configure bus service to IAH to be somehow tied into the North Line rail. In addition to downtown.
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Completely agree. That would be the most ideal situation and most convenient for commuters. To be able to exit the train and go straight into tunnels to their buildings. But you'd have to reconfigure the tunnel network around stations and it would cost a fortune.
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Grass would be aesthetically pleasing. Standard ballast and ties would prevent people from illegally driving on the tracks. Seemed like a no-brianer to me, but oh well. Grade seperation is another great idea. Rode the rail downtown yesterday and it was so awfully slow. And I honestly don't like the look of a street downtown with rail in the middle. But that's just me.
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BLVD Place Mixed-Use: 1700 Post Oak Blvd.
mfastx replied to Subdude's topic in Uptown and Galleria Area
Nice to see some fellow Clutchfaners!! But yeah, my reaction is similar to the Ron Paul gif -
BLVD Place Mixed-Use: 1700 Post Oak Blvd.
mfastx replied to Subdude's topic in Uptown and Galleria Area
Haha, I see that gif on Clutchfans all the time, I wonder how many ppl here are on other local forums...- 2,416 replies
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- whitestone reit
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Two Hermann Place & Three Herman Place: High-Rises At 1661 Hermann Dr.
mfastx replied to ClutchCity's topic in Going Up!
Like the second rendering, but that doesn't seem like a very accurate portrayal of downtown in the background, lol. -
GreenStreet: Mixed-Use Development At 1201 Fannin St.
mfastx replied to MontroseNeighborhoodCafe's topic in Downtown
The main difference between the renderings and what's currently there, is that there are actually people walking around in the renderings, lol. Plus some minor changes to the façade. -
Been hearing about that proposition for awhile now. I'm a skeptic that it is a serious possibility until construction. Will remain hopeful though.
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Transit Oriented Development. Basically a development centered around a transit stop.
