mfastx

Kinda annoying how the satellite imagery is still from like 2019 if not earlier, other cities are updated more frequently! 

TxDOT obtaining funds, what an uphill battle that must've been. 

I don't mind a parking garage as long as it's well engrained within the surrounding area and offers some retail or something. 

19 hours ago, Heights88 said:

Struggling with the regret for light rail to be built here. Do we consider the green, purple, and red line LRT extensions a success? Ridership on these new lines has been pretty abysmal (even controlling for effects of the pandemic). 

University Line BRT construction is already estimated at $84MM per mile. Building light rail here would likely require at least triple the investment per mile for little to no incremental return.

Part of my regret comes from the fact that I believe they did it backwards. This and the uptown corridor definitely warranted rail, while the east side lines were more suited to BRT, in my opinion. 

I disagree that there would be no incremental return. Substantially higher ridership and lower subsidy per passenger on an operational basis definitely qualifies in my opinion. Higher capacity is a plus too - the system can be in place for decades longer without needing capacity upgrades. And then the economic benefits with LRT outweigh BRT, although I'll grant that it's not THAT much more benefits (substantially higher benefits come from HRT which unfortunately will probably never be built in Houston). 

Looks cool. It is a massive disappointment that Metro is having to settle for BRT instead of at least LRT for this corridor. BRT will generate less ridership, require a higher operating subsidy per person (although with less initial capital costs) and generate less economic development/benefits for the city. Thank you Culberson. 

I still hope that this will be more successful than the Silver line which hasn't done well at all. Maybe after it's connected to this it'll do better. 

15 hours ago, Heights88 said:

It's not that rail is not relevant or too old a technology (but that is also kind of true)...it's that it's just not even close to being cost effective. These light rail projects cost $200-500MM per mile (conservative estimates)...highway projects move more people at less than half the cost of rail. The choo choo fans on this board need to come to grips with the fact that cars are far more effective and efficient at moving people to and from decentralized population/job centers. 

Do you have a source for this? 

I was gonna ask that too. Seems like very little progress/news over the last year. 

Not bad at all! 

On 6/5/2022 at 9:08 AM, Ross said:

What else would you do with it while waiting for road construction to proceed?

I'd keep the buildings there and occupied until it actually proceeds. 

Let me guess.. gonna be replaced with a fresh parking lot. Smh. 

On 5/16/2022 at 4:19 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

Is it? There are like 20 lots in that proximity, not to mention the countless garages

That was sarcasm lol. The aerial picture a few posts above is so depressing lol. 

2 hours ago, tigereye said:

Crane owns the lot. It will be a parking lot for now 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/Downtown-s-Jackson-Street-BBQ-closes-after-8-16991784.php

Nice, surface parking is sorely needed in the area. 

Man off topic but what a hellish sidewalk/streetscape lol. 

I do like this tower's prominence in many surrounding areas. 

Looks really nice and I like the plaza out front too. 

20 hours ago, shasta said:

Are the lots behind the Marriott Marquis going to be part of the Astros village development?

One can only hope. 

Loving the lighting on a lot of the downtown buildings these days. 

Some of the lights that indicate the status of the reversible lane are faulty which creates a very dangerous situation IMO. 

Wow, development of those two blocks would be great! 

Now we just need some sidewalks for the streets around there, lol. 

20 hours ago, Ross said:

Those parking lots will get replaced when developers think it is economic to build something. If you replaced all of them with a building over the next 2 eyars, most of the buildings would be empty, as there's not enough demand for the space.

I'm aware but thank you lol. 

Hopefully the 59 project will increase demand in that area and around MMP. 

Jeez, such a long way to go towards developing that area of downtown, still a complete sea of parking lots and empty fields lol. 

This building really has an impact on the skyline looking west from downtown! 

Facade looks great in that shot!