Feds Put Brakes On Two Metro Lrt Lines

[PuroAztlan]

Good. Who needs these little toy trains anyway?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5350930.html

[Trae]

What do you mean good? Plans aren't canceled. Metro is just required to give out more studies. Christof said it best:

Christof Spieler, an engineer who writes a transportation blog for the Citizens' Transportation Coalition, an advocacy group that supports rail, said the letter might cause a delay but does not appear devastating to Metro's plans.

"This sounds like the kind of thing that's to be expected when an agency makes a massive change relatively late in the process," Spieler said, referring to Metro's decision to build light rail in all five corridors.

[PuroAztlan]

What do you mean good? Plans aren't canceled.

Yea but they're doing a "re-study" which means funding can still be denied.

I never saw any good in these trains, they're just magnets for Houstons accident prone, idiot drivers.

A subway, sure. A street level train that basically does the same thing as a bus but impedes traffic and left turns? No thanks.

[houstonmacbro]

Gosh, now this thing will NEVER get built.

I've been back in Houston nearly 4 years and I thought for sure we were closer to getting more rail lines.

[MidtownCoog]

They should have anticipated this after the decision to skip the bus option.

[musicman]

Gosh, now this thing will NEVER get built.

that much faith in metro huh?

[TheNiche]

"There is a very hard edge to this letter," Wilson said. "They're acting as if light rail transit is a whole different planet" from bus rapid transit, when "the only real difference is the vehicle."

Um, no. Can anyone say moolah!?

[houstonmacbro]

that much faith in metro huh?

I have very little faith in Metro at this point, politicians (who use this as some sort of volleyball), and the public (can't seem to make up its mind).

Yes, I have very little faith in it getting built any time soon.

[Guest danax]

"Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, who has been a persistent critic of Metro's plans, could not be reached for comment Tuesday."

Ya' think he's lurking in this somewhere?

Yes, it will be more expensive, and by golly there's a war going on out there , but why should new environmental studies be needed? On the surface, it would seem that the choo-choo has less impact than a bus. Maybe the "toot-toot" noise effect needs to evaluated.

[Jax]

It's not so surprising to me that they have to submit another report. That doesn't seem like a really big deal to me. Nobody is even saying at this point whether it is going to cause any delays or not, so all we can do is wait and see what happens.

I hope these lines are built on time. I know I will be using them often.

I'm sick of these "rail vs. anti-rail" discussions we have already had in multiple threads. I see the same discussion happening, with the only difference being the fact that "Puro Aztlan" is in this thread. Is it possible to discuss the implications of the latest news without comments like "Who needs these little toy trains anyway?" ? We've already gone over that a thousand times.

Edited December 5, 2007 by Jax

[Trae]

I'm wondering about that "environmental impact", too. Wouldn't fumes from the buses eject more pollution than a light rail train running on electricity?

[TheNiche]

I'm wondering about that "environmental impact", too. Wouldn't fumes from the buses eject more pollution than a light rail train running on electricity?

Different kinds of pollution, emitted in different places.

...but it actually doesn't matter all that much. Environmental Impact Statements are toothless by design. Something that was actually a rigorous study would occasionally result in pork not being approved. It's all lies, damned lies and statistics.

[PuroAztlan]

It's not so surprising to me that they have to submit another report. That doesn't seem like a really big deal to me. Nobody is even saying at this point whether it is going to cause any delays or not, so all we can do is wait and see what happens. I hope these lines are built on time. I know I will be using them often. I'm sick of these rail vs. anti-rail discussions we have already had in multiple threads. I see the same discussion happening, with the only difference being the fact that "Puro Aztlan" is in this thread. Is it possible to discuss the implications of the latest news without comments like "Who needs these little toy trains anyway?" ? We've already gone over that a thousand times.

I really don't think we need those little toy trains. Why do you?

[Trae]

Why do you keep calling them toy-trains? They are no different than the other light rail trains across America (except Metro's trains carry more passengers than many of the other systems).

[dbigtex56]

I really don't think we need those little toy trains. Why do you?

Surest way to discredit yourself is by calling light rail a 'trolley' or a 'toy train'.

[C2H]

So what can we expect out of all this? Is light rail going to be delayed for another 5-10 years? I was really excited and hopeful for Houston that it was on its way to having an effective transportation system.

[Trae]

First of all, it would only be these two lines (Southeast and North Line) if anything was to be delayed. Second, I doubt they get delayed over the study anyway.

[PuroAztlan]

Surest way to discredit yourself is by calling light rail a 'trolley' or a 'toy train'.

Well I never called it a 'trolley' but you're right. They are small compared to a subway train though right? Isn't that why they call it "light" rail?

[Jax]

Each car holds up to 220 people and they can attach two cars together (on my way home from Rice at 6:30 today they were runing double cars with standing room only).

I don't know how that compares to a typical subway though.

EDIT: Montreal's subway for comparison holds 160 people per car, but I don't know how many cars they typically run at one time.

Edited December 6, 2007 by Jax

[RedScare]

Why do you keep calling them toy-trains?

That's what the anti-railers say in a feeble attempt to be clever.

Funny thing, though. I've never seen one of them offer to stand in front of one of these 98,000 pound toys. Guess clever only goes so far.

Light Rail is the term adopted by the federal government to describe city streetcar systems, intended to carry passengers, from heavy rail trains, that primarily run between cities, and carry either freight or passengers. AmTrak is heavy rail. METRO uses light rail. The terminology has nothing to do with the size or weight of the trains.

Edited December 6, 2007 by RedScare

[TheNiche]

That's what the anti-railers say in a feeble attempt to be clever.

Funny thing, though. I've never seen one of them offer to stand in front of one of these 98,000 pound toys. Guess clever only goes so far.

Red's right. They're far too dangerous to be toys.

[Jax]

Red's right. They're far too dangerous to be toys.

I don't see how that adds to the discussion. Of course they are dangerous, they are trains. No more dangerous than any other trains though.

[crunchtastic]

Red's right. They're far too dangerous to be toys.

Dangerous indeed. You must be THIS tall to ride.

Politically speaking, of course.

[musicman]

I don't see how that adds to the discussion. Of course they are dangerous, they are trains. No more dangerous than any other trains though.

tell that to Truxton Hathaway Edited December 6, 2007 by musicman

[RedScare]

So you're saying that ol' Truxton would say that light rail is more dangerous than the freight tanker that blew him to smithereens?

Oh, and that he would say it twice?

Edited December 6, 2007 by RedScare

[TheNiche]

I don't see how that adds to the discussion. Of course they are dangerous, they are trains. No more dangerous than any other trains though.

...perhaps I ought to have added a smiley.

[PuroAztlan]

That's what the anti-railers say in a feeble attempt to be clever. Funny thing, though. I've never seen one of them offer to stand in front of one of these 98,000 pound toys. Guess clever only goes so far.

Hey, wow, you really got me there.

[musicman]

So you're saying that ol' Truxton would say that light rail is more dangerous than the freight tanker that blew him to smithereens?

i'm saying that there IS a difference.

Oh, and that he would say it twice?

for emphasis. lol

[Jax]

Truxton Hathaway

What does that have to do with light rail?

[Trae]

Hey, wow, you really got me there.

He sure did if that is the only thing you can come up with. You are seriously grasping if that is your best smack. Pathetic really.

Edited December 6, 2007 by Trae