jackie21love Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 good luck walking to the connecting station on the red line at 10pm. Bunch of homeless people and I have a HPD friend who works that street and says theres tons of street theft on that block Well,,, 10 pm is usually not safe for any major US city downtown 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I mean that could be said for any major city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt16 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Well,,, 10 pm is usually not safe for any major US city downtownGo to downtown Fort Worth. The Bass family pays for private security to police downtown, and as a result it's very nice, and far safer than most major downtowns. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietstorm Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Go to downtown Fort Worth. The Bass family pays for private security to police downtown, and as a result it's very nice, and far safer than most major downtowns. IMO, downtown Fort Worth is a great example of planned urbanism similar to that of City Centre, et. al....the area is vibrant, family friendly and diverse; although imo, it doesn't reflect a "sense of place" anymore than Sugar Land/Pearland/Woodlands Town Centers, The Domain in Austin, etc. So, I'm not sure the town center-type development route would give Houston the organic urban feel befitting the fourth and fastest growing city in the nation. However, I do believe that there are lessons ( free parking lots courtesy of the Bass family also :-) that can be learned from the Fort Worth plan that would give our downtown (which is a LOT less vibrant than Fort Worth's at the moment) the needed push to transform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I am wondering if there are issues with the trains or tracks for this guy. I rode the purple line to UH a couple of weeks ago and my brother-in-law rode it everyday. There were really loud grinding noises at a bunch of spots that I have never heard on the red line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I am wondering if there are issues with the trains or tracks for this guy. I rode the purple line to UH a couple of weeks ago and my brother-in-law rode it everyday. There were really loud grinding noises at a bunch of spots that I have never heard on the red line.I hear the trains squeal going around corners. There are many more turns on the purple line than the red line, so maybe that's what you're hearing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Yeah I hear that too. It's incredibly annoying inside the train too. I wonder if some eventual wear will smooth it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I'm curious if they might have to double stack the trams for the purple line; there was about twice as many people today as there was yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I hear the trains squeal going around corners. There are many more turns on the purple line than the red line, so maybe that's what you're hearing? I did consider this too, but the scraping, grinding noise, is different than on the curves on the red line and even happens in straight lines on the purple. No clue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I wonder if it has anything to do with the added weight of the new trams that Metro ordered from CAF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Why did they choose CAF in the first place? Seems like they've just been trouble this whole time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 They probably submitted the lowest bid, like most government contracts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 There's certainly a lot more people walking around campus in general. I wonder if some students are opting to park on streets in midtown, or another safish area near the rail lines and take rail? Student fares are 50% normal fares, I don't know what it costs for a semester of parking on campus, but it can't be less than student metro fare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I wonder if it has anything to do with the added weight of the new trams that Metro ordered from CAF.There was an article about this recently. Metro is spending millions adjusting their equipment for the heavier cars.There's certainly a lot more people walking around campus in general. I wonder if some students are opting to park on streets in midtown, or another safish area near the rail lines and take rail? Student fares are 50% normal fares, I don't know what it costs for a semester of parking on campus, but it can't be less than student metro fare.Yea from my observations ridership has picked up Edited August 27, 2015 by Slick Vik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 There's certainly a lot more people walking around campus in general. I wonder if some students are opting to park on streets in midtown, or another safish area near the rail lines and take rail? Student fares are 50% normal fares, I don't know what it costs for a semester of parking on campus, but it can't be less than student metro fare.It's cheaper to use the rail for students?! That's good to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) It's cheaper to use the rail for students?! That's good to know I only assume so. I found a page on the UH website, but it's confusing in the price structure. some permit costs reference single semester, some reference fall/spring combined, and some don't reference either. http://www.uh.edu/af-auxiliary-services/parking/parking-on-campus/permits/ the easiest to understand though is single semester permit is $162. there's roughly 16 weeks in a semester (end of August to middle of December, less a week for holidays). that's 80 weekdays, assuming you are on campus every day, that's ~$100 for metro. so significantly cheaper. but then, there's an 'economy' permit for $99 who knows whether that's per semester or what, either way though, that's either going to be the same price as metro, or significantly cheaper (single semester, or two semesters). I do know that this is the gravel lots that are on the other side of Elgin. Cheaper by far is to park in the Broadmoor neighborhood on the other side of 45 and catch the UH circulator that stops at the eastwood transit center every 10-15 minutes. parking is free, and riding is free. just be sure you park a cheap enough car over there, I know cars get broken into from time to time, but I'm sure the same is true of the UH lots. a bonus is that the circulator stops right in front of the post grad housing, which is right across the street from the nook coffee shop, so the money you save on parking, you can spend on coffee at my coffee shop Edited August 27, 2015 by samagon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 the easiest to understand though is single semester permit is $162. there's roughly 16 weeks in a semester (end of August to middle of December, less a week for holidays). that's 80 weekdays, assuming you are on campus every day, that's ~$100 for metro. so significantly cheaper. Assuming 80 weekdays, you have to pay for a round trip not just one way, so that's 160 trips per semester. However, students are eligble for a reduced rate Q card - $0.60 per trip. 80 * 2 * 0.60 = $96 Coincidentally that's almost the same as 80 one way trips at full price80 * 1.25 = $100 It's always cheaper to find free street parking, but yeah you run the risk of your car no longer being whole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I only assume so. I found a page on the UH website, but it's confusing in the price structure. some permit costs reference single semester, some reference fall/spring combined, and some don't reference either. http://www.uh.edu/af-auxiliary-services/parking/parking-on-campus/permits/ the easiest to understand though is single semester permit is $162. there's roughly 16 weeks in a semester (end of August to middle of December, less a week for holidays). that's 80 weekdays, assuming you are on campus every day, that's ~$100 for metro. so significantly cheaper. but then, there's an 'economy' permit for $99 who knows whether that's per semester or what, either way though, that's either going to be the same price as metro, or significantly cheaper (single semester, or two semesters). I do know that this is the gravel lots that are on the other side of Elgin. Cheaper by far is to park in the Broadmoor neighborhood on the other side of 45 and catch the UH circulator that stops at the eastwood transit center every 10-15 minutes. parking is free, and riding is free. just be sure you park a cheap enough car over there, I know cars get broken into from time to time, but I'm sure the same is true of the UH lots. a bonus is that the circulator stops right in front of the post grad housing, which is right across the street from the nook coffee shop, so the money you save on parking, you can spend on coffee at my coffee shop Tybg this is so great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I'm curious as to why there is a turning lane next to both of these lines downtown. Like isn't that asking for an accident to happen? I totally get having the turning lane on the tracks which is cool but not next to the tracks. Am I missing something here? And I also noticed that during rush hour the purple and green line don't run trains all the way through. I wonder if there is fear of a collision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Work is moving along... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Funny the trains were running all the way through at rush hour - considering I've started taking the purple at rush hour.And which turning lane were you talking about? All the ones I can think of are either protected lefts (so the train won't be going) or lanes on the tracks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I noticed the turning lane at Smith and Capitol. And I noticed people turning in front of the train a few streets before that as well, as if they are either afraid to turn on the tracks or they are confused how the turning lane works. And thanks for letting me know they are running the trains thru rush hr, I've just never seen them go past Main during that time. Not saying they don't run at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Yeah they go hide underneath the bridge after dropping people off at the theatre district station - that way the frequency stays right or something 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 I'm curious as to why there is a turning lane next to both of these lines downtown. Like isn't that asking for an accident to happen? I totally get having the turning lane on the tracks which is cool but not next to the tracks. Am I missing something here? And I also noticed that during rush hour the purple and green line don't run trains all the way through. I wonder if there is fear of a collision. Yeah I've noticed that on the new line, it does look risky. But there are intersections just like that on Fannin street on the red line in-between wheeler and museum district stations (fannin and Binz). I'm not sure if cars are legally allowed to turn left on the lane next to the line on fannin, but regardless I see cars turn left all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 The stations at UH always seem to have people waiting... which is a good thing. My daughter is a sophomore there in a dorm and she said the kids all use it to get to downtown/midtown as it saves them so much $$$ on parking and uber. I went to the UH football game last Saturday and our tailgate spot is adjacent to the "Robertson Stadium" stop. I was impressed by how many people appeared to be using the rail to get to the game. My tailgate group has decided that we're all going to get hotel rooms downtown and ride the rail to the game on Halloween (Vanderbilt game). Good times ahead! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Yeah I've noticed that on the new line, it does look risky. But there are intersections just like that on Fannin street on the red line in-between wheeler and museum district stations (fannin and Binz). I'm not sure if cars are legally allowed to turn left on the lane next to the line on fannin, but regardless I see cars turn left all the time.You know I just barely noticed that yesterday in the Museum District. I think it comes down to just being aware of where you are. Turning left when the train in going both directions isn't allowed but it makes sense that if a train is going the same direction as traffic, then it comes down to just making sure a train isn't coming before turning. Overall that's just my guess. I'm going to contact Metro and ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 The Green and Purple lines run on regular traffic lanes downtown - they're not even dedicated right turn lanes (though as someone who routinely turns right off of Rusk I kinda wish they were) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Taylor Swift is in town and some parking spots around Minute Maid are going for $80. Crazy. I wonder if there will be any more riders on the new light rail tonight or if people will just pay more for parking? I think a combination of both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 I don't think a lot of ppl have caught on to the whole "take the tram to the game" idea yet. On weekends, you can park at the end of the green/purple line on rusk for free. I did it this past weekend and we were the only car that stopped there. Paid $7 round trip for rail tickets where as some people paid $40 to park a few blocks away. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The Green and Purple lines run on regular traffic lanes downtown - they're not even dedicated right turn lanes (though as someone who routinely turns right off of Rusk I kinda wish they were)I thought the dedicated turning lane was on the tracks themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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