Pleak Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Didn't see this posted anywhere else.To be used for hike and bike trails, sidewalks, bikeways, etc.http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/06/houston-to-receive-15-million-from-department-of-transportation-for-eco-friendly-infrastructure/I thought the below quote was interesting:"Houston has the largest number of bike commuters in Texas, according to a joint press release from the representatives. "I would have assumed it was Austin with their eco-hippy reputation. Maybe it's just sheer size that puts Houston over the top. Dunno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 $15 million? That's nothing, especially in these times. But I'll take it, good for Houston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 $15 million? That's nothing, especially in these times. But I'll take it, good for Houston True, can't really stretch that too far in a city like Houston but every little bit helps. It would be nice to see some sort of network start to develop around town that connects pedestrian/bike friendly areas better but I don't really know how you would accomplish that without dumping incredible amounts of money into altering existing thoroughfares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I thought the below quote was interesting:"Houston has the largest number of bike commuters in Texas, according to a joint press release from the representatives. "I would have assumed it was Austin with their eco-hippy reputation. Maybe it's just sheer size that puts Houston over the top. Dunno.Take a drive down Bellaire Blvd and you'll see bikes tied up everwhere, especially near and behind restaurants. Nobody really talks about it but I suspect the largest bike commuting community in the Houston area are Hispanic workers in restaurants and elsewhere. I wonder if that is even taken into account in the by the folks putting out the press release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Probably not. Like everything else, riding a bike is not cool if it is one's only means of transportation, It is only cool if one chooses to ride a bike when he has other choices. Of course, those restaurant workers do not demand brand new trails to be built for them either. They simply do what they need to do to get to work. New infrastructure only gets built when us self important types demand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 Good points that do get ignored around here. One question that brings to mind - somewhat related. I read on a thread here that I would never find again that places like the Gulfton apartment sprawl actually have very low Metro ridership. This seems counterintuitive. Pretty high density area, lower income, seems like it would be ideal for bus ridership. Why the discrepancy? Is it underserved? Are the bus routes poorly designed?Or is it a cultural distrust of anything official? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 Double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHB2 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Good points that do get ignored around here. One question that brings to mind - somewhat related. I read on a thread here that I would never find again that places like the Gulfton apartment sprawl actually have very low Metro ridership. This seems counterintuitive. Pretty high density area, lower income, seems like it would be ideal for bus ridership. Why the discrepancy? Is it underserved? Are the bus routes poorly designed? Or is it a cultural distrust of anything official? it's true that the buses are underused given the density. it's also true that the area can be considered underserved by the # of buses/routes/schedules available. there are lots of walkers and bike riders, but it's also true that there doesn't seem to be any lack of sufficient private cars/trucks in Gulfton all heading in a zillion different directions each work day, just like every other neighborhood in the Houston metro area. hard to imagine that a primarily foreign-born Latino population would distrust "official" bus transportation, since govt owned bus systems are packed in every country in Lat Am. when the light rail eventually passes by there, it will be interesting to see the ridership #s out of the Gulfton barrio. The Univ Line doesn't seem to offer much in the way of terminal destinations for a primarily lower working class population. of course when the Univ Line finally gets built in the 2030s (according to the latest from Greanias) the area may have gentrified back toward what it was in the 70s/early 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 $15 million? That's nothing, especially in these times. But I'll take it, good for Houston What about $25 million, then? http://blog.chron.com/houstonpolitics/2012/06/houston-to-get-federal-money-to-connect-hike-and-bike-paths/ The head of the Federal Highway Administration is scheduled to join U.S. Reps. Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee at noon downtown to announce more than $10 million in federal funding for Houston to be used to connect its fragmented system of hike and bike paths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Ah. So does that money then HAVE to be used for hike and bike paths, or can Houston funnel it into METRO?For some reason, I was thinking "highways" when I clicked on this link and wondered if they managed to make some sort of bio-degradable highway. Unrealistic, but it could happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 These grants usually have strict guidelines that would prevent diverting hike and bike funds to a rail line. But, you miss the bigger problem. The grant is being awarded to the City of Houston. I'll let you figure the odds of METRO convincing the City of Houston to give them any funds at all, even if it were legal to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I really hope this means they finish some of the bike trails that the city has clearly just stopped working on such as the Houston Heights trail near UH-Downtown and a few parts of the Brays Bayou trail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Good points that do get ignored around here. One question that brings to mind - somewhat related. I read on a thread here that I would never find again that places like the Gulfton apartment sprawl actually have very low Metro ridership. This seems counterintuitive. Pretty high density area, lower income, seems like it would be ideal for bus ridership. Why the discrepancy? I'd guess that a fair number of Gulfton residents work in the construction industry and their jobsites aren't always accessable via Metro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I don't think the argument that the area is underserved or that the residents do not use transit in Gulfton is accurate. 4 of the top 5 busiest METRO routes run through or beside Gulfton. 7 of the top 10 busiest routes run in or connect nearby to Gulfton routes. 10 or more routes run through or along the borders of Gulton. Compare that with the Heights, which has 7 rather low ridership routes serving a much larger area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 These grants usually have strict guidelines that would prevent diverting hike and bike funds to a rail line. But, you miss the bigger problem. The grant is being awarded to the City of Houston. I'll let you figure the odds of METRO convincing the City of Houston to give them any funds at all, even if it were legal to do so.I thought METRO was the mass transit division of the City of Houston, or do I have something wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 It is its own entity, funded by a 1 cent sales tax in its coverage area. All of Houston is in the area, but also parts of the County and other municipalities. Houston appoints a majority of the METRO board, but does not otherwise control it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 For some reason, I was thinking "highways" when I clicked on this link and wondered if they managed to make some sort of bio-degradable highway. Unrealistic, but it could happen.I would argue they already have bio-degradable highways. Have you driven on 59S around Sharpstown Mall (excuse me - El Mercado) lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Here is an interesting way to expand the bike network. Hope the law passes - there are a lot of flat, nicely mowed right of ways criss-crossing the city that could connect a lot of areas.http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Using-utility-right-of-way-could-cut-cost-of-bike-3767168.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Here is an interesting way to expand the bike network. Hope the law passes - there are a lot of flat, nicely mowed right of ways criss-crossing the city that could connect a lot of areas.http://www.chron.com...ike-3767168.phpHas been brought up in several previous sessions, never gets enough traction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 :mismanagement_of_funds: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Has been brought up in several previous sessions, never gets enough traction.Yeah - I know. One can always hope. Especially if it gets more attention. Maybe enough pressure could be put on the right people. Nah - probably not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Frustrating, because it makes perfect sense, and has no downside.It may be moot, though. Even if we take away their liability, no guarantee they will authorize paths on their right of ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHB2 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Has been brought up in several previous sessions, never gets enough traction.METRO management and Ann Clutterbuck looked at me like I was nuts when I suggested a better use for the Westpark ROW (including the continuation of that ROW to Montrose) was a linear bikeway/walkway/park from the Hillcroft TC to the Museum District and Red Line, while the Univ Line should stay north of 59 to the Hillcroft TC rather than passing through the rider desert from Weslayan to S Rice in Bellaire.don't think walkers/bikers would get anybody's hackles up in Sunset Terrace, Southampton, etc along that ROW the way the prospect of a 21 hr/day train rumbling by every few minutes does.guess it depends on how you define "transit." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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