Firebird65 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Also do you seriously consider 130 miles a feasible daily commute? Sorta off the topic, but many years ago either the Chronicle or Post did a survey to find the longest work commute in the Houston area. It was won by a guy who lived in Katy drove to Orange every day to work in a chemical plant. So he drove 130 miles each way each day, five days a week for at least 45-50 weeks a year. He said he had to change the oil every two weeks and buy new tires at least yearly. When asked why he did it, he said he loved his home in Katy, but also liked the job. Now this isn't a daily auto commute, of course, but I've worked with people who live in Austin and work in Houston. They would rent an apartment here and spend Sunday - Thursday night in Houston, then drive home on Friday. I've also known someone who lived in LA who flew into Houston to work during the week then left for home Thursday afternoon and another who lived in NY state and did the same thing. But those aren't the same things, of course, as a daily commute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Also do you seriously consider 130 miles a feasible daily commute? When I worked in League City, I had a co-worker who lived in The Woodlands. That's about 120 miles a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I have several coworkers who commute from League City to The Woodlands every day and have for more than six years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I have several coworkers who commute from League City to The Woodlands every day and have for more than six years. I have colleagues who live in Waller, Sealy, Brookshire, Huntsville, and Halletsville who work inside the Loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Houston is a big city where people want to work, with driving for hours to work there. Therefore, commuter rail isn't just for the Outer Belt and Galveston, it's for the entire region. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Houston is a big city where people want to work, with driving for hours to work there. Therefore, commuter rail isn't just for the Outer Belt and Galveston, it's for the entire region.There are priorities and those people are last on the totem pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 There are priorities and those people are last on the totem pole. And thus it's more important for them that we expand and improve the highway system until they can be reached by some sort of rail solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 And thus it's more important for them that we expand and improve the highway system until they can be reached by some sort of rail solution.No, the highway system has expanded enough as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 No, the highway system has expanded enough as it is. So, you want to tear down the Pierce Elevated solely for aesthetic reasons and don't want to see new freeways built or expanded, but you don't want a far-reaching commuter rail system? Gee, I thought you liked rail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 "I have never known any generalization that did not need some modification when it came to applying it to a specific case." - Dwight Eisenhower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 So, you want to tear down the Pierce Elevated solely for aesthetic reasons and don't want to see new freeways built or expanded, but you don't want a far-reaching commuter rail system? Gee, I thought you liked rail. A rail to Beaumont exists it's called amtrak. Something to college station would have to be intercity rail. But again the question is is there sufficient ridership to justify that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 A rail to Beaumont exists it's called amtrak. Something to college station would have to be intercity rail. But again the question is is there sufficient ridership to justify that?Well, ridership is always the question, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 No, the highway system has expanded enough as it is. I'm afraid your ideal world that returns us to the 1800's with everyone walking, riding a horse, or taking a train just isn't feasible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I'm afraid your ideal world that returns us to the 1800's with everyone walking, riding a horse, or taking a train just isn't feasible.Not really just a world where cities are built for pedestrians, bicyclists, rail, buses, and cars, in that order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Not really just a world where cities are built for pedestrians, bicyclists, rail, buses, and cars, in that order. I cna't believe you want ot make it hard for my elderly Dad to get around, since riding in a car is the only way he can get anywhere. I don't really go anywhere close enough to walk, so forget the pedestrian stuff, cycling is not feasible for most of us, rail is too expensive and has no where to run, so that leaves buses and cars. Basically, Houston is fine as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Not really just a world where cities are built for pedestrians, bicyclists, rail, buses, and cars, in that order. A world where cities are built for pre-19th century, the 19th century, the 19th century again and then the 20th century twice, in that order? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I cna't believe you want ot make it hard for my elderly Dad to get around, since riding in a car is the only way he can get anywhere. I don't really go anywhere close enough to walk, so forget the pedestrian stuff, cycling is not feasible for most of us, rail is too expensive and has no where to run, so that leaves buses and cars. Basically, Houston is fine as it is.A place that makes it easier for most to get around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 A place that makes it easier for most to get around. Very good. You hit the nail on the head...Houston is "a place that makes it easier for most to get around". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Very good. You hit the nail on the head...Houston is "a place that makes it easier for most to get around".False. Houston is centered around drivers and nobody else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 False. Houston is centered around drivers and nobody else. And has been for 100 years. My great grandfather was selling cars downtown in 1911. He commuted, by car, from the Heights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 False. Houston is centered around drivers and nobody else. Oh, so there's no mass transit anywhere, nor sidewalks, nor bike lanes. For what it's worth, they are building sidewalks so it would be possible to walk the entirety of contiguous Bellaire (I think that's what I read somewhere, at least). Sidewalks are a tricky issue, as in most cities, it's the homeowner's responsibility to take care of them, and if the city does get involved, there's always complaints about cutting out shrubs and trees. There are plenty of major roads in Houston without sidewalks, but those are mostly outer loop. But since you don't seem to be concerned with the outer loop (and I can pull up posts to that effect), why is that an issue to you anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 False. Houston is centered around drivers and nobody else. Correct. Car drivers and bus drivers. I live near the western edge of the city limits and I've got three bus lines within a 10 minute walk. I could live a car-free life if I chose to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaga Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Metro moves to revive potential commuter rail line to Missouri City A commuter rail line between Missouri City and the Texas Medical Center - comatose for nearly four years - has leapt back to life, even if the dollars needed to build it remain elusive. Metropolitan Transit Authority board members on Thursday approved a resolution authorizing transit officials to "place" the project in the "Federal Transit Administration process" and look for ways to pay for it. When officials essentially placed the project on inactive status in September 2012 after spending $1 million on feasibility studies, it was estimated to cost about $400 million to build the rail line.... http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Metro-moves-to-revive-potential-commuter-rail-8401902.php?cmpid=twitter-premium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 I think a lot of people don't realize how much nicer it is to take commuter rail vs driving if the logistics work for you. Just completed a week doing this going from Lombard, IL to downtown Chicago. Reminded me of how Wespark was a wasted opportunity as they could have probably used the existing tracks and developed infrastructure at the stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 On 7/6/2017 at 10:31 AM, BeerNut said: I think a lot of people don't realize how much nicer it is to take commuter rail vs driving if the logistics work for you. Just completed a week doing this going from Lombard, IL to downtown Chicago. Reminded me of how Wespark was a wasted opportunity as they could have probably used the existing tracks and developed infrastructure at the stations. Lucky you. Lombard is very nice. Neighboring Oak Brook is also very nice. Some of the best kept and manicured roads I have ever seen are out there in Lombard and Oak Brook. However, after living in Chicago now for several months I hope nothing from Chicago ever gets implemented in Houston. Chicago is truly a failed city. While I can't speak to METRA commuter service since I live in downtown Chicago and have no use to commute to the suburbs, the local CTA trains are an absolute mess. There is a NY Times opinion letter to the editor today from a Chicago resident absolutely frustrated with Chicago's CTA trains. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/opinion/chicago-transits-success.html?_r=0 From the letter..." I ride the Red Line every day from the far North Side downtown to work. The trains are crowded; I can rarely find a seat; and there are often delays because of fire on the tracks. ..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 On 7/7/2017 at 1:05 PM, 102IAHexpress said: Lucky you. Lombard is very nice. Neighboring Oak Brook is also very nice. Some of the best kept and manicured roads I have ever seen are out there in Lombard and Oak Brook. However, after living in Chicago now for several months I hope nothing from Chicago ever gets implemented in Houston. Chicago is truly a failed city. While I can't speak to METRA commuter service since I live in downtown Chicago and have no use to commute to the suburbs, the local CTA trains are an absolute mess. There is a NY Times opinion letter to the editor today from a Chicago resident absolutely frustrated with Chicago's CTA trains. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/opinion/chicago-transits-success.html?_r=0 From the letter..." I ride the Red Line every day from the far North Side downtown to work. The trains are crowded; I can rarely find a seat; and there are often delays because of fire on the tracks. ..." I don't see that as a reason to not want good public transit lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Trains are crowded... I can never find a seat... Yeah, sounds like a total failure. It's so popular nobody goes there anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenOlenska Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Was that from a Time's op-ed section? Was it a Brooks or Douthat suggesting Chicago was better when people rode to the opera in carriages and the proles had to go on foot so they couldn't catch the horses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hey, I'm a Prole. So, I can assure you, Proles don't go to the Opera. That's why we have football (and beer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 15 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said: I don't see that as a reason to not want good public transit lol Not sure what you mean there? Who said anything about not wanting good public transit? (lol) I was simply providing evidence contrary to Mayor Rahm Emanual's claim (and others) that public transit is nicer and or enjoyable in Chicago. Keep in mind trains are not crowded because rail is successful per se, it's because the government can't afford more trains! A good option worth considering in Houston is public ride sharing. Similar to an airport bus shuttle but with the convenience of UberPOOL. A commuter Uber van would be a good option for riders heading in the same direction, while giving them an inexpensive ride at the same price as a commuter train. The idea has gained traction in NYC, LA, SF, Boston and Chicago. Commuters in those cities can now use their pre-tax dollars (Houston does not have this I think?) in their commuter benefit debt cards to pay for UberPOOL rides. In the past those riders could only use their pre tax accounts on public bus/trains. http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-chicago-uber-commuter-benefits-bsi-20170118-story.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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