Dallas - Houston HSR Station

[Sparrow]

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/texas/2016/03/11/dallas-houston-high-speed-rail-loses-brazos-valley-support/81676242/

Losing support in the Brazos Valley. The longer this takes to get started, the more time the rural opposition has to stir up problems.

It's kind of peculiar how the local politicians have made such a big show against this project that aims to gain a 100 foot wide easement while we hear nothing negative from them about the planned 400 foot wide 249 Aggie Expressway or the similarly wide proposed Forts-to-Ports Interstate 14 or even the proposed loop around BCS. Do these same rural folks and local politicians oppose Union Pacific, BNSF, the power line companies, and the Keystone pipeline?  

[BigFootsSocks]

Yeah I saw that, though I assume it's just the current political climate leaking into the public realm. I'm sure once construction does start, most of the political pandering will dwindle, as the election of Socialist Bernie, Hitler Trump, Benghazi Clinton, or Ted "pedophile" Cruz to the presidency will have been over by then. 

[Texasota]

Wait, Ted Cruz is a pedophile? I though he was just the Zodiac Killer!

[BigFootsSocks]

I mean, isn't that the same thing?

[tigereye]

On March 11, 2016 at 2:30 PM, Sparrow said:

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/texas/2016/03/11/dallas-houston-high-speed-rail-loses-brazos-valley-support/81676242/

Losing support in the Brazos Valley. The longer this takes to get started, the more time the rural opposition has to stir up problems.

It's kind of peculiar how the local politicians have made such a big show against this project that aims to gain a 100 foot wide easement while we hear nothing negative from them about the planned 400 foot wide 249 Aggie Expressway or the similarly wide proposed Forts-to-Ports Interstate 14 or even the proposed loop around BCS. Do these same rural folks and local politicians oppose Union Pacific, BNSF, the power line companies, and the Keystone pipeline?  

Honestly, I hope the rural opposition succeeds in scuttling the entire project. If they can't find a way to get it Downtown, where it belongs, then don't waste money & time because of a poorly planned dead-end terminus in suburbia.

Screw Northwest Mall and NWTC. This city deserves better.

[BigFootsSocks]

So because it can't go an extra few miles, and because we haven't heard any official confirmation of a METRO line transit extension to the area, we should just say "**** it" to the entire thing? That makes no sense, and it's logic like this that the opposition relies on to steer attention away from issues, such as the fact that the Brazos Valley Committee chairmen is also a chair on Texans Against High Speed Rail.

No mention of that anywhere but on a Dallas transpo blog.

[cspwal]

It is that private company's money to waste.  It's not any of our money, unless you're one of their investors.  A private rail line being scuttled now, even if it doesn't go to downtown, makes it even less likely any company would try it again in the future.

[tigereye]

I don't care. If you can't do it right, don't do it at all. 

Downtown should be the final destination. Anywhere else is a mistake. 

[tigereye]

13 hours ago, BigFootsSocks said:

So because it can't go an extra few miles, and because we haven't heard any official confirmation of a METRO line transit extension to the area, we should just say "**** it" to the entire thing? That makes no sense, and it's logic like this that the opposition relies on to steer attention away from issues, such as the fact that the Brazos Valley Committee chairmen is also a chair on Texans Against High Speed Rail.

No mention of that anywhere but on a Dallas transpo blog.

I wouldn't rely on a MetroRail extension for this, especially after the Blue line fiasco. 

Metro could work at it and get confirmation. But politics could also get in the way...

[BigFootsSocks]

Very true, though there's already early talks of such a thing occurring, and the 2040 Future Transit plan on the HGAC site shows a line to this exact spot up the Washington corridor area

[cspwal]

Having a high speed train frequented by business people that would be served by a light rail extension would help that extension go through

[IronTiger]

On 3/11/2016 at 2:30 PM, Sparrow said:

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/texas/2016/03/11/dallas-houston-high-speed-rail-loses-brazos-valley-support/81676242/

Losing support in the Brazos Valley. The longer this takes to get started, the more time the rural opposition has to stir up problems.

It's kind of peculiar how the local politicians have made such a big show against this project that aims to gain a 100 foot wide easement while we hear nothing negative from them about the planned 400 foot wide 249 Aggie Expressway or the similarly wide proposed Forts-to-Ports Interstate 14 or even the proposed loop around BCS. Do these same rural folks and local politicians oppose Union Pacific, BNSF, the power line companies, and the Keystone pipeline?  

The logistic realities of the HSR not going through College Station has been dwindling for some time and Shiro is too far away, about 25 miles out to nowhere, which is much farther away than NW Mall. I can see why they're bitter about it.

But in terms of the other projects and entities you mention, Union Pacific isn't particularly good friends with anybody...spend a little time on TexAgs and read up on how they wanted to close down two crossings to build a siding, forcing traffic up an already busy two way road to crowd an already existing crossing.

Texas 249 was supposed to be complete in the late 1990s, and it's just now...well, Pinehurst for a four-lane road, and Tomball for limited access. That's not going anywhere soon (and besides, it connects to Navasota), and neither is Interstate 14 (who knows when that will happen).

[MaxConcrete]

Audio is available of a presentation about the project by a representative from Texas Central

http://www.h-gac.com/taq/transportation-committees/TAC/2016/07-jul/documents/Item-7.mp3

 

At 13 minutes, he states that three station locations are under consideration along the already-disclosed alignment which ends at the transit center at IH-10 and North Post Oak.

http://www.h-gac.com/taq/transportation-committees/TAC/2016/07-jul/documents/ITEM-07-Update-DEIS-TCR-High-Speed-Rail-presentation.pdf

See slide 22.

 

I'm thinking one station site is at the transit center, one is probably at Northwest Mall, and the third is somewhere in between. But I'm just speculating, I don't have any information in addition to that audio. I'm also thinking that they're looking to determine where they can get the best terms on real estate purchases. If the owners of Northwest Mall (or the other sites) want too much money, they need to have options.

[MaxConcrete]

I attended Texas Central's public meeting this evening. No new information was available. For the Houston station, they are still assessing sites between the Metro transit center and Northwest Mall. Texas Central is saying the draft EIS will be released in December, and presumably the Houston station location should be recommended by then.

 

They are also working to define the design along Hempstead road. Inside Beltway 8, they are saying they will stay within the Hempstead road right-of-way and are trying to avoid any right-of-way acquisition, which means the roadway will be under the elevated structure. They are also working on the design at Beltway 8, and the guy I spoke to said they are leaning toward going over the Sam Houston Tollway main lanes.

[BeerNut]

Every time I think about the possible NW Mall terminal location I reminded of Gare du Nord in Paris where the Eurostar train terminates for Paris.  It's not as convenient as other terminals but it's good enough because there is subway access.  So for Houston this only makes sense if there is light rail or bus connection.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

rental car companies will pop up in the terminal if this is to happen.

[BeerNut]

52 minutes ago, Tumbleweed_Tx said:

rental car companies will pop up in the terminal if this is to happen.

or autonomous car station.

[nativehoustonion]

They need light rail to circle the loop to connect.  New York build a 4 billion Word Trade Center hub, we have to think Global HAIF users.

 

[Montrose1100]

On 9/7/2016 at 8:48 AM, nativehoustonion said:

They need light rail to circle the loop to connect.  New York build a 4 billion Word Trade Center hub, we have to think Global HAIF users.

 

Lol.

 

They replaced a hub with an overpriced architect. 

[Luminare]

Lets look on the bright side guys. If they do terminate at NW Mall (which we would rather settle for Downtown (which they can still do in the future)), if successful, would act as a sort of mass transit magnet finally bringing rail extensions to the west of town. This might end up being a blessing in disguise in a lot of ways. We need to start setting our frame of reference around this viewpoint. This will be how bringing rail to the west will be a success.

[gmac]

In the end, this is all just a huge boondoggle. It's not that far to drive to Dallas, and if you're in a real hurry, hop on a flight. No one needs a train between the two cities, really. It is just a "want" by folks who think it would be neato.

[Luminare]

9 minutes ago, gmac said:

In the end, this is all just a huge boondoggle. It's not that far to drive to Dallas, and if you're in a real hurry, hop on a flight. No one needs a train between the two cities, really. It is just a "want" by folks who think it would be neato.

 

Then don't ride it! Don't we live in a country and even a state that likes to promote more options as part of a free market? Doesn't competition in the transportation market drive down prices? You are right it is a "want", but then again flying isn't a "need" neither is driving a car. People should have options and most end up driving cars because they "have" to. Not because they "want" too.

 

Have you ridden on a train before? I mean one that is actually good and fast and takes you somewhere. Try it. Don't knock something until you try it.

 

Whats makes TCR or trains in general such a threat?

[ADCS]

I make it a point to ignore any opinion that uses the term "boondoggle" non-ironically.

[gmac]

11 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

Then don't ride it! Don't we live in a country and even a state that likes to promote more options as part of a free market? Doesn't competition in the transportation market drive down prices? You are right it is a "want", but then again flying isn't a "need" neither is driving a car. People should have options and most end up driving cars because they "have" to. Not because they "want" too.

 

Have you ridden on a train before? I mean one that is actually good and fast and takes you somewhere. Try it. Don't knock something until you try it.

 

Whats makes TCR or trains in general such a threat?

 

You got me. I'm not really very experienced with trains. I have only ridden about 100,000 miles in more than a dozen nations, so I'm pretty much a rookie.

 

I'm fine with this project if it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime and no eminent domain force is used.

[Luminare]

30 minutes ago, gmac said:

 

You got me. I'm not really very experienced with trains. I have only ridden about 100,000 miles in more than a dozen nations, so I'm pretty much a rookie.

 

I'm fine with this project if it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime and no eminent domain force is used.

 

I'm sure you were there at the TXDOT meetings for the Katy Freeway, 290, 610, and even the proposed reroute of 45 where you got up on your righteous white horse protecting the tax payers from the millions and billions of dollars used on freeways that are now congested once again because you cared about them so much and also fought tooth and nail to prevent the government from using eminent domain, right?

[gmac]

Of course. I won't rest until we are all riding horses again and forging trails.

 

I know you know there is a difference. Well, I HOPE you know there is a difference.

 

Is the government building this railway?

[scarface]

Of course. I won't rest until we are all riding horses again and forging trails.

 

I know you know there is a difference. Well, I HOPE you know there is a difference.

 

Is the government building this railway?

 

Knock yourself out buddy. That's right, Let's keep Houston country and backwards!!!

 

I already think of Houston as several decades behind in terms of public transportation when I get back from cities like Denver, Seattle, Portland, Philly and Atlanta. Why stop there?  Phoenix and Charlotte are even breathing down our necks. Next we should let Amarillo and Lubbock pass us up next!

[mollusk]

9 hours ago, gmac said:

Is the government building this railway?

 

It is not.

[DNAguy]

14 hours ago, gmac said:

 

You got me. I'm not really very experienced with trains. I have only ridden about 100,000 miles in more than a dozen nations, so I'm pretty much a rookie.

 

I'm fine with this project if it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime and no eminent domain force is used.

 

So we have to hold the train to a higher standard than any / all infrastructure project.... ever?

 

 

[gmac]

16 hours ago, scarface said:

 

 

 

Knock yourself out buddy. That's right, Let's keep Houston country and backwards!!!

 

I already think of Houston as several decades behind in terms of public transportation when I get back from cities like Denver, Seattle, Portland, Philly and Atlanta. Why stop there?  Phoenix and Charlotte are even breathing down our necks. Next we should let Amarillo and Lubbock pass us up next!

 

You and I just have a fundamental philosophical difference about what Houston is. It is far from "country and backwards" but I am glad you got that off your chest. It relieves your stress