Houston Light Rail

[XNASA]

I knew this was a bad idea. Houston drivers don't like to share the road with anyone, especially Public Transportation. It's been open since the beginning of this year and they're already into double digit accidents.

http://www.news24houston.com/content/headlines/?ArID=22886&SecID=2

---"I think the message is the same. The message going back, really, about 18 months ago when we started construction was, 'Let's make sure we pay attention to traffic signs, let's pay attention to traffic signals, and let's do those things that we're okay to do.' The message is the same," said Metro Chief of Police Tom Lambert.---

[dumpster_baby]

1. houstonians are idiots.....I should know!

One of the big problems we have on the houston roads is the amount of former third world drivers on the road.....not to sound too xenophobic, but they never really got to grow up in a driving society, and their "deep background" on driving is just not there.....

Another big problem is the macho thing--both from white male "Texians" and male Mexicans...

[XNASA]

2. Another problem, if I may....

Is that even with this Light Rail System (that nobody except tourists will use) is that Houston has no Public Transportation to speak of...

Therefore, even if you're a bad driver, or a senior who shouldn't be driving, or just plain hate to drive.....you have no other choice. You must get in a car and join in the insanity.

[Bridget Burke]

6. Sorry, it does sound a bit xenophobic.....

Many of the drivers playing bumper car with the train are white chicks in big SUV's. They're used to driving the biggest thing on the road. And the cell phones are distracting....

Here's a hint: Many countries have automobiles! Anybody who could drive in Mexico City will have no problem here; they could probably do OK in Boston.

[denverbill]

3. Denver had a LOT of accidents initially. Some very serious.

Eventually, they fixed the problems.

Personally, I love the light rail system here. I'm extremely happy they are expanding it.

[Fenris]

4. Yeah, it was a BRILLIANT idea from the beginning

The smart thing was that metro started the damn thing and then let the people vote on wether or not they wanted Metro to finish it, i.e. give them more money. What the hell kind of an option was that? The streets downtown are packed enough as it is. There's no need for some goofy electric station wagon taking up another lane.

City politics...what fun!

[Bridget Burke]

5. I support mass transit & ride Houston Metro (the bus) to work....

But the new light rail setup doesn't make much sense.

It duplicates existing bus routes up & down Main Street (although the routes have now been moved). The route--between Reliant Park & Minutemaid (formerly Enron) Field--was designed to attract the Olympics. However, Olympic planners decided not to torture the world's athletes & fans with a Houston summer. (Hey, now we're having a Houston winter--the city does have its good points.)

The construction process, in which Main Street was rendered unusable for a couple of years, almost killed the (small, yet) burgeoning downtown scene. And now we have rail lines ON THE STREETS--so the trains have to slow for traffic & the occasional removal of wreckage.

Even Dallas was able to do it better--and that's something, coming from a Houstonian.

[d_ashley]

7. i live in houston and the confusing thing about this is...

out of the three candidates for mayor, the two liberal nominees SUPPORTED light rail, while the conservative OPPOSED it. i was dead set against it and was dissapointed to see the liberals favoring it. it passed rather narrowly in the vote and obviously there are many problems with it. first, no one seems to be riding it. second, it has caused more traffic problems so far than it has erradicated. hopefully, this will change in the future. i'm sure its gonna be used quite a bit this week as the super bowl is in town.

[demon67]

8. Monorail!

The whole situation reminds me of the classic Simpsons "Monorail" episode. I still miss Phil Hartman.