wernicke Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 I got bumped off at Rice U stop on Friday and immediately experienced a replay of the Metro's inadequate 700 bus substitute after Hurricane Ike.Think a large mob, few buses that do come by are full (or the driver will not open the doors despite adequate standing room), and general frustration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I ran across a couple of interesting articles this weekend, both talking about a private infusion of money into public transit.Bar and club owners along L.A. Metro's downtown rail line (like Houston, also called the Red Line) are trying to boost business. The way they're doing it is paying L.A. Metro to run Red Line service longer into the night so that it's more useful for late-night clubbers and bar hoppers.The downtown businesses pay the cost of whatever it takes to keep the trains running beyond their usual closing time until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. Amazingly, the plan went through in just two months. Now the city DOT has taken notice and is extending the runs of its downtown circulator shuttle trollies to match the extended rail hours -- again paid for with private money.What do the HAIFers think about this plan? Do you think downtown Houston bars would pony up to keep the Red Line running later, or maybe making the current schedule more frequent (it's every 20 minutes now, compared with every 2-10 minutes in LA).What about a circulator bus between the downtown bars and the city's other club districts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Sounds like a great idea. Let the people who use and benefit from mass transit pay for it for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted October 27, 2008 Author Share Posted October 27, 2008 I think the idea has some merit. a circulating bus route might do well as a trial to see how that works out, but seeing how long the distances are between rice, washingbton, midtown, downtown, and galleria; it would be interesting to see the routing and how the drivers would handle some of the more rowdy riders.then again, the argument could be squashed with security onboard and ridership could be encouraged if an "amnesty" against a Public Intoxication for those those riding mass transit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 , originally uploaded by jfre81. Jfre81 caught his shot of the MetroRail Red Line downtown. With the way the fountains are spraying, it almost looks like the train is splashing through the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 (edited) The Red Line is to close this weekend due to TMC bridge construction. Why do they have to close the whole damn thing? Can't they bridge stations with buses, like when it floods?I was going to ride it to two destinations this weekend.http://blogs.chron.c...rail_shutd.html Edited April 12, 2010 by rsb320 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Fannin will be closed, so it would require several blocks detour for this portion, thus may as well ride a bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 The Red Line is to close this weekend due to TMC bridge construction. Why do they have to close the whole damn thing? Can't they bridge stations with buses, like when it floods?I was going to ride it to two destinations this weekend.If the wires have to be deenergized and the work goes on all night then trains can't make it back to the maintenance and cleaning facility. That's my guess.You can still ride the shuttle buses. They will be running more often than the trains would so total travel time should be similar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 constructionwas well under way, the first couple of photos are just north where it's supposed to end, but it could just be related utility work....or not. Because of the construction, taking pics was quite a challenge, but as you can see, these are heading south from Northline mall. For grins, I took a quick shot of the Transit center as it currently stands. This is looking back at crosstimbers. I sat here for a couple of minutes and noticed most south bound traffic turned east or west. Kinda' wonder if that's normal or if it's simply because of the traffic. The site of where the first of the overpasses that will be built. One of the more challenging turns I'd like to see how they're going to handle. The DEIS doesn't give much detail. Looking back at Hays and the split. Another challenging intersection. This is where the rail is supposed to split off. As you can see, little work so far on boundary. And this is the turn from Boundery onto Main. This is continuing on Fulton just south of boundary heading towards Hogan. Hogan..... With the area it is suppose to turn to Main. I have no idea where there bridge is supposed to go over and "land" so I just took a guess it would land about here. Pick a spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Thanks for the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Cool! They really are working on the light rail!And thanks for the pics: it shows me another part of Houston I haven't seen before...looks like it has Fiesta, Payless Shoes, and...Dairy Land? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Share Posted April 9, 2011 Cool! They really are working on the light rail!And thanks for the pics: it shows me another part of Houston I haven't seen before...looks like it has Fiesta, Payless Shoes, and...Dairy Land?Actually, I've been meaning to go back since I saw how much the construction has progressed. My only problem is being a bit more selective on what I shoot and post. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Actually, I've been meaning to go back since I saw how much the construction has progressed. My only problem is being a bit more selective on what I shoot and post.May I speak for most of us? I'm unsure as to what immediate effect this work is having on the neighborhood, or how efficiently it's contributing to the construction of the Red Line. These photographs are a valuable record. Post the pictures first - we'll sort it out later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 May I speak for most of us? I'm unsure as to what immediate effect this work is having on the neighborhood, or how efficiently it's contributing to the construction of the Red Line. These photographs are a valuable record. Post the pictures first - we'll sort it out later.I was thinking that as well.Perhaps taking all the pics and then posting them on my photobucket and letting picking them from there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 It cleared up nicely and was in the area so I thought I'd snap a few photos after the rain and clouds flew past. As you can see, nothing really done at the TC, but the road next to it is coming along nicely, though. This is crosstimbers as it stands. This look looking north towards Crosstimbers. No sign of constructing starting for the elevated section. Anyone to pool bets on when it starts? From here, there is little sign of construction from Stokes to 610, but looks like they are just starting, but there wasn't a good place to take a decent photo. This is the Patton intersection looking south. This is from the entrance of Moody Park looking south. Note the construction of new apartments across the street. Note the new pavement at the intersection. Its hard to see, but it is there. There is little or no sign of construction from Boundary and Hogan and nothing on those particular streets, so I started at Main @ Boundary. No sign of construction the elevated portion here.... ...and then I noticed the cranes. Didn't think much of them, figured it had something to do with some UHD expansion... Looking BACK, revealed something unexpected. I thought the elevated portion was taking a different route? Other than that, there wasn't much more construction towards the south, but as you can see, there is some off the roadway where I thought the elevated portion would go. And the bonus of a DT view I've never really seen before. NOW I wish I had a better camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thanks very much for the updates! Nice to see they are starting work on an elevated portion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 I don't want to say for sure if that's where the elevated portion will be, looking at my copy of the DEIS, its hard to tell for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I was thinking that as well.Perhaps taking all the pics and then posting them on my photobucket and letting picking them from there?As far as I'm concerned -- the more pictures, the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Great job! Keep up the updates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 As far as I'm concerned -- the more pictures, the better.Thanks ed, but I'm just concerned for those few guys that don't have the bandwidth (i.e. patience) to take that many pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 The casons being poured just east of the Main St. tunnel are, in fact, for the elevated Burnett station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 The casons being poured just east of the Main St. tunnel are, in fact, for the elevated Burnett station. You got me rather curious, and since I was going to be in the area again anyway, I took a few more shots: I guess they are finished at leveling or something, but other than making a road to connect parking areas or even a new parking lot, I don't know what it would be used for. Notice the alignment. I'm curious as the path and the picture above hints that they are starting at the next group of casons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you want to see the site plans you could pop into the North Corridor office near Fulton & Boundary. I haven't had occasion to do so yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you want to see the site plans you could pop into the North Corridor office near Fulton & Boundary. I haven't had occasion to do so yet.I'll be in the area again in a couple of hours, I might have to do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Well, I stopped by the office and i was surprised to know that the route along hogan was dropped, which I thought was great! It seemed like an idiotic alignment plan anyway, but that means tracks in both directions will be going down boundary, which is a fairly narrow street. As I was driving past, it looks like they are about ready to do some work on that particular street.Back to the reason I went...Turns out that not only will be an elevated portion that will go EAST of main street, but the station will be located on that elevated portion.Should be rather interesting to see how that will turn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 found out that Walter's on washington was moving to 1120 Naylor , so I thought I'd add these photos. Still have no clue where the elevated station is going to be relative to location of the club, it thought it would interesting to see how the place is now and compare it after the construction is finished as well as any future development in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 It has been awhile since I've driving near most of the lines, do you think it would be appropriate for me to shoot another vid in jan, or should I good sooner or later?Additionally, anyone have route suggestions (directionally) for the various lines, or just follow it like I did last time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Just like you did last time, so we can follow the progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I'm looking forward to seeing the places where rail has actually been laid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 From the Chron... Metro to add fare enforcement to rail line http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Metro-to-add-fare-enforcement-to-rail-line-4473831.php#ixzz2RzVTTnhk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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