Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A push to make commuter rail a reality
HOUSTON CHRONICLE ^ | Oct. 4, 2009 | CAROLYN FEIBEL

Posted on 10/04/2009 12:57:37 PM PDT by Willie Green

Metro, the city of Galveston and a third group are all pushing commuter service concepts

A political turf war has broken out to determine who will bring commuter rail to the Houston area.

While actual trains are years in the future, the lobbying and jockeying have begun behind the scenes, spurred by stimulus money and the promise of future federal money for high-speed passenger trains.

“If this thing gets built it's going to involve a lot of funding,” said Christof Spieler, a transportation analyst on the board of the Citizens' Transportation Coalition. “Every agency wants to be in charge of that pot of money.”

Three agencies are actively promoting commuter rail schemes: the city of Galveston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and the newly formed Gulf Coast Freight Rail District. The latter is a partnership among Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County; Waller and Galveston counties plan to join soon.

Political insiders say it's urgent that all the jurisdictions come together — and soon — or risk jeopardizing Houston's position in the national competition for federal dollars.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: choochoos; rail; trains; transportation; trolleys
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last
Cool!!!

Build 'em ALL!!!

The more the merrier!!!

1 posted on 10/04/2009 12:57:38 PM PDT by Willie Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
If you want to see a disaster in the making just look at the commuter rail project in Austin. It's been a joke from the beginning. The obvious cost overruns in the millions, the computer glitches they can't seem to fix, the head of the project is quitting, the price of a ticket has doubled what they said it would be, and the real kicker....

They STILL haven't got it up and running. It's just too funny to watch.

2 posted on 10/04/2009 1:06:59 PM PDT by unixfox (The 13th Amendment Abolished Slavery, The 16th Amendment Reinstated It !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

These things are always a “good idea” until after they are built and the morons find out that nobody rides them.


3 posted on 10/04/2009 1:15:56 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I don't remember Americans being called "racists" when we fought against Hillarycare.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unixfox
It's been a joke from the beginning. The obvious cost overruns in the millions, the computer glitches they can't seem to fix, the head of the project is quitting, the price of a ticket has doubled what they said it would be, and the real kicker....

Passenger rail service in Texas will become an economical reality once Rick Perry and the Texas Oil Mafia get the boot.

4 posted on 10/04/2009 1:20:36 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Trains are for freight.

People use cars or busses.

Just the way it is.

Spend the moneys on more roads or widening existing roads.
Far more benefit to more people that way.


5 posted on 10/04/2009 1:25:08 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

There goes all the tax dollars collected for highway upkeep.

Wonderful. I hope folks enjoy all the toll roads that will double and triple tax drivers.


6 posted on 10/04/2009 1:26:44 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Deficit spending, trade deficits, unsecure mortages, worthless paper... ... not a problem. Oh yeah?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Instead of spending billions/trillions on high speed rail, use that money instead to invent and refine individual flying machines that one can park in their garage. I think the future of transportation will be in the air, not on the ground. We need to surpass the one-dimensional ground and soar to the multi-dimensional skies. With our advanced computer knowledge, it’s only a matter of time before we will all be given an altitude to fly at depending on our starting point and destination. I hope this happens before I depart this wonderful earth!


7 posted on 10/04/2009 1:30:42 PM PDT by mimi from mi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

The Feds will cover part of the money for building. Houstonians will pay to subsidize operating costs for the rest of eternity.


8 posted on 10/04/2009 1:31:35 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unixfox
It's been a joke from the beginning. The obvious cost overruns in the millions,

Only millions in the overrun? Hey, I want those wizards to take over the trains their installing here in Seattle. We were about $2 billion OVER on a 14 mile, 10 stop line! Millions in overruns would save us a bundle - count yourself lucky!

9 posted on 10/04/2009 1:33:35 PM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the Defense of the Indefensible)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Amtrack worked out so well, lets repeat it.
10 posted on 10/04/2009 1:38:01 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied, the economy died)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

And THAT is the name of the game: $$$$$

These light rail/commuter projects are all massive boondoggles designed to put money in the hands of goobermint agencies and politically connected contractors.

They NEVER accomplish their stated goals, and it ALWAYS bites taxpayers in the azz.


11 posted on 10/04/2009 1:39:09 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Light rail is GREAT (for the drug dealers)! Gets em from one side of town to the other very conveniently!


12 posted on 10/04/2009 2:38:34 PM PDT by Trick or Treat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unixfox
I was going to reply in a snarky fashion to the effect that how come Texans can't do a better job than New Yorkers? Here in New York, we have a great commuter rail system. (Several systems actually)

Then I though, “Wait a minute. Let me look up revenues.” The MTA, comprised of the subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road and Metro North Rail Road, is operating at a $1.2 billion deficit in 2009.

Well that's that. No snarky comment. Besides, I only take the LIRR to visit family when it's too cold for my motorcycle.

13 posted on 10/04/2009 3:30:08 PM PDT by OA5599
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: PugetSoundSoldier
- count yourself lucky!

You can't fool me!

Seattle already has a nice light rail system.
The only reason you want us Houstonians to remain stuck in beltway traffic congestion is so you can hog all the mass transit money for yourself and keep expanding your system.

14 posted on 10/04/2009 3:31:36 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Obama’s for starting trade wars and federally funded trains. You might as well stop pretending to be a conservative and embrace the guy.


15 posted on 10/04/2009 3:38:57 PM PDT by dr_who
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dr_who

The only good thing ever accomplished my marxist partisans was when they hung Mussolini by the heels with piano wire.
I admit, I'm a bit disappointed that Obama doesn't give the Global Oil Fascists the same treatment.

16 posted on 10/04/2009 4:02:57 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: unixfox
If you want to see a disaster in the making just look at the commuter rail project in Austin.

There's a commuter rail system in Austin? Where does it go?

17 posted on 10/04/2009 4:10:36 PM PDT by justlurking (The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: justlurking
There's a commuter rail system in Austin? Where does it go?

Here's a good map of the system.

18 posted on 10/04/2009 4:21:24 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Do you own a car?


19 posted on 10/04/2009 5:41:38 PM PDT by dr_who
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

Generally everywhere you could care less about. First law of mass transit. In Austin, that probably means you can use the rail system to get to either where you can A: wait 30-45 minutes for a table in a restaurant where they serve foie gras for 1/4 of the amount your last paycheck or B: commune with winos and junkies while feeding pidgeons or C: go to a bus stop that leads to another bus stop that leads to another...you get the idea. But to find some decent barbeque and peach cobbler, you need a car.


20 posted on 10/04/2009 5:51:38 PM PDT by dr_who
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson