tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post7883848521214049981..comments2024-01-12T00:32:20.149-08:00Comments on The Overhead Wire: Off the Line in HoustonPantograph Trolleypolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833159138533550544noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-29301707178067843512011-06-19T18:53:47.506-07:002011-06-19T18:53:47.506-07:00Build some thing S-Bahn like and it could still be...Build some thing S-Bahn like and it could still be used some time by freight trains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-68559956820414092582011-06-16T09:01:50.852-07:002011-06-16T09:01:50.852-07:00Yes-- that's the planning grant. I say medium ...Yes-- that's the planning grant. I say medium speed rail since some of the alignments being considered won't allow what I'd call high speed (125+) but could allow 110 mph.Christof Spielernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-31832060389731859882011-06-16T08:20:02.053-07:002011-06-16T08:20:02.053-07:00Note that 249 overpasses the freight line, so it i...Note that 249 overpasses the freight line, so it is plausible that it could start on the freight line and then shift over to an expressway alignment.BruceMcFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08502035881761277885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-11555029603011759052011-06-15T13:58:57.055-07:002011-06-15T13:58:57.055-07:00I agree Christof. I hadn't heard of the mediu...I agree Christof. I hadn't heard of the medium speed Dallas line. Is that a part of the grant for planning that Texas got from the HSR money?Pantograph Trolleypolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17833159138533550544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-68253097450670039832011-06-15T06:28:28.333-07:002011-06-15T06:28:28.333-07:00The timing of this is apt-- we just held a METRO p...The timing of this is apt-- we just held a METRO public meeting at the Lone Star College campus in those buildings last night. 249 is one of the few radial freeway corridors in Houston that does not have an HOV lane, and of Houston's radial corridors is has the least direct connection to Downtown (because the freeway stops at beltway 8.) Thus, existing transit service isn't very good, despite a major population base and some significant employment and educational institutions.<br /><br />On one hand, the lack of an existing transit infrastructure and the availability of an existing rail line means that commuer rail may make sense here. BNSF has been open to sharing these tracks, and in fact TxDOT is considering them for medium-speed rail to Dallas, which could definitely complement commuter rail.<br /><br />On the other hand, the major destinations are, as you note, lined up along the freeway. So maybe an HOV with BRT service -- with a connection to I-45 or 290 for a link to Downtown -- makes more sense.<br /><br />This is case in point for why planning shouldn't start by presuming a mode but rather start by defining a travel need and then seeing what modes and alignments might serve that need.Christof Spielerhttp://ridemetro.org/noreply@blogger.com