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mass transit & energy use
The debate over the light rail was laid to rest when Houstonians voted in November to continue construction begun in the Medical Center.
“There is always a lot of publicity surrounding a new addition to the city,” Ernest Chow, light rail representative said. “Always some people are for it while others are against it. I remember people predicting dooms day for Hobby Airport when it was built. No one will drive that far was one complaint but they were wrong.”
The $300 million project designed to relieve traffic problems is expected to provide an economic boost to the areas surrounding the 7.5-mile rail line.
“There has been a $500 billion in development in the midtown area in the last two to three years,” Susan Browning, metro spokeswomen said.
The US Olympic Committee has chosen Houston-along with New York, San Francisco, and Washington-as one of four US cities in the final running to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
“The construction of the light rail was a key factor in Houston’s bid for the Olympics. Without it, I don’t think we would have been in the running now,” Chow said.
Houston’s Olympic effort started in the 1970s. It was hindered during the 1980s by the oil burst and rekindled in the 1990s by former City Councilman John Kelley.
Houston presented a compact plan to the Olympic committee that stressed the clustering of events in three locations: downtown, the University of Houston/Texas Southern University area and the Reliant Astrodome main complex.
“Transportation is critical and 85 percent of the Olympics will happen along the 7.5 mile corridor that the light rail is in,” Chow said. “Approximately 6,000-8,000 people per hour can be transported.”
According to Chow, the Main Street design will have the light rail running down the center with a one-way street on either side for car traffic. Voters approved over $39 million to be used in a study to extend rail lines similar to Main Street.
“Metro’s long-range plans call for analysis of extensions running down downtown toward Bush Intercontinental Airport; the University of Houston; Texas Southern University; Hobby Airport; and along the West Loop in the Galleria area from Katy Freeway to Southwest Freeway and Westpark,” John Sedlak, vice president of Metro planning and development said.
Chow explained the use of light rail will “augment 1200 buses from downtown area and spread out through the rest of city and suburbs.”
Construction has forced some businesses to close elsewhere along Main between downtown and Reliant Park, where the light rail line will run. Pot holes, dirt-filled streets and construction equipment have driven away some of the store patrons.
“I’m amazed customers even walk around in this stuff. All of us are very frustrated,” Lee Ellis, owner of the Tonic nightclub on Main said.
“We are not against the construction,” Youssef Nafaa, owner of Mia Bella restaurant at Main and Preston said. “But I don’t think half of us are going to make it to what downtown will be two years from now.”
Upon completion Chow expects “a 30,000 baseline ridership.”
© Copyright World Internet News 2006-07
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