Category Archives: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

City to release documents related to red light camera study

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

They’re being ordered to do so by a judge, but it doesn’t look like they’re particularly bothered by it. Paul Kubosh and Randall Kallinen filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s refusal to release 208 documents they requested under the Texas … Continue reading →

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Emmett on commuter rail

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

County Judge Ed Emmett’s op ed piece is one part an argument for commuter rail, and one part an argument for who should be in charge of it. I suppose the fact that he’s making that case is a good … Continue reading →

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The Grand Parkway ain’t dead yet

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It may not receive stimulus funds, but don’t go presiding over Last Rites for the Grand Parkway. Commissioners Court on Tuesday delayed a planned request to reallocate $181 million in federal stimulus funds for part of the 180-mile Grand Parkway … Continue reading →

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Grand Parkway will not get stimulus funds

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As the Chron story headline says, it wasn’t so shovel-ready after all. Harris County officials will request that $181 million in federal stimulus funding for portions of the county’s controversial Grand Parkway tollroad project be shifted to other projects, citing … Continue reading →

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Don’t let politics get in the way of commuter rail

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

For once, we have a broad consensus about the need to build rail lines. Let’s please not let turf war pissing matches be an even bigger obstacle to getting them built than old-fashioned opposition ever was. Three agencies are actively … Continue reading →

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League City begins red light camera operations

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, League City council approved the use of red light cameras at up to five intersections there. On Wednesday, those cameras went into operation. League City installed three red-light cameras at the following three intersections. West FM 518 … Continue reading →

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Seven sidewalk sins

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Sid Burgess presents seven examples of how to be pedestrian-unfriendly. How many of them have you seen in the Houston area? I can say I’ve seen all seven. Thanks to neoHouston for the link.

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Metro passes civil rights review

Posted on October 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Federal Transit Administration told the Metropolitan Transit Authority in a letter last week that the civil rights review, which began in February, is complete. In July, the FTA informed Metro that it was deficient on two out of … Continue reading →

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SNCF proposes high-speed rail route for Texas

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not the Texas T-Bone, but it’s a start. Last December, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Representative John Mica (R-FL) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration would begin accepting Expressions of Interest for the development of high-speed lines in … Continue reading →

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Wolff speaks about Metro

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s Metro board chair David Wolff giving a state of the system address in the op-ed pages. I suppose it’s a counter, if not a response to Bill King’s piece from two weeks ago; it offers a defense of the … Continue reading →

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If they can do it, why can’t we?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Phoenix loves its new light rail line. The light rail here, which opened in December, has been a greater success than its proponents thought it would be, but not quite the way they envisioned. Unlike the rest … Continue reading →

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Megaregions

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned the Megaregions conference that’s going on in town today and tomorrow. Christof explains what it’s about, why it’s important, and how our area stacks up with others like it. Check it out.

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San Antonio moves forward on streetcars

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, the city of San Antonio announced it would form a citizens advisory committee to help guide the creation of a starter streetcar system. It has now done so. The commission’s prime task will be to advise VIA’s board … Continue reading →

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West U to consider a texting-while-driving ban

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, the city of West University Place banned using cellphones while in school zones. Now they’re looking to add a texting ban to their roster of no-nos. West U. City Council has asked city staff members to draft an … Continue reading →

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New light rail line begins service in Dallas

Posted on September 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I so look forward to the day when this story can be written for Houston. When the trains begin running today on the opening segment of DART’s new Green Line, the transit agency will unveil the longest expansion of light … Continue reading →

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Metro should get a bigger piece of the pie

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This article is about Metro’s budget for the next year and its proposal to add a nickel to the bus and rail fares. What really interests me is this bit: Metro receives a 1-cent sales tax, but must set aside … Continue reading →

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Safe Clear reduces wrecks

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So says a study commissioned by the city. Houston’s mandatory towing program has continued to reduce crashes on the city’s freeways, according to a city-commissioned study released Monday. The study examined the effect of the Safe Clear program from 2005 … Continue reading →

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Pick a fare

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was going to say something about Bill King’s latest treatise on Metro’s fare structure, but Greg sums it up pretty succinctly, so I’ll just refer you to him. I look forward to the next entry in this series, “Let’s … Continue reading →

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What about the train stations?

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With all the talk about commuter rail and high-speed rail these days, it’s important to remember that those trains have to stop someplace so passengers can get on and off, ideally with a connection to a light rail line nearby. … Continue reading →

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Ten transportation opportunities for the next mayor

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof has a list of ten transportation opportunities for the next mayor, having to do with trains, roads, parking, infrastructure, and other matters, that I hope all of the candidates read. I encourage you to read it as well.

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WiFi in the sky

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Since I’ve asserted that being able to use one’s laptop to surf the web while traveling is an advantage of taking the train as opposed to driving, I should note that soon one will be able to surf while flying … Continue reading →

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More on Glaeser and high speed rail

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned before some analysis done by the New York Times’ Ed Glaeser on the economics of high speed rail between Houston and Dallas. His series has come under a lot of criticism – see that post, along with these … Continue reading →

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Eastwood art deco facade saved

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The art deco facade on the Sterling Laundry & Cleaning Co. on Harrisburg in Eastwood, which had been marked for demolition as part of the construction of the Harrisburg line, has been saved. From the inbox: Vice Mayor Pro Tem … Continue reading →

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We have traffic, yes we do

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no surprise. Surprise, surprise. The No. 1 road for traffic congestion in the entire state is — drumroll, please — the stretch of Interstate 45 between the North Loop and Beltway 8. In fact, Harris County was home to … Continue reading →

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Fixing freight rail

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good story about freight rail in and around Houston and its present and future needs. The recession has eased the rail traffic problem temporarily, but transportation leaders warn the reprieve will not last. Houston’s population will grow and the widening … Continue reading →

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Bonding Metro

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It wouldn’t be Metro if there weren’t drama. Metro has not obtained performance or payment bonds to cover all the planned construction of four new light rail lines, and some officials say that could put taxpayer dollars at risk. Metro … Continue reading →

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Austin to ban texting while driving

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

After considering it for a long time, the city of Austin is set to ban texting while driving. Council members Mike Martinez and Chris Riley and Mayor Lee Leffingwell are proposing to prohibit writing, sending or reading text messages, instant … Continue reading →

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Metro and its art deco demolition debacle

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I saw this Swamplot report yesterday and I thought “Why, Metro, why? Why are you pissing off your supporters so?” This timely building at 4819 Harrisburg in Eastwood, built in 1935 for the Sterling Laundry & Cleaning Co., showed up … Continue reading →

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A solution in search of a problem

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We were out of town over the weekend, so I managed to miss this Bill King op-ed about the “need” to elevate the Main Street line on Fannin in the Medical Center area. Having now read it, I have three … Continue reading →

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Metro gets FTA final design approval for North and Southeast lines

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Another step forward. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave METRO permission today to enter into Final Design on Houston’s North and Southeast light-rail lines. The FTA’s approval is the final prerequisite toward entering Full Funding Grant Agreements on both lines, … Continue reading →

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Crabb River Road and FM762

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison emailed me the following link from his blog: I am seeking the support of my neighbors in Greatwood, Tara, Canyon Gate, Bridlewood Estates, Brazos Lakes and Brazos Gardens to widen Crabb River Road and … Continue reading →

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Comparing trains to planes

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it earlier, economist Edward Glaeser did an analysis of a theoretical high-speed rail link between Dallas and Houston to see if HSR made economic sense in general. His conclusion that they didn’t has been sharply criticized, … Continue reading →

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New flash: We spend a lot on gas

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise, Texans are more vulnerable to gas price increases than people in most other states. While most Americans felt the pinch of higher gasoline prices in 2008, drivers in Texas paid an especially heavy toll, according to a national … Continue reading →

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The streetscape for the Universities line

Posted on August 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

RichmondRail.org has a suggestion for Metro. For the coming light rail line to be a true asset to our neighborhoods, the streets leading to the transit stations must accommodate pedestrians more safely and comfortably than is typical for Houston streets … Continue reading →

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