Question: Given the speed with which METRO is advancing plans along Richmond, isn't it too late to consider Westheimer?
It's true that the draft environmental impact report (DEIS) has been generated and accepted by METRO for a Richmond route. But Westheimer was not given a fair and thorough consideration, and there is much less environmental and auto traffic impact if a Westheimer route is chosen. METRO says on its website that Westheimer can be reconsidered if there is sufficient interest. The only time that it will be too late to consider an alternate route will be after the University Rail construction begins. Construction has not begun yet so let's work hard to make sure it's built where it makes the most sense -- along Westheimer!
Question: Didn't the voters approve a Weslayan route for rail in 2003?
Neither Richmond nor Westheimer were specifically approved by the vote, so certainly Westheimer is no worse than Richmond with regard to the ballot language. The ballot included language to clarify that the "final scope, length of rail segments or lines and other details, together with implementation schedule, will be based upon demand and completion of the project development process, including community input." Given enough community input, METRO claims it would reconsider a Westheimer route.
Question: Westheimer is actually narrower than Richmond in places -- won't this make building rail there even more difficult?
Actually no, because the proposed Richmond route includes a number of 90-degree turns and this takes up a lot of space. An all-Elgin/Westheimer route would follow the existing roadway with no turns whatsoever, except to follow the roadway made up of turns of less than thirty degrees. Parking is currently allowed where Westheimer is narrow with only one lane of traffic, and after train construction there would still be one lane of auto traffic in each direction (see our gallery.) Richmond is multiple lanes in each direction and we should maintain this superior route for cars, trucks, and emergency vehicles, and not mess it up with a train in the street.
Question: How would an Elgin/Westheimer route tie into the existing lightrail on Main?
METRO currently plans to tie the lines together at the Wheeler Station. Obviously a Westheimer route would suggest transfers at Elgin at Main (HCC.) The location of the transfer station should be dictated by the superior overall route on Westheimer, rather than forcing new rail routes to tie poorly located existing stations. And there will still be private property takings by METRO to get in and out of Wheeler and on and off of Richmond.
Question: What about Greenway Plaza?
Greenway Plaza is mostly private offices. This means that the same people every day are going to Greenway Plaza during rush hour, which makes it ideal for regional commuter rail, not a local streetcar like the University line. Consider where workers may be commuting from -- say, Sugarland, or the Woodlands, or if they live close, West University. The people who live in West University need to travel north on Kirby, Buffalo Speedway, Edloe, and Weslayan -- a train running on Richmond simply won't be able to service them. And the people coming from great distances need a regional transit solution, not a local one such as our University streetcar.
Question: There are freight train tracks at Suffolk and there was a recent controversy regarding rail crossing the UP tracks near the Magnolia transit center.
While it's true that grade-separated rail crossings are expensive, eventually Westheimer will be grade-separated anyway as can be seen in this plan from houstonrailplan.com
Question: I've heard the Galleria and Highland Village property owners don't want a Westheimer route.
This is shortsighted; real estate owners aren't the only parties involved in overall mobility. The Highland Village / Galleria areas are extremely congested with vehicular traffic and will only get worse. It is difficult to find a parking place at busy times; to increase parking at Highland Village, enormous parking structures fronting Westheimer could be built but this would look awful. Bringing people with rail is the best solution to this problem. Employees that work in the area may also prefer to take the rail. Private property owners simply don't own the public roadway and we must obtain the best transit use within that easement.
Question: Won't River Oaks residents complain even louder than the Afton Oaks crowd complained about Richmond? And doesn't Chairman Wolfe live there?
Rail is definitely a NIMBY issue (Not In My BackYard.) But we have to ask ourselves, what makes the most sense for getting people through the busiest commercial district in the city outside of downtown? We must pick the best route for rail. It might take longer to get rail on Westheimer considering how split the opinions are, but it will be worth the work and the wait when we get it because it will be in the most useful place.
Question: Westheimer is considered a rich area. Wouldn't METRO be accused of catering to the rich if they put the train there?
Actually just the opposite is true, the rich have many ways to get where they're going but rail transports a diverse populace in a communal manner. In other words, it enables everyone young and old, rich and poor, to city access. The reason that Westheimer has expensive real estate is because it spans a highly traveled route with dense commercial activity and these heavily visited retail areas would be well served by rail. If we are worried that METRO is catering to the rich, we should consider the accusation that METRO is serving real estate developer interests by locating the train on Richmond rather than Westheimer.
