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September 18, 2007
Newsflash: Traffic's Bad
Late this afternoon Rad Sallee posted a piece in the Chron on Houston's worsening traffic problem. Texas A&M's Transportation Institute has just released its annual Urban Mobility Report, which shows Houston had the 7th-most rush hour freeway delay hours in the country in 2005, up from 8th-most in 2004.
Apparently, after dropping out of the 20 worst-congested cities in the 1995 study, Houston has been steadily climbing the list again. With an area population of six million or so and growing, the problem figures to worsen in the coming years. And Robin Holzer, of the Citizen's Transportation Coalition, contends that since the study only tracks freeway congestion during rush hour, it doesn't tell the whole congestion story.
The story is timely as plans for the expansion of METRO rail remain up in the air, plans which have caused a great deal of controversy among local residents. The proposed University Corridor, with its possible line down Richmond, has been particularly contentious.
While suburban growth has continued in the Houston area, density in the city's urban core has exploded in recent years, exacerbating traffic problems on surface streets there. As Holzer points out, the study does not address that issue, but for many of us driving those streets on a daily basis it is a big one.
NIMBYism has been in full force during the rail expansion debate, but should a few people be allowed to stand in the way of improved mobility for all Houstonians? In a word, no. As new highrises, townhouses and apartment complexes explode inside the 610 Loop, traffic congestion gets worse and worse. Whether it's LRT, BRT or whatever, we need to take action to deal with ever-increasing density.
Posted by houtopia at September 18, 2007 08:11 PM
Comments
While suburban growth has continued in the Houston area, density in the city's urban core has exploded in recent years, exacerbating traffic problems on surface streets there. As Holzer points out, the study does not address that issue, but for many of us driving those streets on a daily basis it is a big one.
Exactly.
We can't afford to ADD to congestion on important east-west streets (Richmond) by laying rail lines down those streets. That's insanity.
Lay the rail down less congested streets (Westpark) that have the added benefit of being approved by voters in 2003.
If light rail truly does contribute to growth (even though the Main Street line would seem to indicate otherwise), then density will improve along Westpark, which is another plus.
That's probably not the response you had in mind, though. :)
But in all seriousness -- if folks are going to advance the notion that walking (or riding a circulator bus) a block and a half means mass transit is not viable in Houston, doesn't that say something important about prevailing attitudes?
To illustrate the point -- a few months ago, I caught a bus from Chicago's Navy pier headed West for quite a few blocks, and then caught the rail line headed south to my hotel. I think Chicagoans would look at you like you were on crack if you suggested a light rail line should be laid down Lake Shore Drive (as opposed to taking a bus west to the EL) because "that's where the people are."
Can't we think like a real city about transit policy? Because it's expensive and important. It would be nice to get it right.
Posted by: kevin whited at September 18, 2007 10:21 PM