July 26, 2007
Metro Houston's proposal to open HOV lanes to single occupant cars is a very bad idea.
Metro Houston is proposing that Houston drivers be allowed to use the HOV system for a fee regardless of the number of passengers in a vehicle. This is very bad idea from all political viewpoints. Houston environmentalists will probably complain that Metro encouraging the continued one passenger per car mentality. Advocates for the poor will claim that Metro is creating a class-based freeway system based on ones ability to buy your way out of traffic. Taxpayer advocates will reel at charging citizens additional fees to use a system their tax dollars already funded. Fiscal conservatives will argue that Metro is more concerned about dollars moving into its account than citizens moving on the freeway. Regardless of your political beliefs all of these have a certain element of truth to them.
The most convincing argument is based on Houston’s history cycle of freeway development expansion. Given the long period between TXDOT feasibility studies and projection completion most freeways are either outdated once completed or soon thereafter. Native Houstonians are very familiar with the results of the "Hail Mary" freeway projects from TXDOT. Suburban growth outpaces freeway expansion and in most cases is triggered by freeway expansion.
The HOV system is a reversible lane that allows High Occupancy Vehicles to avoid the ordinary congestion of the freeway system. Allowing single occupant vehicles into the HOV will nullify the functionality of the HOV system. In essence riders will face the same level of traffic a peak commute times, but without the ability to change lanes. Demand will exceed capacity.
While fees will increase with congestion, one must not forget that we are a service economy where time is money. The question every HOV driver will ask is what is the value of my time worth? But to truly frame the circumstances of a fee based use of the HOV, you need to look at it from an event driven perspective. How much is attending the after-school play worth? "I can’t miss little league photos, even $30 is worth it." Frame it from that perspective and you will find that rich or poor most would pony up $10 or more in the belief they would arrive on time. The problem is they won’t. In a metropolitan area with millions of citizens you will find that a single lane of traffic will find its capacity filled rather quickly. Rest assure Metro will not attach a service level agreement to your trip time. They will however gladly take your money while you sit parked on the HOV.
Posted by downtownadmin at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2006
Hybrid vs. Diesel
We as consumers have many choices at our disposal when faced with commuting. The choice which tends to appeal to the vast majority of Houstonians would be that of the car. As with anything designed, marketed, and tested in focus groups, we have a dizzying array of choices when it comes to our cars. Two of consumer-driven America’s newest choices in cars are also the oldest. The “newly-rediscovered” Diesel-powered car and the previously-relegated to pulling a Caboose” Hybrid system are yet another option that we consumers must consider.
Read more about Hybrid vs. Diesel and see if one is right for you.
Posted by downtownadmin at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2006
Are Houston Traffic rules really that hard to comprehend?
Last night while on McGowan at Main Street, I watched as two morons U-turned back around and nearly entered the light rail lane. Are we really that low on the evolutionary scale of driving in this city?
Granted people break rules and disregard warnings, but when caught in clutches of a light rail train everyone claims they did not see it.
While we do oversee rocket launching in Space City, navigating our streets in a safe and secure manner is not rocket science.
And to add insult to injury I regularly witness flagrant violations of traffic laws by those who believe they are a protected class. In this case "they" are wrecker drivers and Metro bus drivers. On several occasions I have watched as impatient wrecker drivers run red lights on Main after waiting at the light. Fortunately the only thing I saw flying was their mullets, next time it could be body and car parts.
Downtown Houston Rant.
Posted by downtownadmin at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)