Driving at rush hour may cost more in Houston Options

[Hartmann]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5682404.html

So, instead of putting in some form of public transportation and having it pay for itself, we build a bigger road (with tax dollars) and increase the price during rush hour.

I'm fairly certain the tolls will be operated by a foreign company with Houston receiving a portion of the collected tolls.

Anyway, is it just me or does anyone else think this is retarded? I think it will turn out to be a complete failure with no one using the toll lanes during rush hour, making the construction unnecessary as the traffic will be the same.

[Testm0nkey]

why does he live in kingwood then? there are a lot of suburbs/neighborhoods around 290. and i mean if you live 90 miles from where you work you cant really complain about the public transportation. thats a horrible commute and always will be one! (in reference to the system only working in a 50 mile radius)

and KW to greenspoint and then to 290 area is probably way faster

edit: thats just one of my pet peeves. someone chooses a place to live buys a home and THEN thinks about how they are going to get to work. and tada if you dont plan around that traffic/transportation is going to blow balls. but yes i understand people changing buildings and careers but then maybe its time to check out other real estate or just suck it up

[impala454]

why does he live in kingwood then? there are a lot of suburbs/neighborhoods around 290.

There are ghetto ass neighborhoods where you wouldn't want to live, or there's $500,000 houses. Not exactly a huge assortment. And if you're talking about the stuff out at barker cypress, that's pretty much laughable. I get to work faster from the complete opposite side of town than people who live out at barker cypress off 290.

and i mean if you live 90 miles from where you work

While 90 miles obviously is a huge exaggeration, it's not about the distance in Houston, it's about where and when you're travelling. I live 35 miles from work, but because I go opposite of the worst traffic it usually only takes 35-40 mins. While others who live 15-20 miles from work take as long if not longer because they're coming inbound on 290 in the morning and outbound in the evening (takes about 1 hr to get from the beltway to the loop).

you cant really complain about the public transportation. thats a horrible commute and always will be one! (in reference to the system only working in a 50 mile radius)

I didn't complain about public transportation. I was responding to hartmann about why one wouldn't work here.

and KW to greenspoint and then to 290 area is probably way faster

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

edit: thats just one of my pet peeves. someone chooses a place to live buys a home and THEN thinks about how they are going to get to
work. and tada if you dont plan around that traffic/transportation is going to blow balls.

Sorry, I guess not everyone gets married, makes sure their spouse works right next door to their work, then has a perfect neighborhood with great schools right across the street from those two workplaces . This perfect couple also surely never gets tired of their job and looks for another one.

but yes i understand people changing buildings and careers but then maybe its time to check out other real estate or just suck it up

"suck it up" is exactly what we do. I still think you mistake me for someone who's complaining. All I was doing was explaining that with the layout of the city and how insanely spread out it is, a public transportation system wouldn't really work all that well.