{SA} Light rail proposed for San Antonio (again)

[sirkingwilliam]

Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX

This isn't the first time I've seen this, but it is the first time I've actually looked at it and studied the lines.

I really like it. The blue line connects the airport with downtown and Brooks City-Base

The red line connects downtown with the arena district, medical center, UTSA, La Cantera.

The green line connects downtown with Broadway Corridor, Fort Sam, Port San Antonio and if expanded on could end at Highway 16 and Watson/Toyota.

All that needs to be done is add two lines. One connect the Westover Hills and Sea World with downtown and another connecting Windcrest, Schertz and Cibolo with downtown. Basically a far west side line and a northeast side/far north east side line.

Then you could honestly get to any major area of SA via rail.

[chadpcarey]

Originally Posted by coddat

My problem with any proposal, that is not a starter line one, is that the NE side is always neglected. The NE side was not included in the 2000 proposal, and if it's not included in this one, if it is promoted as a full system, then I can't with conscience approve a light rail for San Antonio.

This sort of thinking is really problematic for the creation of good civic amenities. It's awfully myopic when people only support proposals that are immediately beneficial to their neighborhood ("I'll only support a park if it's in MY neighborhood). Light-rail/mass tran can't really be intergrated into suburban living arrangements, and we shouldn't extend much effort and money trying to do so.

If people from the NE side (or most any far-flung suburban area) want urbanism, there's plenty of great neighborhoods in SA where they can find it.

Further, most people understand that if riders have to get in their cars to get to the sites (a la "park-and-ride" systems), they won't use mass tran in numbers that are required to make the system feasible.

We should focus on mass tran in SA's urban neighborhoods within 5-7 miles of downtown (and maybe try and get a line out to the Medical Center, because of the number of jobs concentrated in that area), with the knowledge that mass tran will only really work in areas where high-density development can occur (and where the market will support that development).

[Schertz1]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

There's no doubt that the northeast side will be considered now, it'd have to. You have Rackspace moving into Windsor Park and the Windcrest Village development just south of that. Also, Schertz/Cibolo was only 20,000-21,000 in 2000. Today it's an area of 60,000-65,000 people. Cibolo is growing by over 2,000 people a year.

Traffic on 35 is, many times, stacked from New Braunfels to 1604. Six lanes is not enough, rail would defiantly help.

[Trae]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

This isn't the first time I've seen this, but it is the first time I've actually looked at it and studied the lines.

I really like it. The blue line connects the airport with downtown and Brooks City-Base

The red line connects downtown with the arena district, medical center, UTSA, La Cantera.

The green line connects downtown with Broadway Corridor, Fort Sam, Port San Antonio and if expanded on could end at Highway 16 and Watson/Toyota.

All that needs to be done is add two lines. One connect the Westover Hills and Sea World with downtown and another connecting Windcrest, Schertz and Cibolo with downtown. Basically a far west side line and a northeast side/far north east side line.

Then you could honestly get to any major area of SA via rail.

I wonder what the timeline is.

[JAM]

Originally Posted by Schertz1

Traffic on 35 is, many times, stacked from New Braunfels to 1604. Six lanes is not enough, rail would defiantly help.

And stacked again from San Marcos all the way to Dallas. Probably can just say it is stacked from SA to Dallas during daylight hours most of the time.

[sirkingwilliam]

Originally Posted by Trae

I wonder what the timeline is.

Well, if VIA loses the BRT plans, the first LRT line would be open in 4 years.

[TXLove]

SA needs this....hope everything works out!

[Trae]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

Well, if VIA loses the BRT plans, the first LRT line would be open in 4 years.

Which line?

[METALMiKE]

Originally Posted by Trae

Which line?

According to the big map that was posted it is the RED Line.

[Trae]

So the entire red line in just four years?

[oldmanshirt]

I'm pretty sure VIA's BRT proposal only covered Fred Rd. between STMC and DT, right? If so, that sounds feasible in four years, depending on how well it's sold to the public and how soon funding can get approved.

[sirkingwilliam]

VIA has a site for BRT.

www.viabrt.com

It looks like it's a work in progress.

I do like the look of the bus.

[METALMiKE]

those buses are sweet

[Trae]

They look exactly like light rail trains. Just on wheels.

[sirkingwilliam]

I wouldn't mind the LRT trains looking like that. It is in keeping with VIA's vibrant logo.

[Paul in S.A TX]

I wonder if you will see them downtown? or just a express type bus?

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by JAM

As an engineer by training, I don't believe in the words never ever

OK, fine. It would take giving up on commuter rail, tearing up its track and stations, and starting over. Never ever ever. That better?

[sirkingwilliam]

I'm thinking maybe VIA either stopped working on the BRT website or took down whatever was on there. Leading me to believe they may be ditching the BRT and going to LRT.

[Trae]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

I'm thinking maybe VIA either stopped working on the BRT website or took down whatever was on there. Leading me to believe they may be ditching the BRT and going to LRT.

Maybe. That may be why the website is like that right now. Get excited .

[sirkingwilliam]

Why do you have a laughing smiley?

Also, I'm hearing that there is strong talk of adding an HOV lane to some of the freeways.