HOUSTON | Development Thread II - Page 183

YakuzaIce · #**3641** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 1:33 AM**

While trying to figure out what the third set of tracks might be, I realized there is a 1.75 mile stretch of light rail track running along Holmes at the southern end of the red line. I'm guessing it is some sort of test track. It also makes me wonder why there is a large swath of undeveloped land around there.

Perhaps the third line is something similar? There are freight ROWs right next to where those pictures were taken, but I can't really see there being room for a light rail track to run along them. Perhaps a light rail depot between the purple and green lines? But again I can't really see where they would put it.

Maybe there will be some trains that only run the downtown leg and that is where they switch tracks? Who knows.

photoLith · #**3642** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 1:38 AM**

^
A test track? They have test tracks where they house the trains down south of the astrodome. But that third track doesn't merge with the other two because there's no room and I saw no evidence of them merging that line. It's a conundrum.

mfastx · #**3643** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 3:45 AM**

It could be just a pocket track to store certain trains that aren't in service during non-peak hours. In Boston there is a little pocket track similar to what is being built in Houston:

Source

The train in the picture is just sitting there and not in service. I've noticed that these trains just sit for a few hours then return to service.

weatherguru18 · #**3644** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 1:46 PM**

There's been some speculation that maybe this baby will be resurrected. Too good to be true, IMO.

JoninATX · #**3645** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 2:21 PM**

Could be, or what about the proposed 6,864 ft. Houston tower?

I think America needs to reclaim the tallest building, and that my friends needs to be in Houston. Ground breaking should began fairly soon.

photoLith · #**3646** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 3:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by weatherguru18

There's been some speculation that maybe this baby will be resurrected. Too good to be true, IMO.

Sorry mang, that aint going to happen. This tower that will supposedly be revealed on the 4th of this month will probably be around the same height if not a little shorter than MainPlace. Although, it would be super kick ass for this to get built.

GrimReaper · #**3647** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Could be, or what about the proposed 6,864 ft. Houston tower?

I think America needs to reclaim the tallest building, and that my friends needs to be in Houston. Ground breaking should began fairly soon.

FAA wouldn't allowed it because of Hobby Airport is so close to Downtown. Newark Liberty Airport, JFK and LaGuardia is so close to Manhattan as well which is I don't understand why Houston can't have 100+ story building.

photoLith · #**3648** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 6:07 PM**

That building would have destroyed the grid of downtown. Could you imagine the traffic flow if all those lanes were cut off?

JoninATX · #**3649** Posted: **Apr 1, 2012, 9:03 PM**

Lol yeah, but could you imagine.

Tumbleweed_Tx · #**3650** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 5:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

That building would have destroyed the grid of downtown. Could you imagine the traffic flow if all those lanes were cut off?

ever try going from anywhere in the central part of downtown to the East End? The GRB and Minute Maid get in the way

kingkirbythe.... · #**3651** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 6:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimReaper

FAA wouldn't allowed it because of Hobby Airport is so close to Downtown. Newark Liberty Airport, JFK and LaGuardia is so close to Manhattan as well which is I don't understand why Houston can't have 100+ story building.

Flight paths.

weatherguru18 · #**3652** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 11:26 AM**

That's a ''has been'' issue. Flight paths go around downtown, not over it. I really don't see anything other than economics getting in the way of building a 100+ story building in Houston.

dgpatel · #**3653** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 12:52 PM**

I have read somewhere that with land so cheap in Houston (relative to NY, LA, Chicago), it is a lot more convenient to build either a campus of smaller buildings or a plaza of shorter buildings, rather than building up higher. Skyscrapers are very inefficient in design with just about every regard other than the land they occupy (and of course other than making the city look badass). It makes economic sense to build up in those other cities because land is so expensive, but Houston is a different story.

I can't remember where I read this, but I will try to locate a source.

Unfortunately that can mean the end to super tall buildings in Houston

. April 4, please prove me wrong!

lockmat · #**3654** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 7:46 PM**

Heights Walmart construction pics: http://goo.gl/08Sym

1111 Studewood pics: http://goo.gl/lEJLZ

weatherguru18 · #**3655** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 8:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgpatel

I have read somewhere that with land so cheap in Houston (relative to NY, LA, Chicago), it is a lot more convenient to build either a campus of smaller buildings or a plaza of shorter buildings, rather than building up higher. Skyscrapers are very inefficient in design with just about every regard other than the land they occupy (and of course other than making the city look badass). It makes economic sense to build up in those other cities because land is so expensive, but Houston is a different story.

I can't remember where I read this, but I will try to locate a source.

Unfortunately that can mean the end to super tall buildings in Houston

. April 4, please prove me wrong!

I'd argue that as prices go up on commodities, people will want to live and work as close together as possible. Plopping down a campus-like structure inside the loop is pretty much impossible so going up is the only option. The day of the suburb is kinda on its way out I think. Only suburbs like The Woodlands, Sugar Land or Katy will thrive because they are well established and have big business.

J-a-x · #**3656** Posted: **Apr 2, 2012, 9:59 PM**

I hope this isn't too off topic but I wanted to share this new webcam I set up on my roof. There isn't much going on now, but once there is another large tower being constructed downtown, you can use this cam to watch it.

http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/

photoLith · #**3657** Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 1:27 AM**

Yeah the day of the suburb is gone until we get cheap energy again with solar or hydrogen, then it will be the 1950s all over again with people moving as far away from the city as possible.

AviationGuy · #**3658** Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 1:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-a-x

I hope this isn't too off topic but I wanted to share this new webcam I set up on my roof. There isn't much going on now, but once there is another large tower being constructed downtown, you can use this cam to watch it.

http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/

That's gotta be one of the best time lapses I've ever seen.

J-a-x · #**3659** Posted: **Apr 3, 2012, 3:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

That's gotta be one of the best time lapses I've ever seen.

Thanks!

llamaorama · #**3660** Posted: **Apr 4, 2012, 1:59 AM**

I remember vividly when the test track along Holmes Rd. was being used to test the then-new LRV's. Apparently before they can be used each new unit needed to rack up a certain amount of mileage to work out the bugs. Because of it's length the trains got up to 55 or 60 mph. I don't think they've ever hauled ass like that again. Also there was a grade crossing on the line. A few months into the testing the very first crash happened when an idiot in a car drove around the gates.

I remember this actually made it as a joke on the Jimmy Kimmel Super Bowl 2004 special. Houston's drivers are so awful that it's brand new train going to it's new football stadium has already been smashed up.

I don't know it's current fate. If they get new cars will they use it again? I thought I heard the Union Pacific was going to buy it and link it up to their tracks for use as a siding, but it's still got the temporary overhead wires I think and doesn't connect.

Personally, I wonder why Metro never considered a southwest Houston LRT line. I guess it would only serve suburban sprawl and not get adequate ridership, but then again it would both serve some rather low income areas with captive ridership and could have hit some kind of Sugarland TOD thing if that was ever in the cards. Guess not.