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[atadytic19]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

The Westheimer ROW from the Loop to Weslayan in general needs a quality makeover, a la Uptown or ROD. I think this would help the cohesiveness. There's probably creative ways to deal with the RR tracks.

How will the Afton Oaks NIMBYs take that? Weren't they the ones who were the most vocal against the University Rail Line? Westheimer could have been looking VERY different by now if that line had gone in just after the red line. Culberson should have been tarred and feathered

[oil capital]

Originally Posted by atadytic19

How will the Afton Oaks NIMBYs take that? Weren't they the ones who were the most vocal against the University Rail Line? Westheimer could have been looking VERY different by now if that line had gone in just after the red line. Culberson should have been tarred and feathered

Not sure why a light-rail line on Richmond would have had much impact on how Westheimer looks twenty years later.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by atadytic19

How will the Afton Oaks NIMBYs take that? Weren't they the ones who were the most vocal against the University Rail Line? Westheimer could have been looking VERY different by now if that line had gone in just after the red line. Culberson should have been tarred and feathered

The transit line was proposed for Richmond, not Westheimer. Afton Oaks only has Westheimer frontage on the south side of the street, not like Richmond where it's both sides. And no homes fronting the street, unlike on Richmond. So, whatever complaining Afton Oaks would do about a Westheimer makeover, they ought to have limited influence at best.

Let's face it, Westheimer is Houston's most famous urban thoroughfare (only Bellaire and Post Oak Blvd. can really remotely compare in reputation - not even S. Main comes close; I'm also excluding the Memorial and Allen parkways) and given the places it goes, it's highly likely to experience visitors traveling along it. There's been improvements in Uptown and Upper Kirby, also planned in Westchase (and implemented at least partly), but the rest is pretty weak in terms of streetscape. Despite the beloved palm trees (though not beloved by me) in Highland Village, that stretch and also the stretch in Montrose need help. At least there is a plan in Montrose, it just needs to be implemented. At some point, the stretch from Chimney Rock to Gessner should get attention too. I think you'd get some decent bang for your buck in such investments in terms of visitor image benefit.

[atadytic19]

There were many iterations in design before Richmond was settled on

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...31/story2.html

Still, Smalley says Metro has not yet selected the University Line route. Several alignment options remain in consideration, including lines that travel along the Southwest Freeway, Westpark or Westheimer for certain stretches...

In the meantime, Smalley says Metro hopes to have additional meetings with a contingent from the Richmond Avenue Coalition. The transit agency held similar meetings with residents of the Afton Oaks neighborhood earlier this year to discuss their concerns about a Richmond rail line...

She argues that the people who will ride mass transit are more likely to frequent the types of businesses that are located along Westheimer -- schools, churches, grocery stores, pharmacies and the Highland Village Shopping Center.

Not sure why yall acting like Westheimer was never in consideration. Richmond was always the front-runner because it was the most direct route. But their was Big push for Westheimer. I remember those days so Oil Capital you should definitely remember. The afton Oaks folks didn't want it at all because they said it would be easier for undesirables to access their neighborhood

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by atadytic19

There were many iterations in design before Richmond was settled on

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...31/story2.html



Not sure why yall acting like Westheimer was never in consideration. Richmond was always the front-runner because it was the most direct route. But their was Big push for Westheimer. I remember those days so Oil Capital you should definitely remember. The afton Oaks folks didn't want it at all because they said it would be easier for undesirables to access their neighborhood

The new BRT route proposals that are designed to replace the original University line are showing to be along Westheimer. It would be cool if that route did something like the Katy BRT where they’re doing a nearly entirely grade separated, elevated project but little is known about the university line brt for now.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

The new BRT route proposals that are designed to replace the original University line are showing to be along Westheimer. It would be cool if that route did something like the Katy BRT where they’re doing a nearly entirely grade separated, elevated project but little is known about the university line brt for now.

Not true. The planned BRT line is on Richmond from Wheeler Station, then crosses to Westpark on the west side of Greenway Plaza, essentially replicating the final alignment of the previous light rail plan, except that it extends out to the Westchase P&R.

Not to sound weird about it, but I have some inside knowledge of this, and Westheimer has not come up at all recently regarding University Line BRT.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Not true. The planned BRT line is on Richmond from Wheeler Station, then crosses to Westpark on the west side of Greenway Plaza, essentially replicating the final alignment of the previous light rail plan, except that it extends out to the Westchase P&R.

Not to sound weird about it, but I have some inside knowledge of this, and Westheimer has not come up at all recently regarding University Line BRT.

Do you have any knowledge in reference to its grade level?

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Do you have any knowledge in reference to its grade level?

At grade except maybe in the parts over 59/I-69 and its ROW next to Westpark (I think it may have overpasses over thoroughfares west of the Loop - not sure about the Loop itself though).

[atadytic19]

Lmao Westpark?

I guess it might work if they configured the connecting busses. This is going to be another ridership failure. Westpark isn't pedestrian friendly, it's not pretty, the bulk of people are either north to Richmond or Westheimer or south to Bellaire and beyond so this just seems to be purposefully trying to avoid people where they live. Must have been designed by someone from Dallas or affiliated with DART

[oil capital]

Originally Posted by atadytic19

There were many iterations in design before Richmond was settled on

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...31/story2.html



Not sure why yall acting like Westheimer was never in consideration. Richmond was always the front-runner because it was the most direct route. But their was Big push for Westheimer. I remember those days so Oil Capital you should definitely remember. The afton Oaks folks didn't want it at all because they said it would be easier for undesirables to access their neighborhood

I do remember it quite well. Westheimer was never the route for the University Line light rail. (FWIW, I always thought it should have been...)