North Line FUD
The Chronicle reports this morning on a march and a meeting showing countering views regarding the North Line. That’s as it should be; some people have objections and they’re speaking out. But some of what we’re hearing is clearly FUD (”Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.”).
For example, from a KTRK story quoted by BlogHouston:
“They misled the community by having North Hardy on the ballot,” said protestor Mario Umanzo. “Because people, when they read North Hardy, automatically comes to my mind, North Hardy not North Main.”
The ballot specifically said the line would go the Northline Mall. Northline isn’t even near the Hardy Toll Road. The North Main alignment was decided and widely publicized in 2003, before the vote. And there is no “North Hardy” street.
“METRO was never really specific about what route they were going to use. They just wanted it to come north and north it’s coming,” said Richard Leal with ACORN.
In 2002-2003, METRO held a year and a half long public process with at least 4 rounds of public hearings and mutliple newsletters mailed out to everyone who attended. At the end they had a map with a precise alignment, even station locations. Then we voted. A portion of that alignment (not the section on North Main) has been shifted since, but that was because the community clearly wanted it — none of people I’ve seen quoted here are identified as being from that segment.
There’s an odd process going on where the talking points from the Richmond vs. Westpark debate are being applied to the other corridors as well, even if the facts don’t fit.
There is something else going on with regards to the number of properties METRO needs, and I’ve heard similar concern on the Southeast line. But so far, the conclusion seems to be that the number of properties required is less than was previously listed. I’d like to see that on paper, though, and it bears continued attention.
No other project that I can recall around here went through as long and public a planning process as the North Line did (the nearby TXDOT I-45 project, for example, hasn’t had nearly as much information presented to the public nor as many opportunities for specific public input). That doesn’t mean everyone will be happy with the result. But as much as some people may be trying to make you think so, this wasn’t a decision made in a back room.