A University Line mitigation wishlist
The purpose of a Draft Environmental Impact statement is to identify what effects a project will have on businesses and neighborhoods. But that’s not enough; the next step is to figure out how to mitigate those effects.
It seems to me that transportation agencies should look at mitigation more expansively than the law requires. The goal should be not just to preserve neighborhoods but to make them better. Today’s and tomorrow’s University Line open houses are a good time to ask METRO people about that, and the public hearing two weeks from now is the time to ask for it formally, on the record.
Here are some of the things on my wish list:
Providing sound walls. Along Westpark, all of the options would run alongside single-family houses and apartment complexes. The DEIS says that there are no sound impacts here because the traffic on Westpark and the Southwest Freeway is already raising noise levels. But low-cost sound walls and landscaping could actually leave these neighborhoods quieter than they are today.
Paving with grass. Where the tracks run in streets, METRO is proposing paving like on the Main Street Line: pavers and stamped concrete. But the technology exists for having grass rather than paving between the rails. That would absorb sound and thus reduce noise levels, reduce temperatures, absorb pollutants, and prevent cars from driving on the tracks. It would also preserve green space, making streets and neighborhoods more attractive.
Property over parking. In the Third Ward, METRO is proposing to take private property on Wheeler, Ennis, and Alabama in order to preserve two lanes of on-street parking alongside stations. These are residential neighborhoods; the homeowners can park in their driveways. I’m guessing they would prefer to keep all of their yards.
Preserving tree counts. The DEIS mentions trees, but does not provide a complete count of the trees that would be in the way of the rail line or discuss what would happen to them. METRO’s track record on this is actually very good; there are more trees on Main Street now than before the rail lien was built. For the University Line, I’d like to see a similar commitment to maintain tree count within the corridor, by adding trees along the sidewalks where there are none, adding trees on surrounding streets, and and adding trees to parks. Wherever possible, the existing tress (particularly big ones) should be moved, not cut down.
Pocket parks and pocket parking. In some cases, METRO will need to take an entire property but will use only half of it. What happens to the other half? How about city-administered parking that would help local businesses? Or a pocket park with some of those relocated trees?
Parking districts. Along parts of the corridor, parking is already a problem. In particular, TSU students fill up Wheeler. “Resident only” parking zones, like those around Rice University, would prevent that.
Pedestrian improvements. Trains (with their fixed tracks and trained drivers) are considerably safer for children and adults than cars are. But rail could make things better, by building better sidewalks, adding sidewalk trees, and creating crosswalks with mid-street pedestrian refuges.
Platforms in the right places The location of station platforms helps determine how many people will ride the line. It also has effects on neighborhoods. In Neartown, for example, the Montrose station platform that’s east of Montrose requires the demolition of businesses. Moving the platform west of Montrose (as the local civic club has requested) might prevent that, and it would move the station closer the St. Thomas and the Menil.
For the past 18 months, we’ve been talking mainly about alignments — this street vs. that street. That discussion is almost over — the next month is the public’s last chance to weigh in. But another discussion — the discussion about how to build rail on that street — is only starting. And it’s equally important. The neighborhoods along the line need to figure out what’s on their wish list. And METRO needs to listen.
What: Public Meeting / Open House
Date: Monday, August 13, 2007
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Select – Greenway Plaza
Address: 2712 S.W. Freeway
What: Public Meeting / Open House
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
Address: 3826 Wheeler Avenue
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