Stop The Presses! Houston (!?!?!?) Debuts Light-Rail System!

[hatrack]

HOUSTON - "A sleek silver train rolled out of the station last week in ceremonies opening the first light-rail public transit system in Houston's modern history, built after a 20-year battle in one of America's most polluted cities. Mayor Lee Brown was at the wheel when the train broke through a banner and emerged from a cloud of confetti to the cheers of civic leaders relieved to finally have the trains rolling.

EDIT

A long series of contentious elections, funding controversies and political disputes has kept the city dependent on cars and buses and contributed to a smog problem that has made Houston second only to Los Angeles in air pollution, according to government statistics.

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Conservative groups fought bitterly to stop the rail system by filing lawsuits and forcing a recent election, which they lost when voters approved the rail system.

U.S. House of Representatives leader Tom DeLay, who represents a Houston-area district, had twice stymied the city's rail plans by cutting off federal rail funds in the House. A DeLay spokesman has said the Republican congressman thinks buses are more cost-effective than rail."

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/23311/story.htm

[treepig]

1. i suppose it is a good thing regardless,

but it'd still be interesting to have a break-down of exactly who received the contracts to build the system (more pork to halliburton . . . ?)

[david_vincent]

2. Rich people in general are against mass transit

because it makes it easier for "them" to come into "our" neighborhoods.

[happyslug]

3. Here is the Official Site with Pictures

http://www.hou-metro.harris.tx.us/motion/lrt/railintro.asp

[happyslug]

4. List of US Cities with Light Rail

http://www.trolleycar.org/morerailinfo.htm