The gall of these folks, insisting that Metro be required to build its light rail line where they said they would -- or that the matter be placed back before the voters for approval.

In what is shaping up as a repeat of an unsuccessful but expensive legal battle to stop the Main Street rail line, opponents of light rail on Richmond have gone to court. Perhaps preliminary to a full-blown lawsuit, a single business owner has asked a state district judge to compel Metro officials to answer questions about plans for the westward extension of the system.

The request raises a familiar issue often cited by rail opponents. In a 2003 referendum, Houston voters narrowly approved a plan authorizing Metro to expand the rail system with seven additional lines, including a route, labeled Westpark, running from Wheeler Station at Main to the Hillcroft Transit Center. Opponents of rail anywhere on Richmond argue that any route except one along Westpark requires fresh approval from the voters.

Metro officials correctly contend the names of the proposed routes were general and open to change. They point to additional wording on the ballot, repeated three times: "Final scope, length of rail segments or lines or other details, together with implementation schedule, will be based upon demand and completion of the project development process, including community input."

Interestingly enough, community input on the proposed Richmond line has been negative -- but that isn't slowing Metro down. Then again, every other claim made by Metro about the accident-prone train to nowhere has been demonstrated to be false -- so why not the routes we get as well?

Posted by: Greg at 10:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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