Many other cities have light rail running on abandoned railroad tracks or in the center of freeways. Why not here?
Houston does not have many abandoned railroad lines. There is one, however, along Westpark, and METRO owns much of it already. An existing right-of-way like this is usually the least expensive place to put a light rail line, and it does not displace traffic lanes. Westpark is an option which METRO will be considering. However, the Universities line is intended to serve business centers, institutions, and neighborhoods. To do this, light rail has to go to where the office buildings, universities, museums, restaurants, apartments, and houses are, and the stations have to be in pedestrian-friendly locations. Sometimes, an existing right of way is in the right place. Often, it is not. Westpark, for example, is across the freeway from Greenway Plaza; Richmond is right in the center of that office complex.
