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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Chris Elliott                        Robyn Morrow                  Johnny Peña
                                      Fabian Sifuentes              Kristen Young

Students should play role in light rail plans 

Metro’s proposed University light rail line has its share of opponents, and those opponents don’t seem to have changed their minds after Tuesday’s public meeting on the project.

The proposed rail line would run all the way to UH, so this is an issue that University students should play an active role in deciding. Business owners along Richmond Avenue have been battling the plan because it threatens their businesses, and that is a valid argument. But Richmond entrepreneurs aren’t the only ones who would be affected by the plan.

The University is an important part of Houston, but it seems cut off at times from many important parts of the city, and a light rail line would do wonders to integrate it. The easy access to downtown the light rail would provide would make it significantly less difficult for students to hold an internship or work downtown while taking classes. And they wouldn’t even have to look for parking.

Business owners along Richmond would also benefit from the influx of students who otherwise might be confined to their dorm rooms, and if Metro’s plan continues as it is outlined ­ whether the line’s on Richmond or not ­ the Galleria area would be a short train ride away from campus. 

Students who live on campus, and even those who commute, would be able to leave their cars at UH and spend their gas money on lattes in the Galleria or tickets to the Alley Theatre.

Bringing UH closer to the city opens up myriad options for students, but so far, students haven’t been saying much on the issue. 

Don’t worry; it’s not too late.

There are two other public meetings on the University Line scheduled for next week. The first will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, 3611 Ennis St., and the second is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 S. Main St.

Construction is set to begin in June 2008, so you may not get to enjoy the benefits of the rail line first-hand as a student, but just think about how much more fun it will be to come back to your alma mater on a train.