The Last Mile

A streetcar in EaDo? District aims to make public transportation retro cool inHouston

With METRO's easternmost line nearing completion, the East End is looking toward more alternative transit options.

Foremost in its sights? A streetcar.

"Part of our goal is to eliminate the number of cars that are being used for short trips in this neighborhood," Diane Schenke, president of the Greater East End District, tells CultureMap.

Schenke said that a streetcar line to supplement the light rail would help to solve the "last mile" problem, inevitable once METRO's construction is complete. It would ease the workday commutes of area residents, many of whom wouldn't walk all the way to the nearest station wearing business attire during Houston's hot and humid months. Once on the METRO line, though, they would be connected to downtown and the Texas Medical Center, with future expansions on the way.

Schenke says that streetcars would solve the "last mile" problem, inevitable once light rail construction is complete.

But a streetcar would also present another way for EaDo residents to enjoy their neighborhood, transporting families to its jewels — to dinner at the Original Ninfa's, to Houston Dynamo games at the BBVA Compass Stadium — and facilitating nearby errands.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the line could use tracks that still exist along stretches of Commerce Street, with "the possibility of excavating a long-filled tunnel at Preston and Dowling for a low-cost underpass beneath a freight rail line." Schenke tells CultureMap that the line would be developed in two phases, considering where the centers of population are now and where the growth will be in the future.

The Greater East End District has enlisted the expertise of HDR, Inc. in producing an alternative analysis for a streetcar line. The study will reveal potential benefits and possible routes.

A steering committee will receive those results in mid-October, then mix and match them for presentation to the public in early November. In the meantime, find more information about the East End's streetcar initiative here and the project timeline here.

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red bull recap

35,000 Houstonians race downtown for free Red Bull F1 showcase

The Red Bull Show Down was full of racing, drifting, stunts, and more.

Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Arvid Lindblad drove his first F-1 in Houston.

Houston hosted the Red Bull Showrun on Saturday, September 7, and a crowd of 35,000 watched in awe as drivers engaged in high octane action.

“Thank you to the city of Houston for getting us all together. And the thousands of people who turned out for today’s Red Bull Showrun,” 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard said in a statement. “To come to Houston, it’s such a vibrant city, not far from the baseball stadium and we’re right in the heart of where all the action’s happening from a sporting sense. The fan base in America is so passionate, and I think the energy has been amazing today.”

Against the backdrop of Discovery Green on the first fall(ish) day of 2024, drivers showed off their incredible skills in a free event sponsored by Ford. Coulthard and Junior Driver Arvid Lindblad took center stage in the RB7 and RB8 F1 care respectively. Both drivers ran the custom-built track at the same time, a first for F1s in the Red Bull Showrun in the United States. The F1 cars are known as some of the fastest cares on Earth, reaching speeds of well over 200 mph (370 kmh). Notably, this was the first F1 run for Lindblad, who previously competed in F3 in Italy and F4 in Macau.

“The Red Bull Showrun today was absolutely awesome, I loved every moment of it,” Lindblad added. “It was my first time in a F1 car, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was going to be super cool, but this topped anything I’d ever imagined and I loved every moment! It was amazing to drive the RB8 and to get the opportunity to drive it here in Houston for the fans is one I never thought would come. This was an amazing crowd and is a day I’ll never forget. And to have had that moment with David Coulthard at the end with both of us on the track at the same time, I’ll never forget that.”

Coulthard’s RB7 was given an appropriate Houston touch while running in the city. The pit crew added spiked rims. The rims have become something of an H-town trademark, to the glee or dismay of the residents depending on who you talk to.

Red Bull Showrun Houston The RB7 car got adorned with some Houston touches.Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

In addition to the F1 cars, drifting expert “Mad” Mike Whiddett showed off a dizzying display of donuts to the delight of the crowd in his custom MadMac McLaren P1 Hypercar. Rapper Paul Wall of Swishahouse fame made a surprise ride along with the Mad One.

Motorbike acrobatics by Aaron Colton, a car parade, and trophy trucks also gave the gearhead crowd something to cheer for. Musicwise, the event was enhanced greatly by dueling DJs, Houston’s own DJ Mr. Rogers tag-teaming with DJ Hed from Los Angeles. They would later compete in the sold out Red Bull Turn It Up event that took place Saturday night.

Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

The Red Bull Showrun saw F1 cars racing around Discovery Green.

discovery green red bull showrun