Richmond Avenue is the third busiest east-west artery in the city of Houston. Congestion and gridlock will result from the following:

Fire Station #16 is located at the corner of Richmond and Dunlavy. A hook-and-ladder truck is too large for that intersection, meaning it would have to take an alternate. With Richmond's certain reduction in lanes as a result of the light rail system, ambulance drivers would face a greater challenge reaching patients.

The Southern Pacific Railroad tracks mean that building an overpass would be critical. Construction of an overpass means spending more money - money that could go for a better solution.  Businesses located near the tracks would also suffer, just like they did on the Main Street light rail project. Drivers, of course, would suffer the most, since commuters from the Greenway Plaza area heading inbound and outbound have to put up with more road blocks and orange barrels.

Richmond Avenue has flooded before in heavy rains and it will flood again. What happens to light rail riders when the tracks are underwater?

Click here to view images and video clips of flooding during a rainy day in Houston