Tag: Robert Eckels

Houston Matters

Study: Levees Cheaper Than Sea Wall To Protect Galveston From Hurricanes

Posted on · The Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District just finished Phase 2 of their storm surge suppression study. Public meetings are scheduled for later this month (March 2016). We learn about the storm surge suppression study from Robert Eckels, former Harris County Judge and president of the GCCPRD. He details what the GCCPRD does and […]

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Storm Suppression and Intellectual Property: Wednesday’s Show (March 16, 2016)

Posted on · A comprehensive study is underway to examine how to best protect Greater Houston from the next big storm. On this edition of Houston Matters, we learn about the storm surge suppression study from Robert Eckels, former Harris County Judge and president of the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District. Then, Edel Howlin talks with […]

Houston Matters

Hurricane Rita: Lessons Learned from Houston’s Great Evacuation

Posted on · Hurricane Rita made landfall ten years ago today. Fearing the worst, on the heels of Katrina, officials ordered a mass evacuation, which turned out, in many ways, to be more damaging than the storm itself. An estimated 2.5 million people tried to clear out ahead of what was initially a category five hurricane. Rita weakened […]

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Remembering Rita and Plan Houston: Thursday’s Show (September 24, 2015)

Posted on · Hurricane Rita made landfall ten years ago today. Fearing the worst, on the heels of Katrina, officials ordered a mass evacuation, which turned out, in many ways, to be more damaging than the storm itself. An estimated 2.5 million people tried to clear out ahead of what was initially a category five hurricane. Rita weakened […]

Houston Matters

Speedbumps and Opposition Continue for Texas High-Speed Rail Line

Posted on · Last year, we spoke with former Harris County judge and Texas Central Railway President Robert Eckels about his company's effort to construct a privately funded bullet train between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. Texas Central Railway first proposed the plan to build the rail line back in 2012. If successful, it would offer commuters a way […]

Houston Matters

Protecting the Texas Coast from Storms: It’s a Year-Round Job

Posted on · Hurricane season may be over, but preparing for the next big tropical storm is a year-long process. Among the groups engaged in that effort is the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District. The GCCPRD develops plans to help Galveston, Harris, and other area counties to alleviate damage from storms like 2008’s Hurricane Ike. The […]

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Storm Surge Suppression, Colic, and Sports Monday: Houston Matters for Monday, Jan. 5, 2015

Posted on · Hurricane season may be over, but preparing for the next big tropical storm is a year-long process. Among the groups engaged in that effort is the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District. The GCCPRD develops plans to help Galveston, Harris, and other area counties to alleviate damage from storms like 2008’s Hurricane Ike. The […]

Houston Matters

Will the Potential Dallas-Houston Bullet Train Have a Stop Near You?

Posted on · What’s the secret to community buy-in for a high-speed rail project? Location, location, location. Last spring, we spoke with former Harris County judge and Texas Central Railway President Robert Eckels about his company’s effort to construct a privately funded bullet train between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. Texas Central Railway first proposed the plan to build […]

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High Speed Rail, Chemo Brain, and Tomato Republic: Houston Matters for Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014

Posted on · What's the secret to community buy-in for a high-speed rail project? Location, location, location. Last spring, we spoke with former Harris County judge and Texas Central Railway President Robert Eckels about his company's effort to construct a privately funded bullet train between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. Texas Central Railway first proposed the plan to build […]

Houston Matters

Would You Ride High Speed Rail Between Dallas and Houston?

Posted on · Former Harris County judge and Texas Central Railway President Robert Eckels is behind an effort to construct a privately funded bullet train between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. The mayors of those cities, late last month, expressed their unified support for the project. Texas Central Railway first proposed the plan to build the rail line back […]