The light rail could have been so sweet, but in the end, the COH fucked it all up. Fares are on the honor system, so naturally the unhoused take full advantage of free climate controlled transportation. You're supposed to pay on the platform, but there's no way to verify or enforce it. Imagine the worst subway car you've ever been in New York City. That's every single ride on the light rail. Homeless guy walking up and down the car asking people for money or a cigarette? Check. Homeless guy asleep (?). Check. Homeless guy beat boxing to himself? Check.
I feel bad for nurses and hospital support staff that have to ride this turd to get to work. I think visitors to the national championship game are in for an eye opening experience.
I don't know what a good solution is. A NYC/DC Metro turnstile won't work as the platforms on street level. It would be like herding cats and extremely expensive to check everybody's ticket like an Amtrak. Maybe one Metro cop on each train might be doable. That wouldn't be a fun job kicking bums off of the train all day.
I do like the layout and functionality. It runs along the main arteries of the city, and there's usually a train every 6 minutes during normal hours. Downtown and Medical Center workers desperately need mass transit to work. So do the Texans and the Rodeo. I hope they can figure this out.