Expansion Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

additional rail laid approved 52% yes 48% no margin in november 2003 election. critics have alleged existence of conflict of interest in planned expansion. major contractors including siemens ag, constructs train vehicles, contributed substantial amounts of money political action committee promoting expansion referendum. supporters of expanded rail system in houston have leveled similar charges against opponents of referendum, noting suburban development interests largely bankrolled pac opposing referendum.

in june 2005, metro announced revised plan expansion of metrorail system. plan included 4 new corridors, consisting of both light rail , bus rapid transit. bus rapid transit lines have later been converted light rail when ridership warranted conversion.

on october 18, 2007, plan revised allow possibility of more federal funding. metro decided go ahead , have lines consist of light rail start.

the planned expansions within city of houston , reach 2 major houston airports, george bush intercontinental airport , william p. hobby airport. metro planning service suburbs in houston, other parts of houston. alternatives analysis , draft environmental impact analysis studies underway on 4 extensions.

metro planning commuter rail system in conjunction light rail system, pending feasibility of plan. in addition, metro wants link planned commuter rail line traveling fort bend county south of reliant stadium, use existing union pacific railroad, additional line branching out along u.s. highway 290 corridor hempstead, tx , possibly further. recent entrance gulf coast freight rail district may make 290 corridor , galveston corridor possible 2012, again pending feasibility. while heavy rail not possibility serve fort bend county, recent approval has been given study extension of red line fort bend fannin south station. furthermore, representative gene greene has issued statement regarding preliminary acquisition of funds houston projects, amongst them 1 million dollars move forward , extend red line south missouri city.

the passed voter referendum included:

additional 64.8 miles (104.3 km) of light rail
commuter rail service (28 miles)
increased access activity centers
rail service both airports
more 50 new rail stations
50% increase in bus service

the following lines , services planned , running 2012, various circumstances have changed overall timing. according statement annise parker, houston s mayor, both university line , uptown line delayed until future date when funding secured. according construction details go metrorail website, construction moving slowly. further delays construction possibility pending fta investigation metro (which began in april 2010) possible buy america violations building new prototype cars in spain. obstacle surfaced in august 2010 when metro officially announced had fallen short $49 million on budget, insisted current dates completion (red line extension 2013 , east end/green line 2015) not affected. however, such not case, after decision handed down fta on september 8, 2010, stated metro in violation of buy america rules - after talking board, on september 9, 2010, progress 3 light rail lines under construction slowed , new (generic) date of 2014 set.

the current plans date follows:

the red line extension uh–downtown northline transit center runs 5.3 miles (9 km).
the east end/green line extends east 3.3 miles (5 km) downtown houston altic/howard hughes
the southeast/purple line extends 6.1 miles (10 km) downtown @ smith street (near main street line) , terminates @ palm center around mlk , griggs street.
the university/blue line (according go metrorail) extend 11.3 miles (18 km) hillcroft transit center eastwood transit center, , follow richmond/wheeler , westpark corridors transfers red line @ wheeler station , uptown/gold line @ bellaire/south rice. according metro reported local station, kriv 26, line has received federal record of decision, calls final step necessary build line.
the uptown/gold line (according go metrorail) run bellaire/south rice station on westpark through uptown northwest transit center total distance of 4.4 miles (7 km). route possibly may extended 1.1 miles (2 km) northwest mall. also, map shows line extended hillcroft transit center , furthermore appears duplicate line make way northwest transit center eastwood transit center. metro promised uptown management district $70 million of infrastructure improvements implemented in order allow metro build line; however, has not come pass , therefore metro appears keep construction of line in limbo present.

countering bad news regarding metro s light rail expansion, house of representatives , senate passed bills allotting $150 million red line extension , southeast/green line light rail projects fiscal year 2011. added previous $150 million allotted fiscal year 2010, total amount given these projects $300 million. however, according fta, not available metro unless rebid contract build new light rail cars. in light of this, metro decided build light rail according funds have while waiting see if receive federal funds. in late september 2010 metro came figure of $143 million in funds available construction.

metro solutions

metro solutions large transportation , infrastructure plan complete 2020. metro solutions includes following metro s website:

nearly 30 miles (48 km) of light rail transit – 10 miles (16 km) known university line hillcroft university of houston, texas southern university and, in future, eastwood transit center; 5.3 miles (9 km) covering extension of existing red line north northline transit center; , southeast, east end, , uptown lines.
28 miles (45 km) of commuter rail transit (crt) – along us-290 cypress park & ride intermodal facility , along us-90a missouri city fannin south park & ride/rail station; , along texas 3 galveston. explained above, though, commuter rail appears out of question regarding us-90a route. in august 2010, representative al green decided push matter of us-90a route @ luncheon meeting. metro s findings brought during presentation estimates of 12,000 people riding commuter rail when commenced , 23,000 2030. also, study brought indicated population of houston increase 3.5 million, or double (and some) current population. green gave words of showing support since measure create commuter rail passed in 2003. metro , fta intend file environmental impact statement in accordance national environmental policy act in 2011, outlining purpose , need, alternatives, , various impacts of project.
40 miles (64 km) of signature bus service/suburban bus rapid transit – southeast transit center texas medical center, uptown 90a crt line, gessner , state highway 249/tidwell.
10 new transit facilities – northern intermodal facility serving different transit modes (commuter rail, light rail , brt), 5 transit centers , 4 park , ride lots.
hov/hot conversion – modify one-way, reversible high occupancy vehicle (hov) lanes two-way high occupancy toll (hot) lanes.




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^ intermodality . ctchouston.org. 
^ officials seek fixes vexing freight traffic . houston chronicle. 
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^ cite error: named reference abclocal.go.com invoked never defined (see page).
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^ http://www.gometrorail.org
^ cite error: named reference chron.com invoked never defined (see page).
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^ archived copy . archived original on 2010-06-26. retrieved 2010-07-12. 
^ east end line landing page . gometrorail.org. 
^ archived copy . archived original on 2010-06-26. retrieved 2010-07-12. 
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^ archived copy . archived original on 2010-06-21. retrieved 2010-07-12. 
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^ http://www.ctchouston.org/blogs/christof/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/metro2012diagram_09-31.jpg
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