Houston could cancel rapid transit project

A Harris County commissioner is calling on the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) to hold a formal vote on a now-abandoned rapid transit project that would connect Houston’s major job centers and universities, Dug reports Begley in the Houston Chronicle. “To proceed with the project, there is a deadline of June 27 for Metro to notify the Federal Transit Administration that it is moving forward and entering a refined design and engineering phase for the project. This notification allows Metro to apply for federal funds to continue planning and, ultimately, construction of the line.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis says the university corridor project was “overwhelmingly” approved by voters. “Countless working families would benefit from the BRT project, but the board is about to try to kill the initiative in the dark of night,” Ellis said.

“If built as planned, buses would travel in dedicated lanes from the Tidwell Transit Center, south along Lockwood to the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, then west primarily along Lockwood. along Wheeler, Richmond and Westpark to Westchase Park and Ride. As a result, the fast line would cross all three light rail lines, connect to the Silver Line in Uptown and dozens of the metro’s most heavily used bus lines.

For its part, Metro says prioritizing the project would mean eliminating other service expansion initiatives.