Federal funds allow work to start on two METRO lines

Groundbreaking took place last Monday for the North Light Rail line


NORTHEAST – Officials held simultaneous groundbreakings last Monday morning, July 13 to mark the start of construction on light rail lines. Participating at the North Corridor ceremony on Fulton Street were METRO Chairman David Wolff, Congressman Gene Green, and City Councilman Ed Gonzalez.

The day of celebration kicked off with two separate ceremonies at the North and Southeast corridors, as well as a reception at the East End corridor. Participants from each corridor event were then transported via METRO buses to the grand finale at Union Station at Minute Maid Park.

At the North Corridor event, Chairman Wolff announced that the first work order for $121 million has officially been signed. That means initial construction on the North and Southeast lines is expected to get underway in the coming days. Activity on the East End line, which is already under construction, will increase.

All three lines – the North, Southeast and East End – are slated to be completed by 2012, and will add approximately 14 miles of light rail to METRO’s existing Main Street Red Line. The speakers also honed in on the significance of $150 million set aside in President Obama’s FY2010 budget to help build the North and Southeast lines. The two rail lines were among five transit projects in the nation selected to receive funding.

Traveling from the nation’s capital to the Bayou City to participate in the festivities were U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Congressman Gene Green (D-TX), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Congressman Al Green (D-TX). Joining the delegation were Mayor Bill White and Houston City Council members, as well as METRO Board Chairman David S. Wolff and METRO Board members.

Rep. Gene Green, on July 15, announced that the House Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies has preliminarily approved $150 million for Houston METRO’s North and Southeast lines, with $75 million dedicated to each project. This funding would include final design, land acquisition, and construction for the first segments on the North Corridor and Southeast Corridor Projects.

“The President’s FY2010 budget asked that $150 million be appropriated to Houston METRO for construction on the North and Southeast Corridor Projects, and I thank the subcommittee for realizing the importance of these projects by placing it in their recommendations,” said Green.

“While there are still several steps to take before final approval of funding for these projects occurs, I am glad Congress continues their commitment to public transportation in Houston.”

There has been an effort in Congress to foster the development and revitalization of public transportation systems that maximize mobility, minimize environmental impacts and minimize transportation-related fuel consumption. The subcommittee included $10.5 billion for public transportation projects in their recommendations.

The Houston Business Journal reports that Houston traffic is the ninth worst in the nation. Houston drivers spent 123.9 million hours in traffic in 2007 and use almost 90 million more gallons of fuel because of the delays every year, costing over $2.5 billion.

“I am joined by the rest of the Houston delegation, including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and Congressman Al Green in thanking Chairman of the Subcommittee John Oliver for his continued support of Texas’ transportation needs,” said Green. “Houston’s population continues to increase and the metropolitan area expands everyday. We need to work to widen the reach of our public transportation system so that it serves more Houstonians and helps protect our city.”

Small and local businesses are expected to receive $300 million to $385 million in eligible contract work.