By Gilbert Hoffman
NORTH HOUSTON The public attended a meeting last Saturday at Jeff Davis High School, a community meeting to discuss the new Light Rail line for the Northside. METRO had exhibits and staff to answer questions, and a forum session in the auditorium gave the public a chance to comment on the design and details.
METRO presented an update called the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement. Essentially, the plan has changed from a Bus Rapid Transit back to the original Light Rail Transit plan. The North Corridor line is now 5.26 miles long, LRT (Light Rail), with 8 stations including 2 new ones. The cost is estimated at $677 million.
Since Dec. 2006, METRO has incorporated the following changes in the plan:
Light Rail
Typical section revised to a 26 foot guideway profile with one travel lane, one parking land on each side
Inclusion of 5 traction power stations
Burnett Station no longer a BRT to LRT transfer point
Quitman Station changed from a transfer station to a drop-off type station
Parking Garage at Northline Station eliminated
Right of Way reduced, but additional 13 parcels impacted.
The two new stations are known as Boundary Station and Graceland Station. See map for more detail. The location of the Cavalcade Station has been moved. Catherine Station has been renamed to Moody Park, and Fulton/IH-610 to Melbourne.
According to METRO, the schedule now calls for Environmental Approval in Summer 2008, Acquisition of Right of Way from 2006 to 2009, Construction to begin by the end of 2008, and the North Corridor line to open for service by 2012.
The exhibits also covered efforts to preserve historically significant buildings, and a safety education program that will be conducted by METRO in nearby schools.
Present for the presentations were METRO president Frank Wilson, Congressman Gene Green, and other officials. The official presentation was made by METROs George Smalley and consultant Sandy Wesch-Schulze.
