METRO announced today that it can now deliver more rapid transit throughout the Houston area - and do it sooner - because of a significant new commitment from Houston's Congressional delegation to seek $1 billion in federal funds over the next 10 years, as well as other legislative support.
The federal funds would represent half of a $2 billion METRO implementation plan that includes bus, rapid transit rail, rapid transit bus services, expanded bus and HOV lanes, and commuter rail to improve mobility in the Houston area. The Phase ll plan offers new fixed guideway rapid transit services to all corridors featured in the METRO Solutions referendum, which voters approved in November 2003.
Preliminary engineering will begin this summer, with construction to start within two years.
At a press conference today with METRO officials, Mayor White said, "This plan represents the most important progress for mass transit in Houston since the creation of METRO in 1978."
METRO Chairman David S. Wolff said: "Today's commitment to seek significant new federal funding and legislative actions create an historic opportunity to significantly improve mobility and travel choices for our citizens. From urban to suburban, bus to rail, this is a comprehensive and balanced plan that can compete more effectively for federal funding."
The Phase ll Implementation Plan follows the outline of METRO Solutions. The program calls for $1.3 billion in high quality guideway rapid transit. Fifty-five percent (55%), or slightly over $700 million, is committed to rapid transit rail services and the balance of approximately $575 million will be allocated to rapid transit bus systems. This represents 40% more fixed guideway transit than previously planned. All 30 miles will include rail and track structures identical to those currently on the Main St. line. The conversion of Bus Rapid Transit to rail will be quick, easy and affordable. When ridership grows to sufficiently high levels, the conversion will be made.
The implementation plan also includes more miles of commuter rail than were in the Referendum plan, as well as 40 miles of Signature Express/Suburban BRT instead of 14.
The net result is 97 miles of rapid transit instead of the 36 envisioned in METRO Solutions. Houston METRO also expects to have all elements of the Implementation Plan built by 2012, instead of 2015 as projected two years ago in METRO Solutions.