Houston took a major step toward securing its future today with City Council's approval of a Consent Agreement between the city and METRO.

Approval of the agreement means METRO can begin construction on the METRO Solutions Phase 2 program, starting with groundbreaking on the first of five light rail lines later this month.

"We are very pleased and appreciative of City Council's support of this program and its approval of the Consent Agreement," said METRO President & CEO Frank J. Wilson. "There was a large investment made today. It was not a monetary investment but more the creation of a partnership among our elected officials, the community and METRO."

Wilson said METRO expects to continue seeking input from government leaders and the community, and is arranging future meetings with City Council to discuss issues such as the alignment of the University Corridor east of Main Street.  METRO supports Community Advisory Boards for each alignment and maintains a dedicated Web site for the project.

The Consent Agreement outlines how work will proceed on city right-of-way, Wilson said, but it's more than a construction blueprint. It signals a shift in how Houston wants to craft its future, recognizing that an integrated mass transit system, including light rail, commuter rail and buses, is vital to our economic growth and quality of life.

 "Approval of the Consent Agreement sends a signal that we're serious about the pact we made with voters in 2003," Wilson said. "Now it's time to start the street-level work necessary to make the METRO Solutions Phase 2 plan a reality."

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