METRORail University Line

The University/Blue Line (according to Go METRORail)[3] is a planned 11.3 mi (18.2 km)[2] METRORail light rail route to be designed, constructed, and operated by METRO in Houston, Texas.

  University Line
Overview
StatusPlanned[1]
LocaleHouston, Texas
TerminiHillcroft Transit Center Station (west)
Eastwood Transit Center Station (east)[2]
Stations19[2]
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemMETRORail
Operator(s)METRO
History
OpenedTBD
Technical
Line length11.3 mi (18 km)[3]
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

History

Opposition
The homeowners of Afton Oaks opposed plans for the University Line to go through the subdivision

The homeowners of the upper-income Afton Oaks subdivision opposed a proposed expansion of the University Line through the neighborhood. Ultimately METRO revised the plans so that the line does not go through the neighborhood.[4][5]

An opinion was issued August 31, 2010, on an appeal made by Daphne Scarbrough, who owns a business on Richmond Avenue, on a lawsuit she raised May 23, 2007, regarding METRO's jurisdiction and its decision to align the rail down the center of Richmond. The appeal overruled all but one issue raised by Scarbrough (which it modified), upholding the original decision to give METRO jurisdiction on Richmond to lay the rails.[6]

Alignment issues

In a 2007 Houston Chronicle questions and answers page about the proposed University Line, Daphne Scarbrough and Christof Spieler asked why METRO did not include a station to serve Gulfton, a community of apartment complexes. METRO responded, saying that the agency originally envisioned "more of an express service" in that area. However, the agency stated that it would examine the idea of including a Gulfton Station in the project scope.[7]

Postponement

In 2010, Houston mayor Annise Parker delayed construction on the University Line in an effort to find a suitable funding source.[8][9]

However, the line has received some hope: METRO has reported to the local media outlets that it has received a federal Record of Decision, the final approval needed to design and/or construct the line.[1][10] It is reported in the Houston Chronicle that METRO anticipates $700 million in federal funding for this line.[10] While Go METRORail has no mention of this, METRO Solutions has posted a .pdf file of the letter from the FTA with all permission, and an inclusion of instructions to not pursue buying any light rail vehicles for this line (or for any other for that matter) until the investigation regarding the controversy over "Buy America" has concluded.[11]

In May 2016, the project had its federal funding eligibility revoked after a decade of inactivity.[12]

Route

The route begins in the west at the Hillcroft Transit Center traveling east on the Westpark right-of-way that METRO owns. A stop in the Gulfton neighborhood (which contains several apartment complexes that primarily house working-class Hispanic and immigrant populations) may be added. Continuing east, it will come to the transfer location with the Uptown/Gold Line at Bellaire/South Rice. Moving eastward will pass stops at Newcastle and Weslayan before crossing over US 59 to the Cummins Station. Moving onto Richmond Avenue, the University Line will make stops at Greenway Plaza, Kirby Drive, Shepherd Drive, Dunlavy Street, and Montrose Boulevard. Transfers to the Red Line will occur at Wheeler Station. Traveling eastbound on Wheeler, it will approach Almeda Station and then continue to go underneath SH 288. Shortly after, the line will travel northward on Hutchins and make a stop there. After making turns onto Cleburne, Dowling, and then Alabama, the University Line will stop at Texas Southern University and at Tierwester Street. After approaching Scott Street and turning northward at the University of Houston, the line will share tracks with the Purple Line for a short distance before turning onto Elgin, the transfer station to the Purple Line, and then onward to Cullen through the University of Houston and the new terminus, as determined by Go METRORail September 2010, the Eastwood Transit Center.[2] The name of the line is in reference to the fact that the line is planned to go through all of the main universities in Houston (Rice, University of St. Thomas, University of Houston, and Texas Southern).[2]

Stations

The following is a list of proposed stations for the University Line, listed in order from west to east:[13]

University/Blue Line
Hillcroft Transit Center Station
Gulfton Station
Bellaire/South Rice Station*
Newcastle Station
Weslayan Station
Cummins Station
Edloe Station
Kirby Station
Shepherd Station
Menil Station
Montrose Station
Wheeler Station**
Almeda Station
Hutchins Station
TSU Station
Tierwester Station
TSU/UH Athletics District Station***
Elgin Station***
Cullen Station
Eastwood Transit Center

*Note: Station shared with Uptown/Gold Line to provide transfers between the two lines

**Note: Station shared with Red Line to provide transfers between the two lines

***Note: Station shared with Southeast/Purple Line to provide transfers between the two lines

Expansion

One possible future expansion would continue westward from the Hillcroft Transit Center along the right-of-way METRO owns just south of the Westpark Tollway, which would presumably serve the Sharpstown, Westchase and Alief districts.[14] The other expansion that is being considered would continue past Elgin to the Eastwood Transit Center.[15]

References
  1. FOX. "FOX 26 Houston News, Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports | KRIV". Myfoxhouston.com. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  2. "GoMETRORail.org". GoMETRORail.org. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  3. "University Line/Blue Line Landing Page". Gometrorail.org. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  4. Grant, Alexis and Matt Stiles. "METRO BYPASSES OBSTACLE, BUT RAIL FIGHT ISN'T OVER / Afton Oaks may be spared, but other foes remain along Richmond." Houston Chronicle. Friday December 22, 2006. A1. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.
  5. Sallee, Rad. "Richmond or Westpark? Both sides speed it up / Foes in rail fight intensify efforts as Culbertson, Metro get set to reveal preferences." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday August 1, 2006. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.
  6. In The Interest Of D.S., A.G., And M.M., Minor Children. (2010-08-31). "In Re Interest Of D.S." Leagle.com. Retrieved 2016-03-19.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Sallee, Rad. "Q&A: LIGHT RAIL PLAN / Now, some concerns are addressed." Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3-Sep-07
  8. "Rick Casey: Metro can't let rail jeopardize its buses - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  9. Shay, Miya (2010-03-11). "Houston Mayor Annise Parker wants to put brakes on University and Uptown rail lines | abc13.com". Abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  10. Allan Turner; Houston Chronicle (2010-07-30). "Feds give environmental OK to University rail line - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  11. "University Corridor Light Rail Transit System" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  12. Begley, Dug (May 24, 2016). "Federal funding pulled for light rail line construction along Richmond Avenue". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  13. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Metro Light Rail (Houston, Sugar Land, Galveston: 2015, university, tax) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum". City-data.com. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  15. "University Corridor Map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
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