| East End/Green Line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Light rail |
| System | METRORail |
| Status | Under construction |
| Locale | Houston, Texas |
| Termini | Smith Station (west) Magnolia Transit Center Station (east) |
| Stations | 6 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | Estimated 2016[1] |
| Operator(s) | METRO |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 3.3 mi (5 km)[2] |
| Electrification | overhead cantenary |
| Highest elevation | Street level until past Altic Station heading east |
The East End/Green Line[3][4] is a planned 3.3 mi (5 km)[5] METRORail light rail route that will be designed, constructed, and operated by METRO in Houston, Texas.
Contents |
The East End Line begins at Smith Station, which is also a part of the Southeast/Purple Line, but is shared with this line to provide transfers upon arrival at Bastrop Station. Traveling eastward, the line continues on Harrisburg for its entire duration, making stops at York, Lockwood, and Altic. A six block long bridge will carry the line over freight rail tracks located on Harrisburg and Hughes, continuing onward to Cesar Chavez/67th Street Station, with the eastern terminus at the Magnolia Transit Center.
Phase I of construction is due to be completed by Winter 2012, and Phase II commenced April 2010, with a new completion date of 2014, [6][7][8]but with the additional construction of going under the railroad tracks, the estimated completion was pushed to 2016.[9]
As early as about a month after construction began for this line, it has been reported that there exists opposition to this line, particularly because of the installation of the six-block long bridge meant to avoid the freight railroad.[10] Further opposition to this line has arisen as people have begun to notice a loss in business in areas where construction is taking place.[11] Metro has since decided to build a portion of the line and all lanes of traffic would go under the railroad crossing. This will push back the completion date of this line until 2016. [12]
The following is a list of planned stations for the East End Line, listed in order from west to east:[13]
Maps of the East End Route
| East End/Green Line |
|---|
| Smith Station |
| Fannin Station* |
| Crawford Station |
| Bastrop Station** |
| York Station |
| Lockwood Station |
| Altic Station |
| Cesar Chavez/67th Street Station |
| Magnolia Transit Center Station |
*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
A possible expansion for the line would bring it south from the Magnolia transit center to converge with the Southeast/Purple Line at a station yet to be named, and moving along the same right-of-way to Hobby Airport.[14]
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