University Line (METRORail)

The University/Blue Line (according to Go METRORail)^[4] 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.

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.^[5][6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

Construction

Following a statement by Houston's mayor, Annise Parker, construction on this line has been delayed until a time in which funding can be secured for this line.^[9][10] 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][11] It is reported in the Houston Chronicle that METRO anticipates $700 million in federal funding for this line.^[11] 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.^[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 Southeast/Purple Line for a short distance before turning onto Elgin, the transfer station to the Southeast/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]

*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

External links

• METRO Official Website
• Go METRORail