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Houston Mayor and METRO Seek Common Ground on East End Line Resolution of Harrisburg/Hughes Streets Over/Under Question Becomes a Milestone

(07/26/2011)

Houston Mayor and METRO Seek Common Ground on East End Line Resolution of Harrisburg/Hughes Streets Over/Under Question Becomes a Milestone

The City of Houston has concluded there is "strong sentiment" within the East End community for an underpass at Harrisburg/Hughes St. and has requested METRO’s Board of Directors vote in support of a plan to create a grade separated betterment for light rail and vehicular traffic. This "All-Under Option," according to Houston Mayor Annise Parker, is intended to "promote pedestrian and vehicular safety in the area and encourage community development, and enhance overall mobility in the East End." The city has committed $20.6 million in financial support for the project.

Although the underpass route is influenced by numerous considerations, the decision of whether or not to support the request will ultimately rest with the METRO Board of Directors. METRO Chairman, Gilbert Garcia, hopes to bring the complex matter up for vote by the directors this Thursday.

"We appreciate Mayor Parker’s efforts to build consensus in this lingering community debate. I congratulate the Mayor, Council members, Ed Gonzalez, James Rodriguez, and Melissa Noriega, as well as community representatives, the Mayor’s staff and METRO’s staff for working together on this issue." said Garcia.

METRO President & CEO George Greanias said the "all under option" will take longer to build, possibly two years longer, and the extra cost of $20-23 million does not cover a pedestrian tunnel. "Despite the hurdles ahead, this request is a good example of community partnerships. We look forward to working with the city in seeing this project to completion." said Greanias.

Of the $20.6 million in financial assistance being offered by the city:

$10.0 million - CIP funds previously committed to this issue
$4.9 million - Postponement of the Fulton Paving and Drainage Project (Dist. H)
$3.2 million - Postponement of the Telephone Road Reconstruction (Dist. I)
$2.5 million - Harrisburg TIRZ funds

METRO’s original design for the crossing accommodated light-rail only. The city of Houston, after extensive dialog with the community, commissioned a study on the feasibility of constructing an underpass. The betterment will require collaboration with Houston Belt and Terminal (HBT) Railroad, and creation of a new and temporary terminus at Altic. Offsetting the higher cost, however, is an added value to railroad operations – the new design, according to the city, will ease flooding impairments. In return for METRO’s support, the city of Houston has offered to make funds available in a timely fashion, as well as collaborate to seek more funds and support METRO in negotiations for necessary concessions from HBT. The matter will go before the full METRO Board of Directors, at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, July 28

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