MetroRail passing new milestones

On track to 2014 opening

Matt Dietrichson, Oct 24, 12.

Significant progress has been made on the three new light rail lines, with projects 61 percent or more complete on each, according to Guidry News:

METRO has passed several milestones on its way to placing 15 plus miles of new track east, north, and southeast of the central business district. The three new light-rail lines will open for service in 2014. September reports show overall project construction as more than 61 percent complete with station and finishing work coming along at a very rapid pace.

The first steel structural columns for the station canopy have just been erected at the East End/Green Line Lockwood/Eastwood Station. Frames will support station glass roofs, artwork, signage and lighting. Along the Southeast/Purple Line there is progress to report on the construction of the Kuhlman Gulley Bridge on MLK Blvd. and sound wall on Wheeler Ave.

“Thanks to tremendous effort, coordination, and teamwork, Houston’s light-rail expansion project moves forward daily, meeting and exceeding deadlines and goals,” said David Couch, senior vice president, capital programs, METRO.

Utility relocations are 90 to 99 percent complete on all three lines, road paving is at 79 percent or more across the projects and actual guideway for rail cars is already more than halfway finished. Once complete METRORail will have 22.7 miles of light rail, with15 miles added to the existing light-rail system. METRORail stations now or soon to be under construction include:

North Line
(Red)

· Northline Transit Center/HCC, center station

· Cavalcade, center station

· Lindale, split station

East End Line
(Green)

· Lockwood/Eastwood, split station

· Ea/Do Stadium, center station

· Coffee Plant/Second Ward, center station

Southeast Line
(Purple)

· Leeland/Third Ward, split station

For more information on construction progress and stations, visit http://www.gometrorail.org/go/doc/2491/1333831/.