Ten light-rail stations are now under construction, with schedules reflecting a 2014 opening date for passenger service. There will be 15 new miles of light rail and 24 additional stations when the lines are completed.

In May 2012 the project had:

• 1,008 workers who performed 193,000 hours of labor

• 434 craft labor, made up entirely of local hires

• 350 subcontractor employees, about 90 percent local

• 224 partner employees (63 local, 119 relocated to Houston, 42 temporary)

Of the businesses now working on 554 contracts for the light-rail project, 274 are small or disadvantaged and more than 90 percent of them are local. $179 million of the $298 million committed to the SBE/DBE program has already been paid out. That commitment exceeds original contract goals.