APTA: Transportation bill underfunds critical needs

A statement by American Public Transportation Association President William Millar was released Friday, July 7 regarding the recent surface transportation proposal.

His statement follows:

"APTA commends the leadership of Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for moving forward with developing a six-year, multi-modal surface transportation authorization bill. The Chairman’s efforts to expand project financing, streamline project delivery and simplify federal grant programs are important components of the proposal. However, the bill’s investment levels, which are severely limited under the House-passed budget resolution and its rules, are woefully short of what is required to address the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure investment needs.

"With high gas prices and a slow economy, now is not the time to implement cuts of more than 30 percent in public transportation funding. This lack of investment in the nation’s public transportation infrastructure will have a chilling effect on our country’s ability to create jobs and provide access to jobs necessary to move the economy forward. One dollar invested in our public transportation infrastructure generates four dollars in economic return.

"This proposal would severely underfund critical elements of the federal transit program. The funding will not permit public transit agencies to address the costs of getting the existing systems to a state of good repair, which the U.S. DOT has estimated as a one-time cost of $78 billion, let alone meet the growing demand for public transportation services in the United States. It will severely curtail the purchase of new buses and trains, reduce critical maintenance and safety programs, and could cut operating funds for transit systems in small communities and rural areas.

"While we commend Chairman Mica’s efforts to leverage federal dollars through the various financing projects, there is no substitute for actual investment.

"We strongly urge the Congress to move forward with a bill that increases transportation investment or at the very least, maintains current funding levels. We look forward to gaining more details of this proposal and welcome the opportunity to work with the U.S. House and the Senate in funding the critical needs of the nation’s public transportation systems."

Sound Transit issues FEIS for East Link

The upcoming extension of Sound Transit’s light rail in the Seattle area to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond, Wash., reached a major milestone with the distribution of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the East Link light rail project.

The Final EIS documents the numerous benefits of connecting the region’s largest population and employment centers with fast, frequent and reliable mass transit service, as well as project impacts and required mitigation. The publication positions the Sound Transit Board to select an East Link route and stations on July 28 or thereafter.

By 2030, the East Link project is forecasted to move up to 50,000 riders each weekday.
After the route and stations are selected and Sound Transit receives Federal Transit Administration approval through a Record of Decision, the project will move into final design. Sound Transit is expected to start construction of East Link in 2015 or 2016 and launch passenger service in 2022 or 2023.

"The years of work summarized in this document position us to turn our region’s vision of fast and reliable mass transit into real tracks, trains and stations. We are now poised to move forward," said Sound Transit Board and Bellevue City Council Member Claudia Balducci. "The time we’ve spent on detailed analysis and involving the public give Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue the information needed to cooperatively identify the route and mitigation options in Bellevue that will deliver the best results."

The upcoming meetings of the Sound Transit Board and the Board’s Capital Projects and Executive Committees will include review of the Final EIS, which includes more detailed analysis of the preferred alternatives the Board identified last year, as well as all of the other alternatives studied in the Draft and Supplemental Draft EIS documents.

The official issuance date for the Final EIS is July 15, 2011.

Invensys awarded Network Rail contract, completes Malaysian double tracking

Invensys Rail has been selected by Network Rail to deliver one of Britain’s resignalling schemes at London Bridge Station and the approaching railway.

This contract, under which will be a series of individual commission contracts, commences in August 2011 and runs through to the completion of the Thameslink project in December 2018.

Simon Kirby, Network Rail’s director of investment projects, said, "This is a great example of how we are changing the way we work to encourage more innovation, deliver projects in a smarter way and get better value for money. By involving our delivery partners at an early stage, the industry will be able to deliver one of the most complex station, track and signalling projects being undertaken on the railway network in a generation."

The scope of Invensys Rail’s work will encompass the detailed design, installation, testing and commissioning of signalling and telecoms systems. This includes the introduction of the company’s ATO (Automatic Train Operation) and ETCS (European Train Control System) solutions, which will be overlaid in the London Bridge area to enable all train movements to be controlled automatically, delivering 24 trains per hour in each direction on the Thameslink core route at the program’s completion in 2018.

Commenting on the contract award Invensys Rail’s UK Managing Director, Nick Crossfield said, "Naturally we are absolutely delighted to have won this important work, allowing us to remain at the heart of one of Europe’s most prestigious and technically challenging rail infrastructure projects.

The Thameslink Programme reaches a key milestone in December 2011, when the first 12-car trains begin to run through central London. The transformation of London Bridge station, and associated railway work, will get underway fully in 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in 2018. It will be the final piece of the Thameslink program, which will provide a much-needed capacity boost to cater for increasing passenger numbers.

Additionally, Invensys Rail has delivered the first critical phase of the Malaysia’s Seremban to Gemas Double Tracking Project in time for planned commencement of the suburban passenger service to Sungai Gadut.

The project forms part of the Malaysian Government’s RM$3.45 billion (US$1.2 billion) Seremban-Gemas double tracking and electrification project due for completion in December 2012.

Phase I included modification and extension of Seremban station, a new station and interlocking at Sungai Gadut and a 10km (6.2 mile) block section between stations which includes the halt of Senawang.

Invensys Rail’s Regional Manager, Owen Clenick, commented, "The dedication and tenacity of our international teams to deliver the project on time was second to none and shows the lengths that Invensys Rail will go to deliver on time for its customer".

Brad Chase named president of OmniTRAX Canada, Inc.

Brad Chase, formerly senior vice president at Kleysen Group LP in Winnipeg, a company handling commodities throughout Canada and the United States via rail and truck transportation, has been named president of OmniTRAX Canada, Inc.

"I look forward to pursuing business opportunities for OmniTRAX that also benefit Canada, and particularly, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the North," said Chase. "We will make strategic capital investments, seek joint ventures and work with all levels of government to ensure that the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill contribute to the success of Canada’s Northern Strategy."

Chase joined Kleysen in 2001 to lead the Intermodal Business unit. He was responsible for strategic planning and business development and was instrumental in the company’s growth.

"Brad’s leadership abilities, transportation background and deal-making skills are keys to expanding our operations and partnerships in Canada," said Gary Long, president and CEO of OmniTRAX, Inc. "His appointment as president of OmniTRAX Canada shows our commitment to the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway in Manitoba, the economic development of Nunavut, as well as our rail assets in Saskatchewan and British Columbia."

Chase will be based at the OmniTRAX Canada offices in Winnipeg and have oversight of the company’s operations in Canada, including the Port of Churchill, North America’s only deepwater Arctic port; the Hudson Bay Railway, which delivers goods to businesses and communities in Manitoba along 1,017 km of track; the Carlton Trail Railway, based in Saskatchewan; and the Kettle Falls International Railway connecting British Columbia to the United States.

 

 

Gov. Quinn signs transit reform legislation

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a legislation to reform mass transit in the Chicago region by creating a universal fare card for riders of the CTA, Metra and Pace and taking the first step towards making free wireless internet available on buses and trains throughout the region. The new law also requires Metra to provide web-based, real-time train arrival information and lays the groundwork for the installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on Metra passenger trains.

"These improvements will make public transit a more robust and convenient travel option, boosting economic development and increasing access to schools and universities throughout the region," said Governor Quinn.

House Bill 3597 requires the Regional Transportation Authority to implement a universal fare card system for the CTA, Metra and Pace by 2015. A universal fare card would ensure access to all forms of public transportation in the region by allowing transfers between transit systems.

The new law was sponsored by Chicago Alderman Will Burns during his time as state representative and State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago).

House Bill 3597 passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously and takes effect immediately.

 

Mica proposal slashes transit, highway funding

As reported by Railway Age:

As expected, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) Thursday unveiled a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, totaling $230 billion, roughly 20% less than the previous bill, SAFETEA-LU, and also significantly less than a $500 billion reauthorization bill introduced to Congress, but never passed, in 2009.

Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has said future spending should not exceed funding available in the Highway Trust Fund, which has been supplemented by general revenue in recent years. Federal transit funding assistance and even highway funding directed to the states would decrease as a result.

The bill’s effort to reduce costs includes revamping or terminating numerous programs, and removing any requirement for states to offer "transportation enhancements" such as pedestrian and bicycle improvements, though saving generated by the latter change would be marginal at best. The bill also would not allow states to impose tolls on existing interstate highway lanes, though tolls could be imposed on new highway lanes and on existing federal (U.S. number) roads.

Mica’s bill also rejects any increase in the federal fuels tax, last changed in 1993 and already producing lower revenue due in part to more efficient automotive fuel use and alternative-fuel vehicles.

Negative reaction to the Mica bill, some of it bipartisan, preceded the bill’s introduction. Rep. Ear Blumenauer (D-Ore.), an ardent advocate of light rail, streetcar, and bicycle transportation, said, "The proposed funding levels in this reauthorization are disastrously stingy and do not meet the minimum levels required to keep America’s transportation network safe and our economy competitive." He added, "Funding at these levels will result in hundreds of thousands of lost jobs and roads, railways and bridges with structural deficiencies that threaten our communities."

TIFIA loan for LACMTA Westside Subway Extension achieves welcome milestone

The U.S. Department of Transportation has taken a major step toward approval of a $640.8 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Westside Subway Extension.

The $640.8 million federal loan commitment would help fund the construction of a high-capacity, nine-mile extension of the LACMTA Purple Line subway from the existing Wilshire/Western station to a proposed Westwood/Veterans Affairs Hospital station once negotiations are complete.

"[This] is a critical step towards creating an ambitious, multi-faceted transit network and putting Angelenos back to work," Mayor and Chair of the LACMTA Antonio Villaraigosa said.

On March 1, 2011, LAMCTA had written a letter of interest to the USDOT outlining its interest in a TIFIA loan for the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector. The USDOT selected the Westside Subway Extension [and seven other projects] from a pool of 34 project sponsors that were seeking a total of over $14 billion in TIFIA loans to help finance some $48 billion of new capital investments. LACMTA must now submit a final TIFIA application with USDOT and await formal approval of our Westside Subway Extension loan over the next several months.

The Westside Subway extension is part of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LACMTA’s 30/10 Initiative, a $14.8 billion plan to build 30 years of transit projects in the next decade.

The loan will be repaid with funds collected under Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles voters in 2008.

CSX names Baggs VP capital markets and investor relations

CSX Corporation promoted David Baggs to vice president of capital markets and investor relations, effective immediately. Previously, he was assistant vice president of treasury and investor relations.

Baggs directs the company’s interaction with the investment community through earnings reports, analyst meetings, conferences and other channels. In addition, he leads CSX’s banking relationships and capital markets activities associated with a debt portfolio of more than $8 billion.

"David is a veteran leader of CSX and an outstanding resource for our investors and partners in the financial community," said Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

In 25 years with CSX, Baggs has held positions in finance, economic analysis, corporate strategy, treasury and investor relations.

Watco adds Inselbuch as CFO, Baden moves to COO

Adam Inselbuch will join Watco as executive vice president and chief financial officer on July 11, 2011. Inselbuch will oversee the implementation of all financial aspects of Watco’s strategic plan and will be responsible for the finance, accounting, strategic sourcing and revenue accounting functions.

Inselbuch joins Watco from South Street Ventures, LLC, of New York where he served as managing director for the past year.

"We have worked with Adam on several projects and are confident that his experience and rail industry relationships will be an asset to Watco," said Watco President Terry Towner.

"Adam will be leading our finance and support teams that provide the information necessary for our Watco team to meet the daily needs of our Customers." Towner said.

Rick Baden, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer, will assume the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer with responsibilities for all business segments, as well as information technology, marketing and strategic analysis. Baden will also lead international operations.

Indiana Southern, IAM reach tentative agreement

The Indiana Southern Railroad and the International Association of Machinists reached a tentative collective-bargaining agreement on June 29, 2011, covering the craft and class of Mechanical and Maintenance of Way, according to the National Mediation Board.

SMART declares rail project is fundamentally sound and on track

In California, the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit acting Executive Director Farhad Mansourian issued a statement declaring that the future rail line in Marin and Sonoma is alive and well.

"When I took over as acting executive director, I promised the SMART Board of Directors that I would help reassess a variety of project assumptions, including construction costs and the financial picture and give them a status report," said Mansourian. "I’ve been doing exactly that and as in all large public works projects, there are many moving parts with new information emerging on a regular basis."

Mansourian is the public works director for Marin County who is on loan to SMART while the agency searches for a permanent general manager.

"SMART is a visionary, large-scale transportation project," stated SMART Chairwoman, Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown. "Our acting executive director is examining every assumption and the risk factors associated with SMART. We are moving toward finalizing design, permitting and construction issues just as any project must."

"Prior attempts to trim $88 million to balance the SMART budget included some cuts that would produce short-term gain and long term pain," said Mansourian. "Therefore, I have examined options that would allow the SMART Board to reconsider some of these cuts, by exploring new revenue sources that do not involve asking the voters for more money."

Mansourian continued, "From concept to the stage we’re at (30 perent of design completed) is a complex, time-consuming cost refinement process. We are examining and analyzing the data and I am planning to bring full disclosure of the status of the project and its financing to a public meeting of the SMART board in August."

"The expertise and organizational change that SMART now has in place is exactly what has been needed," said SMART Vice-Chair, Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold. "This is the critical element in restoring public confidence in the project. The entire SMART team is now committed to 100 percent transparency and the fiscal prudence that a project like this requires. I pledge to the public that the SMART Board is committed to executing the entire 70-mile project, starting with the Santa Rosa to San Rafael portion, in this same manner."

The voters of Marin and Sonoma passed a quarter-cent sales tax to fund the SMART service in 2008. SMART is planning the first leg of the system that will run between Santa Rosa and San Rafael, looking toward opening the rail service in2014.

RFQ issued for Ottawa LRT project

The City of Ottawa in Ontario Canada released a Request for Qualifications for Ottawa Light Rail Transit Project: Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station as outlined and approved by City Council on May 25, 2011.

The document outlines the evaluation criteria that will be used to identify respondents with the skills and experience to deliver Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit project.

Respondents will need to demonstrate their success in design, management, construction, system integration, testing, commissioning and maintenance of high capacity Light Rail Transit projects of similar scope and size as the OLRT project.

An independent Fairness Commissioner will oversee the evaluation process to protect the city’s interests and ensure an equal playing field from potential bidders. There are also lobbying restrictions in place to prevent firms from lobbying council or staff outside of the formal submission process.

Respondents will have until September 13, 2011 to make submissions. The city will take one month to complete evaluations and will publish a short list of qualified respondents in October, 2011.

The pre-qualified respondents will be invited to respond to the OLRT Request for Proposal.

The RFP process will last nine months, after which the winning firm will complete negotiations with the city. The final contract is due to be signed by December 2012 and construction will be completed within five years.

KCS names three to upper management

Kansas City Southern has made three leadership changes within the sales and marketing department.

Natalie Putnam has joined KCS as vice president sales and marketing and is focused on running the U.S. chemical and petroleum and industrial and consumer business units.

Owen Zidar will continue as vice president sales and marketing with a change of focus from running the U.S. chemical and petroleum and industrial and consumer business units to national account development.

Darin Selby has been named assistant vice president energy markets. In addition to handling the coal business and shortline partner relations, his responsibilities now include developing business with the emerging energy markets, including crude oil, biofuels, biomass, frac sand and wind.

All three report to executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick M. Ottensmeyer.

"Together, these appointments help further align the sales and marketing organization to achieve KCS’ growth objectives," said David Starling, KCS president and chief executive officer. "Adding Natalie to the team and expanding the roles of Owen and Darin into new growth areas, validates our commitment to being the fastest growing railroad in North America."

Putnam has 29 years of transportation sales experience, 19 as an executive sales leader. She joins KCS from YRC Worldwide, where she has served as senior vice president transportation and logistics solutions since April 2010.

Zidar has 31 years of transportation sales experience. He joined the company as vice president sales and marketing for the carload business unit in 2005. Prior to KCS, he served as vice president of sales for the southwestern region of Pacer International and began his career with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1980.

Selby was appointed assistant vice president of coal and short line partner relations in 2009. He will continue his leadership of these areas while adding emerging energy markets to his duties. He joined KCSR in 2001 as assistant trainmaster in Wylie

Tony Kinn appointed to head VDOT’s Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton selected Tony Kinn as director of the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships (OTP3).

In his new role at the OTP3, Kinn will be responsible for developing and implementing a statewide program for transportation project delivery via the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995.

Kinn currently serves as assistant vice president and director of corporate relations for the University of Virginia’s University Engineering Foundation.

"Virginia is a leader in public-private partnerships and we are committed to delivering much needed infrastructure improvements across all transportation modes," said Connaughton. "Tony has the background and expertise to further develop our program and proactively identify, assess and deliver the commonwealth’s priority transportation projects in a consistent, transparent, timely and cost-effective manner."

The OTP3 works in coordination with the secretary of transportation and all seven Virginia transportation agencies and focuses on the development of public-private projects across all modes of transportation.

 

TripAdvisor now provides access to train travel options

Popular travel site TripAdvisor announced the beta launch of rail itineraries into its flight meta-search engine, TripAdvisor Flights.

TripAdvisor has partnered with mobility and logistic company Deutsche Bahn, as well as other European rail providers including Rail Europe Inc., to give travelers access to train choices across continental Europe. It will be the first travel website to integrate multiple rail providers in line with flight options across a global network.

"With the integration of rail itineraries into TripAdvisor Flights, we now offer travelers not only the most comprehensive flight search on the web, but also an easy way to compare train options," said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of TripAdvisor Flights. "This is especially helpful when planning a trip through Europe, where there are more high-speed rail options now than ever before and hundreds of millions of travelers opt for train travel each year."

When travelers conduct a flight search on TripAdvisor, the site will now display rail itineraries alongside flight choices for routes where it’s relevant and in some cases priced even cheaper than air travel, such as London to Paris, or Frankfurt to Brussels. Travelers will then be able to filter the search results according to their travel needs and conveniently click to complete the booking on the air or rail website of their choice.

In addition, travelers will be able to access all of the tools offered by TripAdvisor Flights, including the Fees Estimator, to easily compare the true cost of their flight and train options.

Rail itineraries for continental Europe are available starting July 6 through the TripAdvisor Flights meta-search engines in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, German and Spain, with itineraries in additional countries scheduled to launch on future dates.

Travelers can also shop rail itineraries when conducting flight searches through the free TripAdvisor mobile apps for the iPhone, Android, Nokia, Windows Phone 7 and Palm smartphones, the iPad and through the TripAdvisor mobile website.

 

Massachusetts awarded $72.8 million to cut travel times on Vermonter

Travel time on Amtrak’s Vermonter line will be cut by nearly 30 minutes through a $72.8 million federal grant to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The project will restore a rail line, improving 50 miles of track and infrastructure on a direct route from Springfield to East Northfield, Mass., along the Connecticut River Valley.

"Coupled with previous federal investments along the Vermonter line, these improvements will bring almost a one hour reduction in travel time for passengers traveling in Vermont and Massachusetts," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Vermonter line operates between St. Albans, Vt., and Washington, D.C. and had a 16 percent ridership increase in 2010. Progress on the service began last year with a $50 million grant to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, improving 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon, shaving 30 minutes off of travel time within Vermont. Long-term, the investments in Vermont and Massachusetts will also increase reliability and for future expansion of service in Montreal, Quebec.

APTA: Mica to reveal six-year surface transportation authorization bill this week

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) plans to unveil details on his proposal for a six-year surface transportation authorization bill. In recent meetings with transportation industry leaders, Mica said that he will release bill text following the July 4th holiday, with formal introduction of the legislation to take place the week of July 11, and committee markup the week of July 25.

Limited to the confines of the House-passed budget resolution developed by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), which requires cuts in transportation programs of over 30 percent compared to current levels, the authorized funding level will be approximately $230 billion over six years. This is the funding level that the committee believes can be sustained by revenues deposited into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) over that period, assuming no increases in revenue or additional general fund transfers. The bill will also authorize funding to be appropriated from the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury for specific programs.

It is anticipated that Mica’s bill will focus on program consolidation, streamlining the project delivery process and greater use of innovative financing and public-private partnerships. The bill is not expected to include his recent proposal to privatize passenger rail service in the Northeast Corridor.

Despite the uncertainty of floor time, Mica has said that he plans to release his bill. Action on authorization will be required before September 30, when the current extension of SAFETEA-LU expires.

 

U of I to test high-speed rail components

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is conducting a $3.3 million study on the performance of certain track components of shared passenger and heavy-axle-load corridors to make them both safer and more efficient.

The research to improve concrete crossties and fastening systems will be undertaken by the university’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC), part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Illinois. It is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration, which contributed approximately $2.4 million to perform the research. Industry partners will contribute the remaining $900,000.

"These joint corridors present unique challenges in terms of the design and maintenance of infrastructure. This research project is aimed at improving concrete tie and fastener design in order to increase safety and reliability and lower their life cycle cost," said CEE faculty member J. Riley Edwards, who is leading the study.

During the two-and-a-half-year study, researchers will conduct laboratory and field testing to compile empirically gathered performance data. Improved understanding of the tie and fastening system is expected to facilitate the development of performance requirements and design recommendations for concrete ties and fastening systems in the United States, specifically those used in joint passenger-freight railway infrastructure. They will also develop a centralized knowledge and document depository about concrete ties and fastening systems.

In addition to Edwards, the research team includes CEE professors Bassem Andrawes, Daniel Kuchma and David Lange and Research Engineer Marcus Dersch, a CEE alumnus.

The industry partners involved in the project include: Amtrak, BNSF, GIC Ingenieria y Construccion S.A. de C.V., Hanson Professional Services Inc., LB Foster Company, CXT Concrete Ties, Union Pacific and Unit Rail Inc./Amsted Rail Inc.

KCS marks 14th anniversary of Mexican railroad concession

Kansas City Southern celebrated the 14th anniversary since the concession to operate the railroad in Mexico on June 24.

The First Lady of Mexico, Margarita Zavala, sent a video of congratulations to KCS and acknowledged its importance to the Mexico economy.

In other news, KCS president and CEO Dave Starling traveled to Mexico, where he joined KCS Mexico President and Executive Representative Jose Zozaya on a tour of key KCS locations.

Starling and Zozaya also hosted Mayor Carlos de la Fuente Flores of San Nicolas de los Garza, Tamaulipas at the KCS offices in Monterrey, where they showed him the dispatch center, new finance building and business cars. The SCT and mayor authorized KCS to increase train speed on the line from 20 to 35 kilometers per hour (mph equivalents), which improves velocity and security.

Starling and Zozaya attended the opening ceremony for the new Country Park intermodal terminal in the State of Mexico as well.

Also, the KCS customer solutions team in Mexico was recently reorganized from multiple commodity groups into three: carload, agricultural/mineral and intermodal/automotive. KCS says the new organization results in more pro-active notifications and greater emphasis on providing strategic solutions to customer issues.

In the near future, the customer solutions team in Mexico will migrate to the same customer relationship management tool being used in the U.S. This transition will allow KCS management to see current and historical data for customers account activity on both sides of the border. The transparency will support greater accountability in meeting customers’ needs.

Houston Metro readies rail for Southeast Line extension

Houston Metro’s Southeast Line will be the first planned line extension to have rail installed. The track for this section of the new alignment will be welded from 80-foot sections into continuous 480-foot strings and embedded in reinforced concrete, which will serve as a foundation for the entire 6.6-mile line.

The 6.6-mile line will connect to the Main St./Red Line, the East End Line (currently under construction) and the planned University Line. Those lines, together with the North Line extension, will provide roughly 34 miles of service to Houston.