With the initial success of the METRORapid Silver Line between Northwest Transit Center and Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center along Post Oak Boulevard, METRORapid is expected to break ground on the University Corridor Project, running from Westchase Park and Ride to Tidwell Transit Center. The project is divided into five segments.
Segment 1 runs from Westchase Park and Ride to Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center. This segment connects the busy Westchase District to Lower Uptown while also servicing Gessner and Hillcroft Park and Ride Lots. At Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center, riders can transfer to Westwood/West Bellfort/TMC Park and Ride, METRORapid Silver Line, and the Canal/Memorial local bus route.
Segment 2 connects Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center to Wheeler Transit Center near Richmond Avenue and US 59 Southwest Freeway, while also servicing the busy Greenway Plaza area and the University of St. Thomas. At Wheeler Transit Center, riders can transfer to METRORail Red Line as well as local bus routes.
Segment 3 connects Wheeler Transit Center to Eastwood Transit Center near Elgin and Interstate Highway 45 Gulf Freeway while also servicing Houston Community College Main Campus, Third Ward, University of Houston, and Texas Southern University where riders can transfer to the METRORail Purple Line. At Eastwood Transit Center, riders can transfer to Park and Ride routes servicing the Gulf Freeway Corridor as well as local bus routes.
Segment 4 connects Eastwood Transit Center to Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center near the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel while also servicing the Second Ward area. Riders can transfer to the METRORail Green Line along Harrisburg. At Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center, riders can transfer to local bus routes.
Segment 5 connects the Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center to LBJ Hospital and Tidwell Transit Center while also servicing the Kashmere Gardens area. At Tidwell Transit Center, riders can transfer to local bus routes after ending their trip on the METRORapid University Corridor line.
Running more than 25 miles, in a dedicated lane, the University Corridor line is expected to help ease congestion in some of Houston’s busiest areas. This will help build stronger communities and bring about better access to mass transit in the region.
Better access starts with moving more people and taking more
cars off the road. It also will invest in communities serviced by providing top
of the line service and bringing more connectivity to other METRO services.
Along the route, riders can transfer to METRORail Red, Green, and Purple Lines, METRORapid Silver Line, 5 transit centers, 3 Park and Ride lots, and multiple local bus routes.
Stronger communities start with serving projected dense population growth along the route. It also will advance transportation equity with additional choices for the area and support a sustainable, healthy future for the region. Communities expected to benefit include Gulfton, Uptown, Greenway Plaza, Montrose, Midtown, Third Ward, Eastwood, Second Ward, Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens, and Eastex/Jensen. Colleges and universities expected to benefit include Houston Community College System, University of St. Thomas, Texas Southern University, and University of Houston.
Starting in late 2021, Project Development is expected to commence and end sometime in early 2023. This will be followed by the engineering phase, which is expected to end in early 2025. Shortly after that, construction will start until service commences sometime in 2028.
You can get all the details and attend virtual open houses
by visting metrorapid-ucp.com
