As part of the METRONext plan that was approved by voters, another METRORapid project will run along the Inner Katy Corridor from Northwest Transit Center to the downtown Central Business District and terminating near the Convention District with a possible termination near the EaDo/Stadium Light Rail Station.
On January 31, METRO representatives held a virtual public hearing to give an update on the project and receive public input.
The main reason for the project is the growing congestion along IH-10 between Downtown and Northwest Transit Center. There is currently no dedicated bus lane between Northwest Transit Center and Studemont. This forces buses to use the busy main lanes to get into Downtown, which only adds to travel time. METRORapid’s Inner Katy project would add a faster connection to the Downtown area. METRORapid, Park and Ride routes, and Express Routes would all benefit from this. A dedicated elevated platform would be strictly for bus use. This has a lot of support and could add more stations to the METRORapid line.
Right now, the proposed stations are at Memorial Park, Yale, TC Jester, and Houston, with Shepherd/Durham and Studemont having been set already. Memorial Park is a busy area and could be a good spot for a station. The problem with Yale and TC Jester is the proximity to the Shepherd/Durham and Studemont stations. This could draw riders away and decrease ridership. The problem with the Houston station is that there is too much congestion and no good place to put a station. METRO is planning on going with stations at Northwest Transit Center, Memorial Park, Shepherd/Durham, and Studemont and then making the route head into Downtown.
When asked why stations before Downtown will not be at street level, METRO said that it is a safety hazard.
Once the bus gets into Downtown, the plan is to use the existing Light Rail Lane for the bus. Current stations in Downtown are the Theater District, Central Station, and Convention District, with Franklin/Bagby and EaDo stations being proposed.
With a growing city and the need to plan for the future, METRO needs to expand instead of using current infrastructure for new projects. With Bus Rapid Transit, there is no need to lay rail.
The light rail and METRORapid will have separate signals in Downtown. Hours of operation are planned to start at 4:30 am and end at midnight every day.
If you are wondering when the project gets underway, construction is slated to start in 2024 with service commencing in 2027.
You can find out more by visiting www.ridemetro.org/Pages/METRORapid-Inner-Katy.aspx
