Rail Cars from Utah

Metro has announced that it has made a deal with the Utah Transit Authority to purchase 19 rail cars for the Main Street Line.  Come late in 2012 the first rail car should be delivered.  The rail cars will help deal with the capacity levels Metro experiences during rush hour on the main line and help with large events such as the rodeo, sporting events and other downtown events.   

After the situation with CAF and the Spanish rail cars this comes as welcome news.  According to the Chronicle, Metro will be able to use "$64 million in federal stimulus funds to offset most of the $83 million cost of the cars".  When you add in the 14 million that Metro received in their settlement with CAF that puts the cost of the rail cars at $5 million.  Not bad for 19 rail cars. 

Official release HERE

Chron.com story HERE

Happy Monday, y'all.

February Southeast Community Advisory Board Meeting

The Southeast Community Advisory Board met last night at the Palm Center for our February session.  Present were representatives from Metro's South East office, the Greater South East Management District, HRT Construction, City Council, KIPP and Community Organizations.  

Action Items
The meeting started with introductions and a follow up on action items from last month.  The first action item to be resolved was regarding a situation on MLK.  The turns at Madlyn, Ventura and Marietta were being blocked by construction signs and there was some confusion where to turn relative to the construction barrels.  HRT got on this in 2 days after the last CAB meeting.  Additional street signs have been posted and street identification is easier


Carry over items that are still ongoing are the egress for MacGregor Place, a possible bus shelter at Griggs & Milart, a station on MLK and enhancements for the MLK area.  For some of these items funding options are being explored and others are still being researched and are in the preliminary phases.


Construction Updates
Mr. Chris Jensen and Mr. "It's not unusual" Tom Jones presented the construction updates for last month and the news was exciting.  The presentation also came with some entertaining music to rev up the atmosphere.
 
Section 2A

• Public Utility work is done in the area.
• Metro has submitted paperwork to expedite the road work construction for this area. 
• If approved, alignment and pavement work could start in about a month on this section.

This news is particularly exciting in that it will involve some very visible construction and progress on the UH campus.  With this we will be seeing traffic and it will be important for students and commuters to avoid this traffic as much as possible.


Section 4A

• Public Utility work has restarted
• Colombia Trap to Rail will be relocated in the future due to the construction along this area

 Section 3A

• Water and storm sanitary work is being done currently
• The hole under 45 along Scott is almost done.  
• The machinery doing this gets about 40 feet a day on a good day.
• The length of the hole is around 400 feet.

Section 3B

• Center Point is working on the gas lines in this area.
• Later this week a traffic switch plan will be implemented.  This involves switching the existing traffic from one lane to another. 
• Lime Slurry was put down to complete the pavement and road work that was started last month

Section 1B

• Continued communication and daily coordination with KIPP on the construction and road work to ensure student and pedestrian safety.
• Road work in the area has been approved and will be started soon.

Video Presentation


After the construction updates I was asked to present the new S.A.F.E. video.  It was given a warm reception and plans were made to distribute the video through other outlets(websites, twitter etc.).  Big thanks to Donna Lane, Ri Nguyen and HRT for helping me make this first video.  To see it, click on the video tab at the top of the page.


For further questions/comments please click on the contact tab at the top and I'd be happy to respond.
 
 

50 Million for Light Rail

Great News!

President Obama's budget for next year includes an increase in funds for the Light Rail.

Signaling its support for Houston’s light-rail projects, President Obama’s FY2012 proposed budget includes $200 million in New Starts funds for construction of METRO’s North and Southeast lines...

The budget includes a $50 million boost compared to the past two fiscal budgets - $150 million proposed in FY2011 and another $150 million included in FY2010.

“We see this as a vote of confidence,” said METRO President & CEO George Greanias. “We think the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and others are seeing the progress we are making at METRO and that Houston’s work merits priority treatment.”
 

Couldn't agree more. 
Given the state of the economy it is good to see that issues as important as light rail and public transit are being supported from the highest office in the nation.  Soon enough, we'll be taking the South East Rail to class.

Official news release HERE.

Welcome!

Welcome to the South East Light Rail blog, run by the University of Houston.  This blog is focused on providing the UH community with updates, information and safety videos on the South East Light Rail.  In addition we will make sure to post links to relevant news releases and Metro sites.  Information from the monthly South East Community Advisory Board Meetings will be shared here as well.  Our goal is to provide the most up to date information for members of the UH community from the perspective of the UH community.
 

Navigation on this page is fairly simple.  If you want to see the SAFE video's click on the video tab at the top.  Links, a map of the South East Line and links to some of Metro's sites are available as well.  If you have any questions click on the contact page and let us know.  Older posts are available by clicking the Older Posts link at the bottom right of the screen.  Feel free to comment and start a dialogue on any of the posts, videos or about anything relating to the South East Light Rail.  Thanks and Go Coogs!