Harris County and Commuter Rail
METRO’s new rail line is just a few weeks old but Houstonians could see more mass transit lines along existing highways, including US 290, Texas 249, Texas 3 and US 90.
*Commuter rail possibilities being considered for Houston area*
If proposed plans come into being, more commuters could be riding the rail in five years.
By Cynthia Cisneros
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(2/10/04 - HOUSTON) —
This is one of those initiatives that happens whenever you get a new mayor who in turn appoints a new METRO board. The county judge is seizing this opportunity to bring about a heavier and faster commuter rail.
Harris County Judge Robert Eckels has never been shy about his skepticism over METRO’s broader regional rail plan.
“I don’t want to take away from what METRO has already accomplished,” said Eckels. “The Main Street line does have some good points. But there are some real operational problems, including the safety issues on it, and it also has some real ultimate capacity constraints.”
The county’s already studying the idea of using existing rail, identifying Highway 290, Highway 249, Highway 3 and US 90 as potential corridors. With the help of the city, the county says they could have 100 miles of commuter rail within five years.
These corridors are being discussed as possible locations for commuter rail lines.
Eckels explained, “It was actually Union Pacific that approached us on it. METRO has studied this in the past, and in fact, has proposed this in the past. And we’ve had discussions with METRO on integrating heavy rail, or commuter rail system, with METRO’s light rail.”
It may be an idea whose time has come. Houston’s new mayor likes the idea, and wants to cooperate with the county.
“The point is, if we can find some way to get people on mass transit, where they’re moving faster at lower expense, we ought to be open to those suggestions,” said Mayor Bill White.
So far those suggestions include using existing rail tracks. There is already a commuter rail study underway with cooperation between the railroad, METRO, the city and the county. The county judge feels confident that commuter rail could come to Houston.