Texas Transit Association

Metro has taken a significant step toward the construction of Houston’s next four light rail lines. Directors on Thursday authorized signing a five-year contract estimated at $60 million with STV Inc. of New York, the same consortium that shepherded development of the Main Street line, which opened Jan. 1. More…

Metro agrees to contract for next 4 light rail lines
By LUCAS WALL Houston Chronicle April 22, 2004

STV’s project-management tasks will include oversight of planning, design, construction and initial operation of light rail extensions for the North, Southeast, Harrisburg and Westpark corridors. Those segments, estimated to cost $1.7 billion, make up the first phase of the 22-year Metro Solutions expansion plan that voters approved in November. All four lines are projected to have trains running by 2013 and will be paid for with $640 million in bonds and expected federal matching funds.

Six firms competed for the project, which includes options for two two-year extensions. Dennis Hough, the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s director of contracts, said STV and its 16 subcontractors stood out as the most qualified companies to continue oversight of light rail construction in Houston.

“They are the guys who made this thing happen on time,” Hough said in reference to the New Year’s Day opening of the Main Street line, achieved 10 months earlier than originally planned. “They were clearly head and shoulders above the other firms.”

One of STV’s subcontractors is AECOM Consulting of Fairfax, Va., an affiliate of Los Angeles-based AECOM Enterprises, where incoming Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson served as president. Metro’s board hired Wilson on Tuesday; he takes over leadership of the authority May 3.

Hough said the authority has used AECOM Consulting for many years to forecast ridership. Materials presented to the board state that the selection committee decided to recommend STV on Feb. 25, almost two months before Wilson was hired.

In other action Thursday, the Metro board:

·Approved construction of a $2.1 million transit center at Gulfgate Mall. The facility will serve four bus routes and offer 204 parking spaces. It will eventually become train station.

·Authorized a $1.7 million expansion of the Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center to increase bus bays from two to six, serving eight routes.