Texas Transit Association

Harris County Commissioners Court, warming further to the idea of mass transit, was expected to approve a $420,000 contract to review six more corridors for commuter rail. However, in the second news article included here, others on the court had concerns on timing and partnerships.

ARTICLE I:
Review on more commuter rail routes to get OK
By LUCAS WALL
Houston Chronicle, May 10, 2004

The county has negotiated an agreement with transportation consultant DMJM+Harris to survey existing freight rail tracks along Texas 3, Mykawa Road, FM 521, Hardy Road, and Eastex Freeway. A look at tracks along the East Freeway was also added at the request of Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, who previously complained her eastside Precinct 2 was left out.

The nine-month review will determine track conditions and their capability for handling commuter trains. Agreements would have to be negotiated with the freight haulers that own the rails. DMJM will also map out potential routes and stations as well as draft estimates of ridership and costs.

“These are a logical next step,” said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. “All of them have right of way available and we need to look at all of these for potential lines.”

DMJM has already assessed the U.S. 290 and Texas 249 corridors in northwest Harris County, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council has sponsored a feasibility study on running commuter trains along U.S. 90A to Fort Bend County.

Commissioners Court first began examining passenger train service last June, when Commissioner Steve Radack proposed the formation of a commuter rail authority to help alleviate traffic congestion in his Precinct 3. Eckels joined the call during the fall’s campaign over the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light rail expansion plan, contending commuter rail would be a better alternative for many of the county’s traffic-choked suburbs.

Voters approved MetroRail expansion in November. Eckels said Monday he now believes it’s important to look at how the two systems could tie together to produce an efficient regional rail network.

“We can use these existing lines, and perhaps we’ll need to build some new tracks, to tie into Metro and its distribution system within the 610 Loop,” Eckels said. “We’ll need Metro to move people around the city once they get in. Anything we do will have to be a partnership.”

Eckels has recently discussed the county’s rail studies with Mayor Bill White and David Wolff, the new Metro board chairman. Both have expressed an interest in cooperating with Harris County to build the best possible transit network.

Money is likely to be the major obstacle in Eckels’ goal of getting a commuter line running in the next five years. Metro has only allocated funds in its 2025 expansion plan for eight miles of commuter rail in the U.S. 90A corridor. The county and city both have no existing funding source to support a commuter rail authority, which — unlike the Harris County Toll Road Authority — won’t be able to pay for its projects and operations solely through user fees. Commuter trains typically cover less than half their expenses by fares; the rest must be subsidized by taxpayers.

The county will address the financial details once it analyzes the consultant’s reports, Eckels said. He anticipates a successful commuter rail agency would draw funds from the city, county, Metro, surrounding counties, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.

“This has to be part of our broader transportation plan,” he said. “We'’ll work with our partners to at least come up with a plan. At that point, we’ll figure out who pays for what.”

ARTICLE II:

Commissioners hesitant to study commuter rail
By LUCAS WALL and MATT SCHWARTZ
Houston Chronicle May 11, 2004

Questioning the value of studying commuter rail before other transportation agencies are on board, Harris County Commissioners Court unexpectedly delayed hiring a consultant Tuesday to analyze six potential rail corridors.

The court instead directed Art Storey, public infrastructure director, to gauge the interest of the Texas Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transit Authority, adjacent counties and railroad companies in looking at commuter rail as a regional mobility option.

Entities interested in helping fund the proposed $420,000 study by transportation consultant DMJM+Harris would be especially welcome, court members said.

“I surely don’t expect in the future to get into the rail business,” said Commissioner El Franco Lee. “That is a Metro or state issue. We can partner up to the extent that we cooperate, but we shouldn’t be leading.”

Other commissioners agreed, noting the county does not have a revenue source for a commuter rail system.

Officials from Metro and the Transportation Department said after Tuesday’s postponement that they are ready to work with the county in figuring out whether commuter rail makes sense.

Gerald Smith, Metro board vice chairman, said transit officials will meet with county leaders next week to review the matter.

“We welcome the opportunity to develop some sort of cooperation with the county and all the other partners,” Smith said.

He noted the board hired new Metro President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Wilson, in part, because of his experience running commuter trains elsewhere, and part of Wilson’s mandate is to explore new service here.

Wilson, in his second week at Metro, said he’s enthusiastic about getting the authority more involved in the commuter rail studies, including possibly chipping in some cash.

“This is a fairly quick and much less costly way to bring service to the farther reaches of the county,” he said. “It’s one of these initiatives that’s so sensible I wonder, `Why haven’t we done this sooner?’ ”

The Transportation Department’s Houston District engineer said he’s considering expanding Harris County’s examination to the entire metropolitan area.

“There needs to be a regional rail study,” said Gary Trietsch, who complimented the county for taking the lead and urged it to continue in that role. “I’m looking at it a little broader.”

Money is likely to be the major obstacle in County Judge Robert Eckels’ goal of getting a commuter line running in the next five years. Metro has only allocated funds in its 2025 expansion plan for eight miles of commuter rail in the U.S. 90A corridor; most funds are dedicated for bus, light rail, and street upgrades.

Tuesday’s decision to delay signing the contract was the court’s first tap on the brakes since commuter rail was first proposed by Commissioner Steve Radack almost a year ago to help alleviate traffic congestion in his Precinct 3. Leading up to the November referendum on whether to expand MetroRail, Eckels contended commuter rail would be a better mode for many of the county’s traffic-choked suburbs.