Crowds Pack Union Station To Celebrate Metro’s Historic Groundbreaking Of The North And Southeast Lines
July 13, 2009
Cheers rang loudly at Union Station this morning as supporters joined METRO in celebrating the start of two momentous light-rail projects that will connect communities like never before – the North and Southeast corridors.
Traveling from the nation’s capital to the Bayou City to participate in the festivities were U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Congressman Gene Green (D-TX), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Congressman Al Green (D-TX). Joining the delegation were Mayor Bill White and Houston City Council members, as well as METRO Board Chairman David S. Wolff and METRO Board members.
The congressional delegation echoed Chairman Wolff’s comment on the importance of the groundbreaking, indicating it will spur economic growth in the community to the tune of 60,000 direct and indirect jobs under the full $1.46 billion contract. The initial phase of the contract calls for spending $632 million and is expected to create 25,000 jobs.
Small and local businesses are expected to receive $300 million to $385 million in eligible contract work.
The speakers also honed in on the significance of $150 million set aside in President Obama’s FY2010 budget to help build the North and Southeast lines. The two rail lines were among five transit projects in the nation selected to receive funding.
The day of celebration kicked off with two separate ceremonies at the North and Southeast corridors, as well as a reception at the East End corridor. Participants from each corridor event were then transported via METRO buses to the grand finale at Union Station at Minute Maid Park.
At the North Corridor event, Chairman Wolff announced that the first work order for $121 million has officially been signed. That means initial construction on the North and Southeast lines is expected to get underway in the coming days. Activity on the East End line, which is already under construction, will increase.
All three lines – the North, Southeast and East End - are slated to be completed by 2012, and will add approximately 14 miles of light rail to METRO’s existing Main Street Red Line.
METRO’s light-rail expansion project will better connect communities and residents to jobs, health care centers, universities and more. The new light-rail lines will also give people another option to driving vehicles, helping improve the city’s air quality.
