METRORapid Inner Katy Corridor Project

METRORapid is a transit service that combines elements of light rail and bus to deliver faster connections and a smooth, convenient ride.

It features:

• Modern design offering 100% accessibility, with wider doorways and level boarding
• Stations and platforms like rail
• Dedicated, transit-only lanes to move through traffic
• Transit-friendly traffic signals

Increase connectivity

Downtown and Uptown are two of Houston’s largest employment and activity centers. Although METRO provides local bus service on city streets, there’s no rapid transit connection between Downtown and Uptown.

Reduce congestion

The Inner Katy Corridor is one of the most heavily congested roadways in the Houston area. This affects both motorists and METRO’s Regional Express buses, which operate in mixed traffic where there’s no HOV lane.

The new METRORapid Inner Katy line will provide:

Fast and frequent service

Universally accessible service for all between Downtown and Uptown throughout the day, at night and on weekends.

Faster and more reliable trips

The project will accommodate all of METRO’s Regional Express trips along the I-10 West and US 290 Freeways that currently get bogged down in traffic between I-610 and Downtown. Transit-only lanes in both directions will help reduce travel time and improve schedule reliability for thousands of current riders.

More connectivity

At Northwest Transit Center:

• Create direct connection with METRORapid Silver Line so you can ride from Downtown to Uptown without having to transfer
• Link with several METRO local and Regional Express routes – increasing connectivity to destinations like Texas Medical Center, Greenway Plaza, Memorial Park and Westchase

The project will also provide a fast connection between the METRORapid Silver Line and the METRORail Green and Purple Lines.

More access

• Serve current riders
• Accommodate expected population growth in this area
• Improve access to jobs and economic opportunity

The project began in late 2020. The planning phase is expected to continue through early 2022, followed by design. Construction is expected to begin about a year after design is complete. It’s anticipated that construction would last about three years. Public and stakeholder engagement are ongoing and will continue throughout the timeline.

As the project progresses, updates will be added to this page including more opportunities for you to provide input, ask questions, and submit comments.

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The METRONext Moving Forward Plan identified a general alignment within the Inner Katy corridor. With input from community stakeholders, METRO conducted a detailed evaluation of the corridor and potential alignment options. The recommendation for the locally preferred alternative (LPA) was presented to the public in January 2022 for feedback and in March 2022, METRO’s Board of Directors approved the LPA.

The METRORapid Inner Katy Project is a separate project being developed by METRO. It will be designed to connect with the METRORapid Silver Line at the Northwest Transit Center and enable you to connect between Uptown and Downtown without transferring.

During the planning phase, METRO evaluated potential station locations between Northwest Transit Center and Downtown. We assessed the following locations identified in the METRONext Moving Forward Plan, which were ultimately included in the METRO Board approved LPA:

• Shepherd Street / Durham Street
• Studemont Street
• Theater District
• Central Station
• Convention District

We also evaluated additional potential station locations suggested by the community. Based on this input and planning studies, the project’s LPA also proposes stations at:

• Memorial Park
• Franklin Street / Bagby Street
• St. Emanual Street / East Downtown

The first phase of the Inner Katy Project is between Northwest Transit Center and Downtown Houston. Planning and design of a connection to the high-speed rail line will be conducted at a later date depending on the progress of the high speed rail project.

Based on input from the community, METRO is evaluating how existing and future pedestrian, bicycle and local bus route connections will be integrated with stations.

The METRORapid Inner Katy Project is planned to provide daily rapid transit service during the day and night. The frequency is expected to be similar to METRORail.

Significant property impacts are not anticipated. METRO expects determinations to be made sometime in 2022. As always, we’ll adhere to all federal requirements regarding potential property acquisition.

After it begins, the study is expected to be completed in 2022.

METRO doesn’t expect an increase in air pollution. Any reduction in automobile travel as a result of having new transit options generally has a positive effect on air quality.

Overall, noise impacts are expected to be minimal compared with existing freeway noise. However, a noise analysis will be conducted. If it is determined that any actions are needed, they’ll be conducted in accordance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines on noise and vibration.

METRO will explore possible use of lower emission vehicles.

METRO is always looking for ways to incorporate new technologies and will work to accommodate future technologies.