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Scott rail line could spur development

Metro's Southeast line would run past UH; could break ground by 2007

By Matt Dulin
The Daily Cougar

A light rail corridor connecting UH, Texas Southern University and the Third Ward to downtown Houston and Hobby Airport is taking shape as a part of Metro's $7.5 billion initiative to outfit the Bayou City with a network of light rail transit lines.

Part of the proposed rail line, which totals about 7 miles, makes a nearly 2.5-mile run down Scott Street, along the west side of the UH campus, before turning at Griggs Road. That strip of Scott was the focal point of a Thursday meeting during which Metropolitan Transit Authority officials tried to sell the idea to Third Ward community members, who already provide Metro with one-fourth of its bus riders.

Metro officials and members of its consultant team, with specialists from the engineering firm Parsons Brinkerhoff and urban planners Knudson and Associates, fielded questions and invited feedback.

"(The forums) have been really good. We're getting good input and we're seeing a lot of interest," Scott Barker, Metro's project manager, said. "We learn new things from people who know the neighborhood better than us."

Under the current proposal, the rail line would run down the middle of Scott Street and would take up one lane of traffic in both directions, which some worry would cause considerable traffic congestion. The other option is to expand the right-of-way by 20 feet to keep two lanes of traffic in either direction, but in that case, Metro may have to buy land from residents or businesses.

If all goes according to plan, UH probably won't see the rail line until the class of 2008 registers. Construction could begin as soon as 2007, with costs tallying roughly $45 million per mile, Barker said.

Two proposed stations would serve UH: one at Wheeler Avenue and another at Elgin Avenue, next to The College Store. Another could be placed at Southmore Avenue.

For students, rail would mean easy access to downtown, but Richard Johnson, a consultant for Knudson and Associates, said it could also work the other way.

"It could give the city an easy way to Hofheinz and the stadium for sporting events," he said, also noting that the line could spur business growth along Scott Street.

Vergel Gay, UH's executive director for facilities and planning, pointed out that the line would open the campus to downtown commuters who could catch classes at UH after work.

Metro will host another public meeting at 6 p.m. today at the Palm Center Business Technology Training Room 1, 5330 Griggs Road, to focus on the final stretch of the southeast rail corridor.

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