View source for METRORapid University Line

{{Short description|Planned bus rapid transit line in Houston, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Update|date=March 2023}}
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| operator        = [[Houston Metro|Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County]]
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| status          = Proposed
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| locale          = [[Houston, Texas]]
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| termini         = Westchase Park and Ride<br />Tidwell Transit Center
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The '''University Line''' is a planned {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[bus rapid transit]] route that would be operated by [[Houston Metro|Metro]] in [[Houston, Texas]], United States. It replaces a former [[METRORail]] [[light rail]] line that was proposed in the 2000s and 2010s. The University Line is scheduled to begin construction in 2025 and would be built in five sections between Westchase Park and Ride, [[Uptown, Houston|Uptown]], the [[University of Houston]], and Tidwell Transit Center.<ref name="Chronicle-2022">{{cite news |last=Begley |first=Dug |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Metro's BRT line, nation's possible longest single bus rapid transit line, goes up for debate |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Massive-Metro-BRT-line-key-east-west-link-has-17297958.php |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=March 7, 2023}}</ref>

The name of the line is in reference to the fact that the line is planned to go through all of the main universities in Houston ([[Rice University|Rice]], [[University of St. Thomas (Texas)|University of St. Thomas]], [[University of Houston]], and [[Texas Southern University|Texas Southern]]).<ref name="gometuni" />

==History==

The METRO Solutions Transit System Plan (aka Metro Solutions Plan) was placed before voters on the November 4, 2003, ballot. One of the six proposed light rail segments as a Phase 2 to expand the Main Street line, then under construction, was the "Westpark" corridor, extending from the existing Wheeler station west to Hillcroft; {{cvt|6.6|mi}} and 4 stations.<ref name=Res.2003-93>{{cite web |url=https://www.ridemetro.org/METROPDFs/AboutMETRO/Referendum/2003-Referendum.pdf |title=Notice of Special Election (Resolution No. 2003-93) |date=September 22, 2003 |publisher=Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas |access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref> After the passage of the measure, METRO introduced plans for the University (renamed from Westpark) line as part of Phase 2 of the Metro Solutions Plan in June 2004.<ref name=BI-2005/>

===Opposition===
Alarmed by the disruption to businesses along Main Street during the construction of the [[METRORail Red Line|Main Street line]], [[Richmond Strip|Richmond Avenue]] business owners formed a coalition in 2004 and met with METRO, urging the agency to move the route to [[Westheimer Road]].<ref name=BI-2005>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/10/31/story2.html |title=Richmond rallies against rail route |author=Dawson, Jennifer |date=October 30, 2005 |work=Houston Business Journal |access-date=September 28, 2021 |url-access=limited}}</ref> METRO countered the lessons it had learned while building the Main Street line would be applied to the construction of the University line, and further, the route had not yet been finalized; options included alignment along [[Westpark Tollway|Westpark]], Westheimer, or the [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Southwest Freeway]].<ref name=BI-2005/>

[[File:AftonOaksHouston.JPG|thumb|The homeowners of [[Afton Oaks, Houston|Afton Oaks]] opposed plans for the University Line to go through the subdivision]]
The homeowners of the upper-income [[Afton Oaks, Houston|Afton Oaks]] subdivision opposed a proposed expansion of the University Line through the neighborhood. Ultimately METRO revised the plans so that the line does not go through the neighborhood.<ref>Grant, Alexis and Matt Stiles. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4252580 METRO BYPASSES OBSTACLE, BUT RAIL FIGHT ISN'T OVER / Afton Oaks may be spared, but other foes remain along Richmond]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Friday December 22, 2006. A1. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.</ref><ref>Sallee, Rad. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4162761 Richmond or Westpark? Both sides speed it up / Foes in rail fight intensify efforts as Culbertson, Metro get set to reveal preferences]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Tuesday August 1, 2006. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.</ref>

An opinion was issued August 31, 2010, on an appeal made by Daphne Scarbrough, who owns a business on Richmond Avenue, on a lawsuit she raised May 23, 2007, regarding METRO's jurisdiction and its decision to align the rail down the center of Richmond. The appeal overruled all but one issue raised by Scarbrough (which it modified), upholding the original decision to give METRO jurisdiction on Richmond to lay the rails.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=Scarbrough v. Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/first-court-of-appeals/2010/88232.html |court=Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas |date=August 31, 2010 |accessdate=September 28, 2021}}</ref>

===Alignment issues===
In a 2007 ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' questions and answers page about the proposed University Line, Daphne Scarbrough and Christof Spieler asked why METRO did not include a station to serve [[Gulfton, Houston, Texas|Gulfton]], a community of apartment complexes. METRO responded, saying that the agency originally envisioned "more of an express service" in that area. However, the agency stated that it would examine the idea of including a Gulfton Station in the project scope.<ref>Sallee, Rad. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4416975 Q&A: LIGHT RAIL PLAN / Now, some concerns are addressed]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Retrieved 3-Sep-07</ref>

===Postponement (2010 and 2016)===

In 2010, Houston mayor [[Annise Parker]] delayed construction on the University Line in an effort to find a suitable funding source.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/casey/6909523.html |title=Rick Casey: Metro can't let rail jeopardize its buses - Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=March 11, 2010 |accessdate=March 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shay |first=Miya |url=https://abc13.com/archive/7325921/ |title=Houston Mayor Annise Parker wants to put brakes on University and Uptown rail lines &#124; abc13.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=March 11, 2010 |access-date=March 19, 2016}}</ref>

However, the line has received some hope: METRO has reported to the local media outlets that it has received a federal Record of Decision, the final approval needed to design and/or construct the line.<ref name="KRIV">{{cite web|author=FOX |url=http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100729-fial-approval-on-university-light-rail-line |title=FOX 26 Houston News, Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports &#124; KRIV |publisher=Myfoxhouston.com |date= |accessdate=March 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Chron">{{cite web|author1=Allan Turner |author2=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7132907.html |title=Feds give environmental OK to University rail line - Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=July 30, 2010 |accessdate=March 19, 2016}}</ref> It is reported in the ''Houston Chronicle'' that METRO anticipates $700 million in federal funding for this line.<ref name="Chron"/> While Go METRORail has no mention of this, METRO Solutions has posted a .pdf file of the letter from the FTA with all permission, and an inclusion of instructions to ''not'' pursue buying any light rail vehicles for this line (or for any other for that matter) until the investigation regarding the controversy over "Buy America" has concluded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrosolutions.org/clients/1068/354067.pdf|title=University Corridor Light Rail Transit System |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720091537/http://www.metrosolutions.org/clients/1068/354067.pdf |archivedate=July 20, 2011 }}</ref>

In May 2016, the project had its federal funding eligibility revoked after a decade of inactivity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Begley |first=Dug |date=May 24, 2016 |title=Federal funding pulled for light rail line construction along Richmond Avenue |url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/University-Line-federal-funding-pledge-pulled-7846885.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |accessdate=July 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Route==
The route begins in the west at the [[Hillcroft Transit Center (METRORail station)|Hillcroft Transit Center]] traveling east on the [[Westpark Tollway|Westpark]] right-of-way that METRO owns. A stop in the [[Gulfton, Houston|Gulfton]] neighborhood (which contains several apartment complexes that primarily house working-class Hispanic and immigrant populations) may be added. 

Continuing east, it will come to the transfer location with the Uptown/Gold Line at Bellaire/South Rice. Moving eastward will pass stops at Newcastle and Weslayan before crossing over [[Interstate 69|I-69]]/[[U.S. Route 59|US 59]] to the Cummins Station. Moving onto Richmond Avenue, the University Line will make stops at Greenway Plaza, Kirby Drive, Shepherd Drive, Dunlavy Street, and Montrose Boulevard. 

Transfers to the [[METRORail Red Line|Red Line]] will occur at Wheeler Station. Traveling eastbound on Wheeler, it will approach Almeda Station and then continue to go underneath [[Texas State Highway 288|SH 288]]. Shortly after, the line will travel northward on Hutchins and make a stop there. After making turns onto Cleburne, Dowling, and then Alabama, the University Line will stop at [[Texas Southern University]] and at Tierwester Street. After approaching Scott Street and turning northward at the [[University of Houston]], the line will share tracks with the [[METRORail Purple Line|Purple Line]] for a short distance before turning onto Elgin, the transfer station to the Purple Line, and then onward to Cullen through the University of Houston and the new terminus, as determined by Go METRORail September 2010, the Eastwood Transit Center.<ref name="gometuni">{{cite web|url=http://www.gometrorail.org/go/doc/2491/847991/|title=University Line: FTA brings Houstonians one step closer to a much needed east/west transit line. |publisher=GoMETRORail.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726123435/http://www.gometrorail.org/go/doc/2491/847991/|archive-date=July 26, 2011|url-status=|accessdate=March 19, 2016}}</ref> 

==Stations==
The following is a list of proposed stations for the University Line, listed in order from west to east:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metrosolutions.org/posted/1068/Univ_Align_w_Statns_11x17_v033109s.264346.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=April 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621074908/http://www.metrosolutions.org/posted/1068/Univ_Align_w_Statns_11x17_v033109s.264346.pdf |archivedate=June 21, 2010 }}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!colspan=2 | University/Blue Line
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Hillcroft Transit Center}}Hillcroft Transit Center
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Gulfton}}Gulfton Station
|-
| {{rcb|METRORail|Uptown|inline=link}} ||{{anchor|Bellaire/South Rice}}Bellaire/South Rice Station*
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Newcastle}}Newcastle Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Weslayan}}Weslayan Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Cummins}}Cummins Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Edloe}}Edloe Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Kirby}}Kirby Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Shepherd}}Shepherd Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Menil}}Menil Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||[[Montrose station (Houston)|Montrose Station]]
|-
| {{rcb|METRORail|Red|inline=link}} ||[[Wheeler station|Wheeler Station]]**
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Almeda}}Almeda Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Hutchins}}Hutchins Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|TSU}}TSU Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Tierwester}}Tierwester Station
|-
| {{rcb|METRORail|Purple|inline=link}} ||[[TSU/UH Athletics District station|TSU/UH Athletics District  Station]]***
|-
| {{rcb|METRORail|Purple|inline=link}} ||[[Elgin/Third Ward station|Elgin Station]]***
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Cullen}}Cullen Station
|-
| &nbsp; ||{{anchor|Eastwood Transit Center}}Eastwood Transit Center
|}
<small>'''*Note:''' Station shared with '''Uptown/Gold Line''' to provide transfers between the two lines</small>

<small>'''**Note:''' Station shared with '''Red Line''' to provide transfers between the two lines</small>

<small>'''***Note:''' Station shared with '''Southeast/Purple Line''' to provide transfers between the two lines</small>

== Expansion ==
One possible future expansion would continue westward from the Hillcroft Transit Center along the right-of-way METRO owns just south of the [[Westpark Tollway]], which would presumably serve the [[Greater Sharpstown, Houston|Sharpstown]], [[Westchase, Houston|Westchase]] and [[Alief, Houston|Alief]] districts.{{cn|date=March 2023}} The other expansion that is being considered would continue past Elgin to the Eastwood Transit Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gometrorail.org/posted/2491/UniversityCorridor.420119.pdf|title=University Corridor Map |accessdate=June 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622080128/http://www.gometrorail.org/posted/2491/UniversityCorridor.420119.pdf |archivedate=June 22, 2010 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
*[http://www.ridemetro.org METRO Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100622080128/http://www.gometrorail.org/posted/2491/UniversityCorridor.420119.pdf Archived map of line]
*[http://www.metronext.org/ METRO's Current Planning Project]

{{Houston METRORail}}
{{Texas Southern University}}

[[Category:METRORail]]
[[Category:Proposed railway lines in Texas]]