Houston banks on more LRT

Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.46 billion contract for four new light rail lines, which would add 20 miles to its current initial seven-mile route, cementing its decision to bank on LRT in lieu of Bus Rapid Transit routes.

The MTA Board of Directors awarded Parsons Transportation Group a design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) contract for planned East End, Southeast, North, and Uptown lines, estimated to cost $73 million per mile. Veolia Transportation will act in concert with Parsons as operations and maintenance contractor. Parsons also will be responsible for any design defects for five years after completion of the rail lines, scheduled for 2012.

A fifth route, the University line, and an intermodal terminal near downtown still are planned, but are not included in the contract. Houston’s initial route opened in 2004, at an estimated cost of $43 million per mile. Metro intends to spend $632 million on the initial phase of the project, primarily on the East End line ($390 million).

Additionally, CAF USA Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Madrid, Spain-based Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles Co. (CAF), was awarded a $118 million contract to provide 29 new light rail cars, 19 of which will ply the current LRT route and 10 more for East End line service. CAF USA manufactures North American rail equipment at its Elmira Heights, N.Y., facility.

Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson said the total cost of the contract was below the $1.57 billion estimate the agency gave to the Federal Transit Administration last year. “This, in fact, is the largest contract this organization has ever let in its history,” he said. Official expect to fund the Uptown and East End lines using only local funds and short-term debt while continuing to pursue federal funds for the other lines. Metro anticipates $92 million in federal stimulus funds to help acquire additional rail cars or other items.