Today, METRO's Board of Directors, after recognizing a broad base of consensus from the community, unanimously approved a modification to the University Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA).  The modification to the previously approved alignment would have the light rail proceed east on Wheeler, turn north on Hutchins, east on Cleburne, north on Dowling and then east on Alabama to the University of Houston Main Campus (see map of modified alignment).

The modification only affects the eastern segment of the University Corridor and came after neighbors and property owners of that area, together with the elected officials who represent them, suggested a change so that the alignment would not go through Wheeler all the way to Ennis (see map of previous alignment).

After meetings with members of the community, both from Wheeler and those on the modified route and active involvement of METRO Board members, a consensus was reached that drew praise from the Washington Terrace residents.  This new alignment would:

• Have approximately the same ridership
• Have the same length
• Have the same number of stations
• Have a slightly higher cost
• The cost differences are driven in part by an increased number of property acquisitions.  However, the community overwhelmingly agreed that these acquisitions, which are mostly commercial, would be a positive trade-off.

Approximately 14 community members and elected officials thanked METRO for working with them and expressed their support for the modification.  One of them, Ms. Louis C. Ray, said that today's Board action is "proving wrong that the people at METRO do not care about the community." 

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