METRO APPROVES HISTORIC CONTRACT TO BUILD MORE LIGHT RAIL/
CONSTRUCTION BRINGS JOBS TO HOUSTON

METRO's Board of Directors adopted an historic contract today with Parsons Transportation Group to build four more light-rail lines for Houston.

 The contract, worth $1.4645 billion, will create 60,000 jobs before the approximately 20 additional miles of light rail are completed.

"These light rail lines, along with the highly successful Main Street line, will serve as the backbone for a regional system that will serve commuters across the entire Metropolitan area, and across county lines, for generations to come," said METRO Board Chairman David S. Wolff. "We are building not just a better transportation system; we are building a better future for all our citizens."

The initial phase of the contract calls for spending $632 million and is expected to create 25,000 jobs.

This includes a combined $90 million in utility work on the North and Southeast Corridors and $390 million in total costs for the East End Corridor, including an overpass at Harrisburg for light rail, construction of a Service and Inspection Facility, and rail cars.

The rail cars are part of an initial contract for 29 cars from CAF USA, Inc. and, at $118 million, are included in the $632 million. CAF USA, Inc. will provide rail cars with all the best features of METRO's current rail vehicles.  All are low-floor in design and provide more space for passengers and greater ease of access and egress.   

Three million dollars are also included in the initial contract step for final alignment and station configuration on the Uptown Corridor.

The Parson Transportation Group has worked on similar projects in Dallas, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur.

METRO President & CEO Frank J. Wilson said the total contract calls for 35 percent of eligible program contracts to go to local small businesses, which will amount to $335 million.

The Parsons Transportation Group, he added, will be responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining the four new light-rail lines.

"Parsons has the market strength to get this project done on time and on budget," Wilson said. "By operating the lines for five years Parsons is responsible for any latent defects and overall system performance."