Metro May Buy Former Rail Bed

By Rad Sallee, Houston Chronicle

Aug. 23–The Metropolitan Transit Authority board today will consider the purchase of a former rail bed between downtown and the 610 North Loop, as well as sites for new Park & Ride lots in Katy and Pearland.

Metro plans a commuter rail line from near U.S. 290 and Hempstead Highway to a future terminal for trains and buses north of downtown, although an exact route has not been announced.

Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts refused Wednesday to discuss the transit agency’s interest in the property or provide a map of it before today’s meeting, set for 1 p.m. at 1900 Main.

The 6.6-mile former Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad right of way no longer has tracks on it and is owned by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Union Pacific Railroad officials have said a UP right of way between those same locations has too much freight traffic to be shared with Metro for transit.

Union Pacific spokesman Joe Arbona said Wednesday that the former MKT route runs generally north of the UP tracks.

Arbona added that he does not think commuter rail on it would interfere with UP operations.

Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman Janelle Gbur said TxDOT has a letter of intent from the city of Houston to purchase the right of way, possibly for a hike and bike trail.

TxDOT officials were unaware of Metro’s interest in it, Gbur said.

rad.sallee@chron.com

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