Assure-IT™ Implementation for METRO Solutions Light Rail System

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Executive Summary
• Client's Challenge
• ATSER's Solution
• Conclusion

METRO Solutions is a comprehensive transit system plan to help solve the Greater Houston region's traffic congestion and air quality problems. The plan was adopted by the METRO Board of Directors in late 2003.  The plan calls for major multimodal transit improvements across the region.  METRO announced its $2 billion Phase 2 Implementation Plan in mid-2005 to provide more rapid transit for the Houston region in less time than originally proposed under METRO Solutions. Key components of the Phase 2 Implementation Plan include:

• Nearly 30 miles of Light Rail Transit - In the North, East End, Southeast, Uptown and University Corridors;
• 28 Miles of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT) - along U.S. 290 from Cypress Park & Ride to Intermodal Facility and along U.S. 90A from Missouri City to Fannin South Park & Ride/Rail Station;
• 40 Miles of Signature Bus Service/Suburban Bus Rapid Transit - Southeast Transit Center to Texas Medical Center, Uptown to U.S. 90A CRT line, Gessner and Texas 249/Tidwell;
• 10 New Transit Facilities - Intermodal Facilities serving different transit modes (Commuter Rail, Light Rail, buses, etc.), Transit Centers and Park & Ride lots; and
• HOV/HOT Conversion - modify one-way, reversible High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to two-way High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.

The Transit Authority needed a cost effective way to manage the numerous projects associated with this initiative throughout the program lifecycle.  Complicating the challenge is the geographic expanse of the construction program and the increased speed expected in phase 2.  This “need for speed” is particularly important in the Quality Assurance process as field samples must be collected, analyzed, and statistically verified and reported as quickly as possible so as not to impede the orderly progress of work at the field construction site.