The METRORapid Silver Line is a
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
line in
Houston, Texas operated by
METRO. Opened August 23, 2020,
the line connects the
Uptown
Uptown may refer to:
Neighborhoods or regions in several cities
United States
* Uptown, entertainment district east of Downtown and Midtown Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
* Uptown, area surrounding the University of C ...
area of Houston, with dedicated lanes on Post Oak Boulevard. It serves ten stations in Uptown, with terminus at Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center and the Northwest Transit Center. On internal METRO documents, the METRORapid Silver Line is designated as Route 433.
The line was originally planned as a extension of the
METRORail light rail network under the name Uptown/Gold Line. Due to lack of funds, it was announced in early 2013 that the line would be constructed initially as a
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
line using three-door buses. The design features the ability to convert the line to light rail in the future.
The Silver Line is the first segment of a planned 75 mile network of bus rapid transit service in Houston, branded as
METRORapid.
Route
The Silver Line runs between Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center, a park and ride facility located on Westpark Drive near the intersection of the
Southwest Freeway (I-69/US 59) &
West Loop (I-610), and Northwest Transit Center, located at Katy Road on the north side of the I-10 interchange. This corridor was previously served by Route 33. Silver Line buses serve eight stations via bus-only lanes in the median of Post Oak Boulevard through the Uptown area. These lanes connect to the Northwest Transit Center with an elevated two-lane busway along the West Loop portion of
Interstate 610.
History
Following a statement in 2010 by Houston's mayor,
Annise Parker, construction will commence at a time when funding can be secured for this line. Furthermore, due to the lack of infrastructure upgrades promised by the Uptown Management District, METRO will hold off on anything related to the line until a deal is arranged.
The light rail project was repeatedly blocked by Congressman
John Culberson, based on concerns from constituents on Richmond Avenue. It was downgraded to a $177.5 million bus rapid transit project with dedicated lanes in 2013, under a plan promoted by Uptown developers to receive improved transit service sooner than the estimated 2025 arrival of light rail.
Construction began in 2016 with the line's opening planned for 2018. However, the project faced several delays before service began in 2020.
Stations
The following is a list of Silver Line Stations, listed in order from north to south.
Frequent bus service bolded.
Expansion
Future expansion would include a extension northbound to Northwest Mall (future
Texas Central Railway station), as well as a westward expansion to the Hillcroft Transit Center.
References
External links
METRO Official WebsiteGo METRORail
{{USBRT
METRORail
Proposed railway lines in Texas
Bus rapid transit in Texas
2020 in Texas
Transport infrastructure completed in 2020