‘More than just a small initiative’: UH, TSU students plea for METRO to reconsider shelving University Corridor project

HOUSTON, Texas – Several students who attend both the University of Houston and Texas Southern University spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting about METRO’s decision to halt the construction of the University Corridor.

The University Corridor project, approved by voters in 2019, was supposed to be a new METRORapid line operated in a dedicated, transit-only lane to move through traffic. The proposed route alignment would’ve passed through multiple residential, business and education centers between the Westchase Park & Ride near the intersection of the Westpark Tollway and the Sam Houston Tollway and ending at the Tidwell Transit Center, near the intersection of Tidwell Road and U.S. Highway 59.

In June, METRO officials announced that they shelved the estimated $900 million project due to financial strains and other projects.

When the University Corridor project was first presented, students at UH and TSU were excited about the possibility of having accessible and affordable transportation.

“I see the shelving of the METRO University Line Project by the METRO board as more than just a small initiative being put on the back burner, but as part of a larger resistance across the United States for cities to embrace public transportation to better our nation as a whole,” UH former student body president Benjamin Risk said during Tuesday’s city hall meeting. “Most of the students here today have come with stats, personal accounts and stories of how this much-needed infrastructure will impede the growth of our city and diminish the quality of education across all of the universities our city is home to.”

Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas of District F sent a letter to METRO’s Board of Directors on June 22 also advocating for the project to be resumed.

“The possibility of connecting residents with rapid transit needs in neighborhoods ranging from Alief, Midwest and Westchase to the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Greenway Plaza, and the Galleria was, in my opinion, the right turn for Houston and the right turn for METRO – as transit goes hand in hand with meaningful community and economic development. Unfortunately, METRO has made a wrong turn by canceling the University Corridor BRT. I am not speaking solely for myself, but for the 300,000 residents in District F who would benefit from BRT,” the letter read, in part.

With over 46,000 students, 83% of whom live off-campus, and 3,200 faculty members, UH has a significant number of commuters, many from Houston’s suburbs. TSU, with 8,500 students and 1,400 faculty and staff, also supports the project.

Councilmember Joaquin Martinez from District 1 told the students that his office is working on the next path forward.