The METRORapid Silver Line is a bus rapid transit line in Houston, Texas operated by METRO. Opened August 23, 2020,[2] the line connects the Uptown area of Houston, with dedicated lanes over nearly the entire length of the corridor.[3] It serves the Northwest Transit Center, 8 stations along Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown, and the Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center. On internal METRO documents, the METRORapid Silver Line is designated as Route 433.
The line was originally planned as a 4.7-mile (7.6 km) 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 line using three-door buses. The design features the ability to convert the line to light rail in the future.[4][5]
The Silver Line is the first segment of a planned 75 mile network of bus rapid transit service in Houston,[6] branded as METRORapid.[7]
Route
The Silver Line runs between Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center, a park and ride facility located on Westpark Drive near the Located at 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.[8] 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.[9][10]
History
Following a statement in 2010 by Houston's mayor, Annise Parker, construction would commence at a time when funding can be secured for this line.[11][12] Furthermore, due to the lack of infrastructure upgrades promised by the Uptown Management District, METRO would hold off on anything related to the line until a deal was arranged.[13]
The light rail project was repeatedly blocked by Congressman John Culberson, based on concerns from constituents on Richmond Avenue.[14] 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.[4]
Construction began in 2016 with the line's opening planned for 2018. However, the project faced several delays before service began in 2020.[2]
An 1.1-mile (1.8 km) extension north to Northwest Mall—a future Texas Central Railway station)—and a western extension to the Hillcroft Transit Center have been proposed.[citation needed]
