METRORail Red Line

Red Line
Overview
LocaleHouston, Texas
Termini
Stations25
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemMETRORail
Operator(s)METRO
Daily ridership37,770 (September 2023)[1]
History
OpenedJanuary 1, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-01-01)
Last extensionDecember 21, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-12-21)[2]
Technical
Line length12.8 mi (20.6 km)[3]
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Electrificationoverhead cantenary
Highest elevationAt-grade with two elevated sections[4]
Route map

Northline Transit Center/HCC Bus interchange
Melbourne/North Lindale
I-610.svg
I-610
North Loop East
Lindale Park
Cavalcade
Moody Park
Fulton/North Central
Quitman/Near Northside
Burnett Transit Center Bus interchange
UH–Downtown
Preston
Central Station
Main Street Square
Bell
Downtown Transit Center Bus interchange
McGowen
Ensemble/HCC
Wheeler
Museum District
Hermann Park/Rice University
Memorial Hermann Hospital/
Houston Zoo
Dryden/TMC
Texas Medical Center
Transit Center
Bus interchange
Smith Lands
Stadium Park/Astrodome
I-610.svg
I-610
South Loop West
Fannin South Parking
Key
Transit center
Transfer station
Station
Green and Purple lines

Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible

The Red Line is one of three light rail routes on the METRORail network operated by METRO in Houston, Texas. It is the oldest line in the METRORail system, with the first 7.5-mile (12.1 km) section of the line between Fannin South and UH–Downtown opening on January 1, 2004.

Construction on a 5.3-mile (8.5 km) extension to the north[5] began July 2009, and was expected to continue until 2014,[6] though the opening date was later pushed back to 2015.[7] On December 8, 2011, the FTA announced the award of a $450 million grant from the New Starts transit program to fund construction of the Red Line.[7][8] Better than expected construction progress eventually led to the new line opening ahead of schedule on December 21, 2013.[2]

  1. ^ "Executive Summary - September 2023". Houston METRO. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Metro says North rail line to open early – Houston Chronicle". chron.com. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Houston-facts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://www.piersystem.com/posted/1068/Chapter_2_DEIS_North_Corridor_0606.123777.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "METRO About Us". Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  6. ^ http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100909-rail-lines-will-not-meet-oct-2013-deadline [dead link]
  7. ^ a b "$900m awarded to extend Houston's light rail system". Rail.co. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  8. ^ KUHF Houston Public Radio. "Houston Gets Its Next Portion Of Light Rail Funding". Retrieved August 12, 2013.