Amount Requested: $170,000,000.00

METRO Solutions is a comprehensive transit system plan approved by Harris County voters in November 2003 to help solve the Greater Houston region's traffic congestion and air quality problems. The plan was crafted with extensive input from the public, METRO's regional transportation partners and mobility experts nationwide.   METRO Solutions Phase 2 serves as an essential component to lessening traffic gridlock and facilitating economic growth, and has been adopted into the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Improvement Program. Funding will be used to continue funding the implementation of rail and commuter rail portions of METRO Solutions.  FY2010 activities include final design, land acquisition, and construction for the first segments on the North Corridor and Southeast Corridor Projects.  Alternative Analysis (AA) work on these lines was completed in 2003.  The Final Environmental Impact Statements were completed and a Record of Decision was received from the FTA for both projects in 2008.  FY2010 activities also include continuation of planning work and Preliminary Engineering for the University Corridor.  Funding will also be used to continue funding the implementation of light rail and commuter rail portions of that transit plan.  Light rail corridors provide increased connectivity to major destinations in the 9th Congressional District, as well as the North and Southeast corridors of the city.