The Metro board approved a $77.3 million agreement yesterday that's a step toward construction of four new rapid transit lines — the first step in a construction project that's estimated to cost more than $1 billion. Under the contract, Washington Group Transit Management Co. will begin work on the early design and construction of four transit corridors: north, from UH-Downtown to Northline Mall; southeast, from downtown to Palm Center; East End, from downtown to......

An interesting note on Metro's proposed downtown intermodal terminal: Yesterday, the transit authority's board apparently voted to buy land on which the terminal will sit, but Metro officials are refusing to tell anyone exactly where the land is. The proposed terminal, which has been discussed for months, would connect the Main Street rail line, the northside GRT line, some Metro bus routes and, eventually, a northwest commuter rail line. And though we know it'll......

Joe Turner's Come and Gone: Ensemble Theatre Not that Houstonist needs anymore reason to love Midtown, but the Ensemble Theater convinces us even more. Over the past few years, the Ensemble has showcased some of the city's most prolific African-American theater, dance, and song. Opening this past weekend, Joe Turner Come and Gone continues in this tradition with August Wilson's play revolving around the denizens who occupy this post-slavery boarding house and “gives haunting voice......

The Chronicle reported yesterday on a proposal to revive passenger train service between Houston and Galveston — an idea that could become reality in five years, according to a study group. A commuter rail line alongside the Gulf Freeway would (theoretically, at least) become popular with commuters, cut down on freeway traffic and provide a vital evacuation link in case a hurricane threatened Galveston. "It has all the elements that would make it eminently......

And so we have some final-ish alignment options for Metro's University light rail line: All of them would begin at MetroRail's Wheeler Station on Main Street and head west along Richmond Avenue for some distance, and all would avoid Afton Oaks, which has been a loudly squeaking wheel in the planning process. But that's pretty much where the similarities end: • The first proposal would turn south on Montrose Boulevard, then west on an elevated......

Via Off the Kuff, Christof at Intermodality offers an overview of information from Metro's Environmental Assessment of the proposed new intermodal terminal near North Main and Burnett on the north edge of downtown. We've been watching this unfold since early this year, and Christof points out some interesting things about what the finished product may be like. • The terminal won't be as busy as transfer hub as you might imagine. The north side BRT......

Today's Chronicle has some details of Metro's proposed intermodal terminal, including basics of the complex's design. According to design sketches presented at a public meeting last week, the centerpiece of the terminal — which will connect bus, light rail and commuter rail lines just north of downtown — will be a 400-foot-wide circular plaza called "the Great Space," featuring "greenery, an open-air market and other amenities." Sort of an outdoor lobby, we suppose. Jim Gast,......

Metro is ready to take another step toward its proposed intermodal transit station on the north end of downtown: The Chronicle reports today that the agency is working on a deal with Union Pacific to buy nine acres of the Hardy Rail Yard. The Metro board voted yesterday to negotiate the purchase for the combined light rail/bus/commuter rail station that was proposed earlier this year. The land Metro has its eye on is adjacent to......

Metro's been talking for a while about a downtown transit hub that would tie a bunch of bus lines, the MetroRail network and future bus rapid transit and commuter rail lines together, much like South Station in Boston, Union Station in D.C. and Grand Central Terminal in NYC. And now the idea is a step closer to reality, maybe — the Metro board has asked for a preliminary design for a huge transit station on......