The International Light Rail Magazine
+44 1733 367610
Geoff@lrtap.com

Houston transit services suspended due to flooding

A track cleaning truck works on the light rail tracks in Main St, Houston, on 29 August. C. Spieler

Rainfall generated by Hurricane Harvey and its tropical storm aftermath saw the suspension of all transit service by Houston Metro (Texas) from Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 August. Over 800mm (32in) fell in 72 hours, causing extensive flooding.

Rail service was suspended, airports were closed and highways rendered impassable. In addition to bus services, Houston Metro operates three light rail lines: Red, Green and Purple. The Red line runs from Northline Transit Center across the city centre to the Astrodome and Fannan South Transit Center; the Green and Purple lines start in the Theater District and run east to Magnolia Park Transit Center and Palm Transit Center respectively. The system totals 38.3km (28.3 miles) and carries more than 75 000 passengers/day.

Although LRT infrastructure survived relatively unscathed, all service was suspended when parts of the system saw water levels rise more than 100mm (4in) above the railhead.

On 26 August Austin’s Capital Metro Red line services were suspended north of Crestview due to fallen power lines.