The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), in the U.S. state of Texas, has announced it is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) from interested parties for possible private investment to facilitate a commuter line along US 90A.

As presented in the approved 2003 voter-approved Referendum, the proposed project on the Southwest Corridor (SWC) would be approximately eight miles long in the METRO service area. The proposed commuter line should link Harris County with Fort Bend County.

METRO is issuing this RFI to obtain information from firms that will assist METRO in the refinement of assumptions and will support further definition of the project and methodologies for potential procurement and delivery. As part of the RFI process, METRO will host a Forum for potential respondents to answer questions. The Forum is voluntary. Attendance at the forum is not a requirement for responding to this RFI, nor is responding to this RFI a requirement for future participation in this project. METRO may request informational sessions with the respondents.

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility, accessibility, and system linkage between major residential areas in the Missouri City and southwest Houston areas and major employment centers, such as downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center (TMC). The proposed Project would provide a high capacity transit alternative to help reduce traffic congestion in the corridor and further the implementation of regional transit connectivity.

Interest firms must deliver their response on or before February 7, 2017.