Hermann Park/Rice University station

Last updated

Hermann Park/Rice U
HermannPark-Rice Station.jpg
General information
Location6098 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas
Coordinates 29°43′12.06″N95°23′36.81″W / 29.7200167°N 95.3935583°W / 29.7200167; -95.3935583
Owned by Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
Line(s) HoustonMetroRedLine.svg Red Line
Platforms Island platform
TracksTwo
Connections Bus-logo.svg METRO : 56, 291, 292, 298
BSicon lDAMPF.svg Hermann Park Railroad
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJanuary 1, 2004;20 years ago (2004-01-01) [1]
Services
Preceding station HoustonMetroLogoOnly.svg METRORail Following station
Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo
toward Fannin South
Red Line Museum District
toward Northline Transit Center
Location
Hermann Park/Rice University station

Hermann Park/Rice U is a light rail station in south-central Houston, Texas, United States. The station serves the Red Line of the METRORail system. It is located on the western side of Hermann Park at the intersection of Fannin Street and Sunset Boulevard.

The station serves Hermann Park and the main entrance of Rice University. The station is adjacent to a stop on the Hermann Park Railroad, a narrow-gauge tourist train, as well as a BCycle bike-share kiosk. [2]

History

Hermann Park was first proposed as a rail destination in 1990 plans for Houston's rail network. [3] When a rail line along Main Street was approved in 2000, Hermann Park was one of the destinations the route intended to serve. [4]

To fit with the greenspace aesthetic of Hermann Park, the station was decorated with a garden-themed floor mosaic. [5] On November 1, 2003, METRO used the station as the location of a preliminary train tour. [6]

The station opened on January 1, 2004 as one of sixteen inaugural METRORail stations. An opening ceremony was held at the station, which featured live Zydeco music, a petting zoo, and horse carriage rides. [1]

In February 2017, a Rice University professor on a bicycle was struck and killed by an oncoming train at the station. [7] This, as well as another fatal incident at the adjacent intersection of Main Street and Sunset Boulevard the following year, prompted a redesign of the pedestrian and bicyclist crossings leading up to the station. [8] The incident also led to METRO redesigning its train livery to include bright reflective striping for better visibility. [9]

Related Research Articles

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County. It also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County, and to Conroe in Montgomery County. The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 77,189,800, or about 240,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">METRORail</span> Light rail system in Houston, Texas

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">METRORail Purple Line</span> Light rail line in Houston, Texas

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UH South/University Oaks station</span> Light rail station in Houston, Texas

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References

  1. 1 2 Wall, Lucas (January 1, 2004). "New ride for the new year: Festivals mark inaugural day for Metro train". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Corporation. p. A1 – via NewsBank.
  2. ↑ Begley, Dug (April 4, 2013). "Commuting options on the rise in Houston". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Corporation – via NewsBank.
  3. ↑ Roth, Bennett; Pope, Tara Parker (November 4, 1990). "Seeking the Inside Track: 5 rail plans have marked differences". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Corporation. pp. 1C – via NewsBank.
  4. ↑ Connelly, Richard (February 3, 2000). "Train In Vain? - Main street's light rail is on it's way, and boosters hope to see passengers lining up for a ride". Houston Press . New Times Media – via NewsBank.
  5. ↑ Clifford, Pugh (June 20, 2002). "Corridor of Culture Light rail opens up possibilities for a pathway to city's museums". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Corporation. p. 1 – via NewsBank.
  6. ↑ Wall, Lucas (November 1, 2003). "Rail vote Nov. 4: Voters already won or lost". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Corporation. pp. 29A – via NewsBank.
  7. ↑ Glenn, Mike (February 4, 2017). "Beloved Rice scientist dies in bicycle-light rail accident". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Communications . Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Ramapriyan, Rishab. "Rice attempts to improve biker safety in wake of deadly accidents". The Rice Thresher . Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ Begley, Dug (March 13, 2017). "Metro pledges action after collision record draws concerns". Houston Chronicle . Hearst Communications.


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