Park & Ride station coming to Westchase

The facility, which will include six bus bays and 1,473 parking spaces, is at the corner of Rogerdale and Harwin. Construction of the $5.5 million project is expected to begin in September with a completion date set for August 2003, Metro spokeswoman Patti Muck said.

"Westpark has been one of our transportation corridors," Muck said. "This facility will give some high-level commuting service to a rapidly growing community."

Although the initial route will include service to downtown only, Muck said Metro will consider expanding services to the Texas Medical Center and the Galleria area.

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Construction of the Westpark Tollway, located behind the new Park & Ride facility, will be a benefit for those traveling the route, she said.

"The toll road coming in makes this an important hub for connections," Muck said. "We're planning to use the toll road to connect buses for transfers."

This is good news for the nearly 500,000 people who live within a five-mile radius of the new Park & Ride and who already utilize Metro's services.

"The Gessner, Westheimer and Bellaire local routes are three of Metro's busiest," said Jim Murphy, Westchase District general manager.

Murphy said he is hopeful that the new Park & Ride will incorporate local bus routes as well as the standard outgoing service.

"This is intended to be more than a Park & Ride, but rather one that also has local bus features. By making the new facility a local transfer hub, it moves us in the right direction," he said. "Metro should be congratulated on this new facility, which will serve our residents, as well as our employees here."

The Westchase Business District, centered on Sam Houston Tollway between I-10 and U.S. 59, comprises a 4.5 square-mile area which is home to 55,000 employees and 25,000 residents. It includes four master-planned commercial developments.

Metro board members voted Aug. 22 to accept a bid from W.M. Dillard & Associates, L.P. of Houston for the construction of the Westchase Park & Ride lot for an amount not to exceed $5,511,180.