Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) marked the reopening of the Main Street Bridge over Buffalo Bayou on Feb. 25—one month ahead of schedule. The bridge had been closed since August 2011 to allow expansion-related construction of Metro’s North (Red) light rail line. Both light rail and cars will operate on the reopened span.

“This bridge has a lot of significance. I don’t know if everybody knows it’s almost 100 years old. It’s pretty remarkable,” said Metro Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia. “We know the emotional significance it has, the historical significance. We all work together to make sure that as we expand the lines that we preserve and protect these very important buildings, the history and arts related to the lines.”

Tom Lambert, the system’s interim president and CEO, noted that the METRORail extension is about 70 ­percent complete and that test trains will begin operating on the line in the summer. The North Line will extend the existing Red Line by more than five miles, and will be the first of three expansion lines to enter service when it opens in 2014.

He added: “We are working with schools along the corridors to make sure that safety, Metro’s priority, is maintained and focused on, not only in the schools, but in the communities.”

Garcia and Lambert also recognized its partnership with the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) in moving the project along.

UHD President Dr. William Flores called the bridge “a metaphor as well as a real bridge. It’s connecting communities that have not had access that now will have that access. But also, it’s going to connect businesses that will thrive, residents that will be able to take the train anywhere into the city. This bridge, as it opens, as it reconnects—transforms.”

Representatives of Houston Metro commemorate the reopening of the Main Street Bridge—one month ahead of schedule—after the completion of work on a light rail extension.