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Work is progressing on Houston’s METRORail — ahead of schedule.



In a cooperative agreement between Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, its contractors and downtown Houston businesses, the city is closing three blocks of Main Street from July 29 to November 20 so that contractors can install light-rail tracks, brick pavers and new roadway six months ahead of schedule.



"We certainly understand construction on the part of METRO, the City of Houston, utility companies and other agencies has been difficult for businesses along Main Street and throughout Downtown," said Shirley DeLibero, METRO president and chief executive officer, in a statement prepared July 3. "With the cooperation and input of those affected businesses, METRO and its contractors agreed that if disruption was going to occur, it should be completed as soon as possible."



The 7.1-mile construction project is 60 percent complete; METRORail is scheduled to begin operating in early 2004.