Houston METRO Selects General Planning Consultant

HDR | S. R. Beard was awarded a contract for planning support services associated with implementing METRO Solutions, a $2 billion program of transit improvements in the Houston metropolitan area.

METRO PLans Light-Rail Expansion

HDR | S.R. Beard was selected as general planning consultant for Houston METRO transit improvements including expansion of the city's light-rail line. (Photo by Terry Halsey courtesy HDR.)

HDR | S. R. Beard & Associates has been selected as the general planning consultant for Houston METRO. The two-year contract is for planning support services associated with implementing METRO Solutions, a $2 billion program of transit improvements in the Houston metropolitan area. HDR | S.R. Beard was previously retained as the general planning consultant for development of the METRO Solutions Transit System Plan and has been a member of the program management team.

The program includes expansion of the METRORail light-rail line, new bus rapid transit lines in four corridors, commuter rail service and intermodal facilities.

HDR | S.R. Beard will provide planning travel demand forecasting, corridor and project planning, environmental planning and public involvement services. The firm will be responsible for compliance with Federal Transit Administration New Starts and Environmental Impact Statement requirements.

Regents Approve TSU Construction

The new look at Texas State University-San Marcos is closer to reality with the recent announcement that the university's board of regents has moved forward with eight major campus construction projects. The Texas State University System Board of Regents, meeting on the Texas State campus advanced the projects, further implementing the 2006-2015 Campus Master Plan.

The regents approved preliminary plans for the Student Recreation Center addition and renovation as prepared by Marmon Mok Architects of San Antonio. They authorized the firm to prepare final plans and construction documents. The Student Recreation Center expansion will include a natatorium, a rock- climbing facility, multi-purpose and weight rooms, offices, four playing courts and auxiliary spaces. The expansion will add 94,419 sq. ft. to the SRC and 13,565 sq. ft. of the current SRC will be renovated. Total project cost is estimated at $25.2 million, with completion slated for August 2008.

The regents also approved preliminary plans for the Concho Street redevelopment, a project intended to beautify the campus and add a significant amount of green space. Designed by TBG Partners of Austin, the Concho Street project calls for replacing Concho Street with a landscaped mall from Moon to LBJ Streets. It includes landscape, sidewalk and grade improvements. The total cost of the project is estimated at $3 million and completion is projected for May 2008.

Other plans approved include adding parking capacity and improving traffic flow on campus by adding 721 parking spaces. Completion is projected for March 2008. Total project cost is estimated at $10.4 million. A second phase, the Matthews Street parking garage, will add 993 parking spaces and will be considered by regents at a later date.

The regents also approved preliminary plans for the Pleasant Street Parking Garage, as prepared by Garza/Bomberger and Associates. The project adds three levels and 365 parking spaces to the existing Pleasant Street garage. It also includes a bus loop with additional traffic and pedestrian improvements in the north central areas of campus. The total project cost is estimated at $10.3 million with a completion date of March 2008.

The regents approved preliminary plans for the Jowers Center renovation as prepared by Huitt-Zollars of Austin. The $1.5 million project includes upgrades and refurbishments to Jowers Center for the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Completion is projected for May 2008.

Plans also call for significant upgrades to campus utility system including expansion of the university's Co-Generation Plant, as well as upgrades to the Harris Plant. Total project cost is estimated at $16.8 million.

Two projects received initial approval. Garza/Bomberger and Associates was hiredto prepare preliminary plans for the Commons Complex renovation. Estimated at a total cost of $8.3 million, the project involves a major renovation to a four-building complex that was built between 1946 and 1956.

3D-I of Austin was hired to prepare preliminary plans for renovation of the Trinity Building. When complete, the building will house Student Publications, Risk Management and Safety and curation space for the Center for Archaeological Studies.

ENGlobal Corp. Acquires WRC Corp.

ENGlobal Corp. of Houston, a leading provider of engineering services, announced recently that it has completed the acquisition of WRC Corp. of Denver. WRC provides serves including integrated land management, engineering and related services to the pipeline, power and transportation industries.

WRC has become a wholly owned subsidiary of ENGlobal and will serve as the company's provider of land management, environmental compliance and governmental regulatory services.