Track Installation Under Way
Expected to Last Through Early June

When out and about in the Texas Medical Center, it’s a good time to practice precautionary measures when driving near the Fannin-North MacGregor intersection. That’s because METRORail track installation on North MacGregor and Fannin has begun, and is expected to last through the first week of June, weather permitting.

Here’s the low-down on how traffic is being affected during this construction phase:

• Traffic on North MacGregor is reduced to one lane in each direction through the Fannin intersection.
• Fannin is continuing to keep two lanes open in each direction. The contractor may close an additional lane on Fannin or restrict left turns after 7 p.m. or on weekends as necessary.
• Left turns from North MacGregor to Fannin are not permitted.
• Access to trauma centers on North MacGregor is being maintained by reserving the center lane as an emergency lane for ambulances and private vehicles going to Memorial Hermann or Ben Taub hospitals. The emergency lane on North MacGregor will continue to operate to ensure traffic flow and safety.
• The city has converted the middle eastbound lane on North MacGregor at Main Street to an optional left turn lane.

Motorists are encouraged to use State Highway 288, Almeda or Main Street as their alternate route into the Texas Medical Center. Street signs also are being changed to recommend other exits from the freeways to arrive at Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo, the museums, medical facilities and other venues in the area.

METRO is working with the City of Houston, the Texas Medical Center and other entities to coordinate safety efforts, and has officers stationed at key intersections for traffic control.

METRO provides weekday Park & Ride service to the Texas Medical Center as well as daily, local bus routes that travel to the Hermann Park/Zoo area. For more information, see METRO’s Web site, http://www.ridemetro.org, or call the METROLine at (713) 635-4000.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/05_01_02/page_30.html