Texas Medical Center Transit Center

{{Short description|Light rail and bus station in Houston, Texas, US}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station | name = Texas Medical Center Transit Center | image = METROBuses.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = TMC Transit Center bus platforms, with pedestrian overpass visible on right | address = '''Rail:''' 6934 Fannin Street<br>'''Bus:''' 6910 Fannin Street | borough = Houston, Texas | coordinates = {{Coord|29|42|14.97|N|95|24|10.33|W|type:railwaystation_region:US-TX}} | line = {{rint|houston|red}} Red Line | bus_stands = 16 | other = {{rint|bus|1}} '''METRO:''' 2, 4, 10, 14, 27, 28, 41, 56, 60, 68, 84, 87<br>{{rint|bus|1}} '''METRO Park & Ride:''' 292, 297, 298<br>{{rint|bus|brt}} '''METRO Quickline''': 402 | structure = At-grade | platform = Island platform | tracks = 2 | bicycle = 12 parking spaces | baggage_check = | passengers = | pass_year = | pass_percent = | pass_system = | opened = {{start date and age|2004|01|01}}<ref name="Opening" /> | closed = | rebuilt = | accessible = Yes | code = | owned = Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County | zone = | services = {{Adjacent stations|system=METRORail|line=Red|left=Smith Lands|right=Dryden/TMC}} | mpassengers = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|METRORail|Red}} | mapframe-marker = rail-light }}

'''Texas Medical Center Transit Center''' ('''TMC Transit Center''') is an intermodal transit center in the Texas Medical Center neighborhood of Houston, Texas, United States. The transit center is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), serving the Red Line of its METRORail system, thirteen bus routes (including Bellaire Quickline), and three shuttles to METRO park-and-ride.

The transit center is located in the southern portion of Texas Medical Center near the intersection of Holcombe Boulevard and Fannin Street. It consists of an island rail platform in the median of Fannin Street and sixteen bus bays on the west side of the street with a pedestrian overpass connecting them.

== History == left|thumb|Light rail platforms at TMC Transit Center

Due to its status as one of Houston's largest employment areas, rail service to Texas Medical Center has been considered since the 1980s. A 1987 plan proposed a $1 billion, {{Convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} starter rail system with two lines, one of which connected TMC with Downtown Houston.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mintz |first=Bill |date=1987-10-25 |title=Metro wary of repeating '83 rail plan error |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED7AD8BFB8FE8B6 |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The area was also served by a large number of bus routes.

When rail planning was re-started in 1999, the proposed line ran from Downtown to the Astrodome, passing through TMC along Fannin Street. Three stations within TMC were proposed, including a new transit center that served the area's existing bus routes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Asher |first=Ed |date=1999-12-15 |title=Metro brings rail route, stops to light |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED7BAF1D30A9C59 |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=1A |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

A groundbreaking was held for the transit center in late 2002. It was built at a cost of $9.2 million and was the largest METRO transit center at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sallee |first=Rad |date=2002-12-12 |title=Metro transit center will put central hub in Medical Center |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F843A9DCE881610 |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=27 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The transit center's rail platforms opened with the Red Line on January 1, 2004,<ref name="Opening">{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Lucas |date=January 1, 2004 |title=New ride for the new year: Festivals mark inaugural day for Metro train |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&page=1&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=metro%20%22hermann%20park%22%20rice%20station&fld-nav-1=YMD_date&val-nav-1=1990%20-%202029&docref=news/0FFD30926CA496FD |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Corporation |pages=A1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> while the bus platforms opened a month later on February 15.<ref name="Garage">{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Lucas |date=2004-01-29 |title=Metro board rejects garage at station site |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10067454ECC945B1 |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

At opening, the pedestrian overpass between the rail and bus platforms was accessible by stair or elevator. In 2005, in response to higher-than-expected ridership, METRO approved the installation of escalators for the overpass.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-03-28 |title=Bus Stop: Medical Center transit center to get escalators |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10922A7ECC4F240A |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=2B |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

=== Proposed developments === TMC Transit Center's bus platforms were designed to accommodate development above them.<ref name="Development Solicitation">{{Cite news |last=Sarnoff |first=Nancy |date=2005-04-03 |title=Metro to ride with development: Transit agency wants collaborator for commercial, residential mix at Medical Center |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F109421565167FC0B |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=3 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The first such proposal was made in early 2004, where Baxter Development proposed a six-story garage, which would include 1,200 parking spaces and {{Convert|20000|sqft|m2}} of retail space on the ground floor. While the proposal was recommended by METRO staff, it was rejected by the board, who were concerned that the garage would be used by TMC employees, potentially decreasing ridership on the new line.<ref name="Garage" />

In 2005, METRO began soliciting developers for a transit-oriented development project at TMC Transit Center.<ref name="Development Solicitation" /> METRO selected developer Transwestern, who planned a $105 million project containing a 175-room hotel, 30 condominiums, {{Convert|35000|sqft|m2}} of retail space, and {{Convert|168000|sqft|m2}} of medical offices. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarnoff |first=Nancy |date=2005-10-21 |title=Along for the ride: Metro hopes rail line blooms in development |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10D660664D7CE950 |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |pages=1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> However, the project was quietly cancelled.

In 2011, Kirksey Architecture announced plans to build a {{convert|65000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} complex on top of the transit center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metro Transit Center |url=http://www.kirksey.com/project/metro_transit_center |access-date=January 14, 2011 |website=Kirksey Architecture}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2025}} This project was also unsuccessful.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Texas Medical Center Transit Center (Metrorail Station)}} Category:METRORail stations Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2004 Category:2004 establishments in Texas Category:Texas Medical Center Category:Railway stations in Harris County, Texas Category:Transit centers in the United States