In response to a voter referendum, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is committed to extending its highly successful initial 7 miles of Light Rail Transit system to more than 45 miles within a 4-year period. METRO's plans call for all 30 miles to be under construction simultaneously in 5 different corridors. As a result of METRO's aggressive schedule, the City of Houston has to relocate numerous critical underground facilities. These relocations include force mains, lift stations, and several large diameter water transmission mains including an extremely vital 66-inch water main. A major focus of the paper will be to present the issues associated with the 66-inch PCCP water main. This line is the sole source of treated water to the City's Southwest Pump Station. This station averages more than 75 MGD and its service area extends over 80 square miles, including two major employment centers and the Houston Galleria, the largest retail center in the southwest. The discussion will include how five miles of this vital PCCP water main will be impacted by the Light Rail Transit extension. Impacts, analysis, and alternatives evaluated and to be discussed include how to mitigate the system's electrical currents, providing access to the line while reducing impacts to the rail operations, and how to minimize the potential failures on this line. This paper will also present the difficulties caused by METRO's aggressive schedule on the City's critical infrastructure. It will present how the City is dealing with the coordination necessary for the construction activities occurring simultaneous in five different areas.
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