Trolley Extension

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Project at a Glance

Project Objective: Transportation and access

Start Date: May 2004

Anticipated Completion*: December 2004

Construction Impact: will include several street detours and re-routing of traffic (see details below).

Project Description:
Will extend trolley service from the Strand to the UTMB campus, where patients, students and employees will be able to take advantage of a "free ride" option as part of an existing transportation agreement between the university and the city.

Trolley Update: Feb. 15, 2005
Trolley dedication set for March 14
Dedication of the new trolley extension takes place March 14, 10-11 a.m., at the trolley terminus at 8th and Market Street. Galveston city manager Steve LeBlanc will officiate, and Galveston mayor Lyda Ann Thomas will speak, as will Dr. Stobo.

Trolley Update: Dec. 2, 2004
Streets reopen after paving of new trolley route; more trees being moved this weekend
The safety barricades have come down on Market St., 11th and the Strand, where several blocks of the roadway had been closed for the expansion of the Galveston trolley route to the UTMB campus. Please continue to exercise caution in the area; although the road is open, workers are still in the area for cleanup, road painting and the installation of trolley equipment. The intersection of Market and University Blvd. will remain closed for a few more months, until work in front of Rebecca Sealy Hospital for the University Plaza Project is complete. As part of the plaza project, three larges trees are being moved Saturday, Dec. 11 from the construction zone to a new location just east of the Visitor Center. Parking will be restricted on a short portion of Darrell Royal and on the west side of the Ampco parking lot (nearest to the Sealy & Smith Garage).

Trolley Update: Dec. 2, 2004

Work nearing completion on Trolley Extension Project
Crews are currently working on the final stages of the project to extend the Galveston trolley route from the Strand to the UTMB campus. Workers are in the process of placing asphalt and smoothing the roadway, and weather permitting, will be working through the coming week. Once the asphalt is in place, traffic stripes and markings will be painted on the street. Once this is complete, most of Market, 11th and Strand will reopen (the intersection of Market and University Blvd. will remain closed for a few more months, until work in front of Rebecca Sealy Hospital for the University Plaza Project is complete). When can you get your first free ride to campus on the trolley? No definite date has been set yet, but the trolley is anticipated to start running the expanded route in the first few months of 2005. Once the current track work is complete, there will be a round of safety tests to do and controls, switching, landscaping and trolley stops to install.

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT
Download, print and post a color trolley poster (in PDF format)
featuring information about the project.

NEW: Download maps

Inclement weather has held up this project for the last couple of weeks. Here is an update on progress and project developments as of December 01, 2004:

• The storm drain work at 9th Street will continue December 01.
   

• The lights at 9th street will have power connected December 01.
   

• Milling of the streets for preparation of asphalt has started at 9th and Market and will continue west down Market St.
   

• Milling of 11th street will start December 02. 11th street between Strand and Market will be closed at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, December 2 for this process due to the possibility of flying debris from the milling of the street. 11th and Strand will be manned by a flag man to allow traffic.

November 04, 2004:

• Trolley track installation has moved past Children’s Hospital to the south of John Sealy Hospital.
   

• The trolley stop shelter foundations and brick pavers installation are now scheduled to start the week of November 8.
   

• The asphalt paving process should begin again during the week of November 15. Market Street and the 9th St. intersection will open soon after paving has been completed.
   

• The city has not released a date as to when the trolley will start coming to UTMB.

Here is an update on progress and project developments as of August 26, 2004:

• The trolley expansion--which will connect UTMB with downtown and offer free transportation to patients, staff and students--started on Strand and progressed down 11th onto Market St. Starting Monday, Aug. 16, the north lane of Market St. closed from 11th to 9th streets.  Market and 9th St. will remain open, and pedestrian access will be maintained at the intersections.
   

• Market Street from 11th to 9th St. intersection is to be cleaned up, and additional work on that segment will resume after Labor Day.
   

• A pedestrian crossover will be built at 13th and The Strand.

• Wednesday, August 4—the east side of 11th Street between Market St. and The Strand will closed starting Aug. 4, so that workers may begin to lay the rail track. The street will probably be closed for two weeks or so. The vehicular traffic from the UHC Bldg. and other buildings on The Strand will continue west on The Strand and turn south on 11th Street to Mechanic or Market Street.
   
• Friday, July 23—the contractor will continue the grinding the asphalt down the middle of Market St. from 11th to 9th Street.
   
• Thursday, July 22—the contractor will be grinding the asphalt down the middle of 11th Street from The Strand to Market Street. This should take approximately one day. No parking will be allowed on 11th Street from The Strand to Market Street, so traffic can continue on the street in both directions. Pedestrian access and access to the parking lots and garages will be provided at all times during construction.
   
• Friday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 21—the intersection of 12th Street and The Strand will be closed for communication ductbank work; parking garage #4 entrances and exits will remain open; no parking on either side of The Strand between 11th and 12th.
   
• Thursday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 14—the intersection of 14th Street and The Strand will be closed for a storm sewer upgrade. Traffic will be detoured at 13th and Mechanic Street.
   
• Monday, July 5, thru Friday, July 16—Work inside a communication manhole at the intersection of 12th Street and The Strand will result in traffic one way going east on The Strand. Temporary detour signs will be installed.
   
• Monday, June 28, thru Friday, July 2—The Strand will be closed from 14th to 15th Streets while the storm sewer is upgraded.
   
• June 14th—workers start laying track at 20th Street, going east to 11th St. This will take approx 8 to 10 weeks.
   
• The entrance to the parking lot on the corner of 13th and The Strand will be closed off The Strand but the entrance from Harborside will remain open. Notices will be placed on vehicles in the parking lot to notify them of the closing.
   
• June 10 thru 12th—welding of the track begins; 13th and 14th Street intersections are closed at The Strand, and the north side of The Strand will be closed from 13th to 20th Street for approx. 8 to 10 weeks, while the track is being installed. Two-way traffic will be available on the south side of The Strand.
   
• June 7 thru 9th—the track is being delivered to 13th & Strand.
   

* Please remember that construction timetables are subject to variables such as weather. The university and its contractors are always motivated to complete projects quickly, safely, properly and with minimal disruption. We always appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to build a better UTMB.