Another idea for the University Line

There's news today from the Chronicle on Metro's proposed University light rail line: Metro Chairman David Wolff met with the Chron's editorial board this morning and said he could "live with" an alignment that would take the line from Main Street west along Richmond Avenue, then south at Greenway Plaza to Westpark. It's a Metro compromise between keeping part of the line on Richmond and avoiding Afton Oaks and residential areas between Greenway and the Loop.

We suppose that alignment would please homeowners who worry that their property values would drop with a rail line at their front door, but it still doesn't address the concerns of business owners along Richmond between Main and Greenway Plaza, who are concerned that construction and restricted vehicular traffic would force them out of business. And we assume the people worried about losing trees along Richmond will also stay unhappy, despite Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson's claim that the line can be installed without cutting down any trees — that, we imagine, is one of those "We'll believe it when we see it" things.

Other University Line developments: Metro says it's looking into having University trains switch to the proposed Uptown line at Post Oak, which would mean riders would be able to get to the Galleria without a transfer. Though the current plan is for a BRT Uptown line, Wilson said the line could be built for rail if there's enough funding. (On Friday, by the way, Intermodality discussed possible modifications to the University Line that included an Uptown connection.)

The proposals are sure to be discussed at three scheduled Metro forums on the University Line, all of which are open to the public. The first is set for 5 p.m. today at the Holiday Inn Select, 2712 Southwest Freeway; the second will be 5 p.m. Monday at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, 3611 Ennis; and the third will be at 5 p.m. July 25 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 South Main.