METRO's Board of Directors yesterday approved a contract to begin work on the first Signature Bus Service in Houston.  As a component of the METRO Solutions Plan, Signature Bus Service is an "urban express" service designed with fewer stops, upgraded vehicles, enhanced amenities at the stops, as well as faster, more frequent and more reliable service through a combination of technologies*. 

METRO's Signature Bus Service will be branded as Quickline.  The first route to be implemented will on Bellaire Boulevard and be called Quickline 2 Bellaire.  This service will augment existing service along this route. 

The contract will authorize Pfeiffer & Son, Ltd. to start construction of site improvements for Signature bus stops along Bellaire Boulevard from Ranchester to the Texas Medical Center (TMC) Transit Center.  Improvements on this contract, which are in preparation for the installation of shelters, kiosks and Signature signs, include:

• Foundations
• Boarding pads
• Signature lighting
• Sidewalks
• Electrical service

Pfeiffer & Son, Ltd. is committed to exceed the 35 percent small business participation goal.  By subcontracting the services of Teamwork Construction and Traffic One Co., Pfeiffer & Son, Ltd will have 64 percent small business participation.

METRO's Board of Directors awarded a contract in December 2007 to Neon Electric Corporation for the fabrication of Signature bus shelters. 

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*Note to editors/producers: Video of some of these enhancements is available here:

• Signature stop with "next bus arrival" signs
• Queue jumping at traffic signals