The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas (METRO) signed a light rail DBOM contract with Parsons Transportation Group – the largest in the agency’s history.

Early last month Metro’s board of directors approved the $1.46 billion dollar construction contract that is projected to generate approximately 60,000 direct and indirect jobs before four light rail lines, approximately 20 miles, are completed.

As the facility provider, Parsons will be responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining (DBOM) the four new light-rail lines: the North Line, East End Line, Southeast Line and the Uptown Line.

Metro will spend $632 million for the initial phase of the contract, which is expected to create 25,000 jobs and will include utility work for the North and Southeast Lines; build and complete the East End Corridor, including an overpass at Harrisburg for light rail; construction of a service and inspection facility; 29 rail cars from CAF USA Inc.; and final alignment and station configuration for the Uptown Line.

Local small and minority business owners will receive 35 percent, or $335 million in work under the contract.