Light rail transportation is popular throughout the United States as a way to solve transit problems in an environmentally sound way, reduce congestion on city roads and highways and help commuters cut costs. In 2001, planners began working on METRO Solutions, a comprehensive transit system in Houston, TX. The plan was approved by voters in 2003 and calls for major multimodal transit improvements across the region.

METRORail features sixteen conveniently located Rail Stations which provide access to many of the city’s major employment, cultural/entertainment, educational and medical centers. Major METRORail destinations include Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park/Houston Zoo, Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park.

Because of its work on Dallas’ DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) System, Tnemec was asked to recommend a coating system for the steel boarding platforms at each of the METRORail stations. Each station, while constructed identically, features a different paint scheme to reflect the area of the community in which it resides. Project architects desired a coating system that would provide corrosion protection and long-term aesthetics for the stations.

After preparing in accordance with SSPC-SP6/NACE No. 3, the steel was primed with Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc, a zinc-rich urethane. Next, Series 66 Hi-Build Epoxoline, a polyamide epoxy known for its forgiving application characteristics in adverse and varied conditions, was applied as the intermediate coat, followed by a topcoat of Series 73 Endura-Shield, an acrylic polyurethane highly resistant to abrasion, wet conditions, corrosive fumes, chemical contact and exterior weathering. Some of the stations then received a coat of Series 76 EnduraClear, an acrylic polyurethane clear coat that extends the long-term weathering qualities of Series 73 and also resists most graffiti markings.

Tnemec coating consultant Pat Barry reports, “The lead architect did a good job of coordinating the entire project and described the platforms as ‘jewel boxes’ after they were painted.”