The center would have eventually replaced the Houston Amtrak station, as well as various bus terminals throughout the city such as Greyhound Lines.

[2] The plan for the structure would have been a modern glass and steel building surrounding a "great space".

Because the facility would have been built over the tracks, one of the dominant features would have been a grand staircase.

The center was designed as a multi-level station with heavy rail (commuter, Amtrak, Union Pacific freight) running under a large public space with light rail running via an elevated structure.

Following METRO's 2010 annual audit, the agency decided to cancel the project as part of a US$168 million write-down of worthless or non-existent assets.