Texas

TexasTowelie

(112,102 posts) Thu Jun 26, 2014, 09:21 PM Jun 2014

Austin City Council Unanimously Backs Urban Rail Proposal

By a unanimous vote – Austin city council endorsed a package of proposed transportation projects Thursday night, including a $1.4 billion dollar urban rail line.

The Austin City Council limited public comment on urban rail to 30 minutes for each side, which angered some public transit advocates who support the concept of urban rail but reject the proposed route of the plan.

"This was the speech I was going to give," former Urban Transportation Commission member Mike Dahmus said to council, tearing up a sheet of paper and crumpling it in his hands. "You've chosen ... to eliminate all meaningful opportunities for public input, as has Project Connect before you. We will make sure the [Federal Transit Administration] is aware of this."

Mayor Lee Leffingwell responded that it "probably the most open and transparent process in the history of man" – which earned both laughs and jeers from the audience.

More at http://kut.org/post/austin-city-council-unanimously-backs-urban-rail-proposal .

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Austin City Council Unanimously Backs Urban Rail Proposal (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jun 2014 OP

the process is open to the $$ men who will be way over budget, planned that way of course nt msongs Jun 2014 #1

It will do nothing to relieve congestion hobbit709 Jun 2014 #2

You also forgot how they have jacked up the fare for the last 5 years. Javaman Jun 2014 #3

msongs

(67,394 posts)

1. the process is open to the $$ men who will be way over budget, planned that way of course nt

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Thu Jun 26, 2014, 09:34 PM

Jun 2014

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)

2. It will do nothing to relieve congestion

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Thu Jun 26, 2014, 10:08 PM

Jun 2014

It doesn't go where it should and only serves a few.
South Austin-forget it
Airport-forget it
And the bus lines will suffer to cover the costs.
A city the size of Austin should have 24/7 transit instead of only 6 AM to midnight and some routes stop at 9 PM.

When I first moved into this house the bus came right down my street. Then they changed the route so that I have to walk almost a 1/2 mile to the stop. Then they changed where the bus stops from any corner where you could flag down the bus to designated stops only-that added another 1/4 mile walk. Loads of fun when you have diabetic neuropathy in your feet.
When I still worked I would have gladly taken the bus rather than be on MoPac at 4:30 PM. The bus from here got downtown 2 minutes after the bus I needed to catch left, then that bus got to the next transfer point 2 minutes after that bus left. I figured there was about 1.5 mile total walking distance and a total of 2 1/2 hours each way on top of a 12 hour shift.
SCREW THAT. So I drove MoPac in the afternoon to get to work in the traffic-at least 45 minutes. Of course at 6 AM there was no traffic and I'd be home in 15 minutes.

Javaman

(62,517 posts)

3. You also forgot how they have jacked up the fare for the last 5 years.

Reply to hobbit709 (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 09:45 AM

Jun 2014

a monthly pass 5 years ago was 10 bucks. And if you were handicapped or a senior you could ride for free.

now a monthly pass is going up to 40 plus bucks next year and seniors and handicap can no longer ride for free.

It's cheaper for me to drive than it is to take the bus now.

I honestly can't wait until laughingwell(sic) (all the way to the bank) is finally out of office.

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