Yellow Bike Project is back! Grand Opening Celebration at 4PM, in time for Bike Month

From Austin Chronicle on 4/30/10

By Lee Nichols

Yellow Bike Project Rolls into New Home

The yellow bikes are back.

Actually, to be more accurate, the Yellow Bike Project is back, after a two-year semihiatus that rendered the organization almost nonexistent. Yesterday (Wednesday), the YBP held a ribbon-cutting at its new headquarters (1216 Webberville Rd.), and on Saturday, May 1, 4-8pm, the public is invited to a grand opening celebration to show off the facility that will house its rebirth.

You might remember Yellow Bike – in its original incarnation, the nonprofit collective patched up old bikes, painted them yellow, and left them unattended around the city in utopian hopes of creating a fleet of community bicycles unchained on the streets, for anyone to use. YBP still lets loose yellow bikes, but its mission emphasis has shifted more toward bicyclist education and empowerment, offering the public a place to learn about bike maintenance and repair as well as safe riding practices.

For 10 years, the nonhierarchical collective operated out of a city-owned warehouse on East 51st Street, but in 2007, the incoming Mueller redevelopment project forced them out. The organization's existence was seriously jeopardized, but YBP volunteer and treasurer Jennifer Schaffer said then-City Manager Toby Futrell came to the rescue.

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Today on Oprah: "No Phone Zone Day". Check out this campaign's National coverage.

From the US Department of Transportation Website on 4/30/10

By Ray LaHood: US Secretary of Transportation

It's no secret that we've been working hard to combat distracted driving during the past eight months. Today, we go to the next level.

And there is no one who can help us do that like Oprah Winfrey.

I cannot thank Oprah enough for drawing America's attention to this issue. With the declaration of today as "National No Phone Zone Day," her special live broadcast today from Chicago, and the viewing rallies scheduled around the country, she lends her influence to the safety of our nation's roads.
And I also want to thank the many participating state DOTs--and the DC DOT--for signing on to the "No Phone Zone" Day campaign and supporting Oprah's efforts with their own.
Here is just a sampling of the kind of news Oprah has generated on behalf of this important mission:

USA Today: Oprah's 'No-Phone Zone Day': Be kind to fellow drivers (and yourself)
Consumer Reports: Oprah’s national "No Phone Zone Day"
Dallas Morning News: Oprah joins Grapevine woman's effort against distracted driving Cumberland Times-News: SHA partnering with Oprah show to make vehicles no phone zones
CBS4: Ft. Collins Girl's Death Center Of Oprah Campaign
KCAU: Oprah Challenges Nation to Take the No Phone Zone Pledge
KIRO: Leave your phone at home for No Phone Zone Day
Mercury News : Oprah Winfrey joins phone campaign
Mlive.com: Granholm to sign texting law on Oprah show

So, please, tune into today's Oprah broadcast. You can find local viewing information here.

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Cap Metro's Rock & Rail Weekend Starts Today at 3:45, Brush Sq. Park!

From Capital Metro Events Page

Capital Metro Rock & Rail

You're invited to rock out as you roll out your weekend. Join Capital Metro for a free customer appreciation concert on Friday, April 30 at Brush Square in Downtown Austin featuring Cienfuegos and W.C. Clark. 

To help you get to the concert, on the afternoon of Friday, April 30, the community can ride for free on one of three rail connector bus routes that serve the Downtown Station (and the concert in the park): 460 Downtown/Congress, 461 Downtown/Guadalupe, and 462 Downtown/Riverside.

But the fun doesn't stop there. Capital Metro is offering special MetroRail service one Saturday only on May 1, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Trains will run every hour between Leander and Downtown Austin (see the schedule for exact times). Bring your family and friends and ride MetroRail to many of Austin’s local events. Check out the How-to-Ride Guide to learn more about MetroRail.
Regular fares apply on Saturday, May 1. One way tickets range from $2-3, depending upon area traveled. You’re encouraged to purchase a $6 MetroPlus Day Pass good for 24 hours on MetroRail and MetroBus. You may purchase your pass from the Capital Metro Transit Store, many local H-E-Bs, online or at the rail station ticket vending machines.


Rock & Rail Weekend  
Friday, April 30, 2010
Customer Appreciation Concert
Cienfuegos 3:45-4:45 p.m.
W.C. Clark 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Brush Square Park – Downtown Station, 401 E. 4th Street

Saturday, May 1, 2010
MetroRail Special Service
11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. - Trains will run every hour
Nine Stations between Leander and Downtown Austin
Regular fares apply. Rail connector bus routes will not be in service.

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An exclusive SNAPP Guest Blog: Austin Chronicle's Katherine Gregor Calls for Participation in Comprehensive Plan

Guest Blog: City of Austin Comprehensive Plan - Call for Participation

I went to the comprehensive plan community forum at Anderson High on Wed. night. I'd estimate about 40 people participated, being supported by about a dozen city staff and volunteer table facilitators.  Participation has been somewhat sparse, so they definitely need a great turnout at the last event on Saturday.  I found that it was a great chance to talk at length to the top people leading the comp plan - Greg Guernsey, Garner Stoll, and consultant John Fernsler - and share concerns with them directly.


So stop by the forum at Fulmore Middle School on S. Congress on Saturday morning for that purpose, even if you can't stay for the whole thing.  You can walk in, express opinions on boards and write comments about the vision statement, talk to a few people, wander around and watch people rearranging our city, and go - although amateur city planners will enjoy staying for the whole exercise.  So far, the participants have been favoring dense infill strongly.

Saturday, May 1
Fulmore Middle School
201 East Mary, Austin, TX 78704
9 - 11:30 am (breakfast)

The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to guide "growth, development, and beautification."  The beauty part is left out of the vision statement, so far.  So a suggested seventh Vision principle should be "The Austin we love is beautiful ... " If you agree, offer them your own ideas for what that means.


I spoke with John Fernsler about form-based code, and he was rather cool to it, saying that it limits architectural variety and creativity unduly.  He referenced West Palm Beach, which did a FBC, then went back to modify it.  I've heard the same criticism from Dean Almy at UT.  But it is a tool to create a more consistently beautiful built environment - so it will factor into the discussion.


Comprehensively yours, Katherine

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Looking for a way to participate in Bike Month? Behold, the Austin Commuter Challenge

For full details visit the Austin Commuter Challenge Website.

So far there are 300 Participants, 28,000 miles logged, and $12,320 in gas saved!

How it works

The Austin Commuter Challenge offers 3 categories of competition. Each challenge competes on trips. Trips to the store, to the movies, your favorite watering hole, or work all count. Anytime you would normally turn a key, but instead travel by bike you get to log a trip. It doesn't matter how far your ride, just that you ride. So weather you ride 5 miles or 50, each one-way destination constitutes a trip. For example: Ride to work 1 trip + Ride home 1 trip = 2 trips. It's that simple! Trips equal points and the more points you have the better your chances of basking in the glory that is winning the 2010 Austin Commuter Challenge!

The 30 Day Team or Solo Challenge — These challenges were designed for people who are gluttons for punishment. Who will rack up the most trips during the month of May? Who will persevere and stand victorious atop the podium?

The Bike Week Family Challenge — This seven day challenge was designed with families and beginner cyclists in mind. Get the kids involved — teaching our kids that getting outdoors and using human power is good for them and the world they live in. You do not have to be a family to compete in this challenge, but lots of families are! Does your family have what it takes?

*Note that if your sole purpose is to ride for fitness those trips will not count in the commuter challenge this year. But, if you are looking for a competition based on miles for fitness riders, check out the Race to Paris or visit greenlightride.com

Prize Drawing Registration — After you have signed up for your challenge please fill out this form to be eligible for prizes.
 

Prize Drawing Registration Form

Participating in the challenge? "snapp" about your experiences on Facebook and Twitter. 

News from earlier this wk: City unveils ‘fly over’ of bike blvds set to David Byrne

From the Austin American Statesman

By Ben Wear on 4/27

The City of Austin this afternoon released a computer simulated “fly over” of planned bicycle boulevards on Rio Grande and Nueces streets.

The video comes with a customized soundtrack by no less than David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. Byrne is a cycling enthusiast and an acquaintance of prominent members of the Austin cycling community, according to City of Austin Public Works spokeswoman Sara Hartley. Byrne and City of Austin bicycle program manager Annick Beaudet served on a conference panel several months ago, Hartley said.

Hartley said she believes that Byrne composed and recorded the instrumental music at no charge.
Public Works staff will brief the City Council in May on its plans for the two streets, which include traffic circles on Rio Grande and bike lanes on Nueces. Some business owners are still concerned that the plan will hurt their bottom lines and lower property values.

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May is Bike Month. What the Austin Public Library has in store:

From the Austin Public Library Event Page

To kick off Bike Month, the Austin Public Library and the Yellow Bike Project present a Bike-In-Book-Swap on Saturday, May 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez Street. The Yellow Bike Project is a volunteer organization that runs a community bike shop and educates kids and adults about bicycle use and maintenance. The celebration will include a book swap, pannier making workshop (to carry your books), fresh fruit, and live music by the McCallum Steel Drum Band. Additionally, the Austin Cycling Association will be on hand to discuss the services they provide to the biking community. To wrap it all up, the Austin Bike Zoo will parade from the Terrazas Branch to Webberville.

In honor of Bike Month, The Austin Public Library and the Austin Cycling Association are hosting a family-friendly Bikes & Books Tour of Austin’s North-Central Libraries on Saturday, May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please join us on this free guided tour, led by certified ACA Ride Leaders, through Austin neighborhoods and parks all while learning safe and scenic bicycle routes to your neighborhood library branches. The bike tour will begin at Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Road, then go to the North Village, Old Quarry, and Yarborough Branches before ending with a celebration back at Recycled Reads. Each stop will feature a mini tour of the branch, a light snack, and the chance to check out as many books, CDs and DVDs as you can carry in your panniers. So please join us, let us show you how bike-friendly Austin is, and how the Austin Public Library is just a short bike ride away. Registration for this event is available at The Austin Cycling Association’s website: www.austincycling.org. Keep in mind that space is limited, so sign up today.

May 21 is National Bike to Work Day. From 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. the Faulk Central Library as well as the North Village, Howson, Oak Hill, Spicewood Springs, Terrazas, and Windsor Park Branches will be afternoon rest spots for bike commuters on their way home. They will provide Library info and small snacks and beverages. Some locations will have volunteer mechanics on site to repair bike tires, etc.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-974-3625 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Re-cap: Imagine Austin Forum at Eastview

There have been maybe 30-40 Austinites at each (two) session.  The activities were fun and time raced by as people talked, negotiated and compromised to place downtown to very sparse residential, offices, retail, mixed use, industrial land uses.  Sometimes more of the same, say downtown, sometimes indicating they want significant changes from current uses.  

Then they decide the transportation needed to make the land uses work.  Here are some pictures of what the "chip" exercise looks like.

Big decisions are being chosen by a small segment of Austin.  

Democracy is a participatory sport.  Up coming forums:  

Tonight:

Anderson High School

8403 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78759
6 - 8:30 pm (dinner)

Saturday, May 1
Fulmore Middle School
201 East Mary, Austin, TX 78704
9 - 11:30 am (breakfast)


SNAPPatx will blog live from these events.  Tune in to see interviews, observations and more pics.  
www.snappatx.org
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Cap Metro board approves $1.7 million for new rail bridge

From the Austin American Statesman

By Ben Wear on 4/26/10

The Capital Metro board, days after release of a state report critical of the condition of its railroad bridges, today approved a $1.7 million replacement of a rail bridge near Manor.

The vote was 6-1, with Austin City Council Member Chris Riley voting no.

The bridge, a 400-foot wooden span over Gilleland Creek, is not within the 32-mile MetroRail corridor, which runs from Leander to downtown Austin. This section of Capital Metro’s 162-mile, Llano-to-Giddings railroad at this point serves only freight rail. Transit advocates, however, hope that in the not too distant future a commuter line from downtown to Elgin will be added to the system and replacement of this bridge would be beneficial to that venture.

The confluence of the vote and last week’s report by Texas Sunset Review Commission is coincidental. The bridge replacement project had been in planning for a couple of years and $2.2 million for it was included in the agency’s 2008-09 capital budget, officials said.

Read More

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Most 'snapp'-ed about this morning: Studies continue for Austin-SA commuter rail

From the Herald-Zeitung

By Chris Cobb on 4/27/10

The vision presented Monday night consisted of 12 trains carrying passengers back and forth from Austin and San Antonio each day. Along the way, the trains would stop in New Braunfels picking up commuters and dropping off tourists to shop and enjoy the scenery in New Braunfels.

The plan from the Lone Star Rail District was delivered to the New Braunfels City Council Monday, as the district works to make the 120-mile Austin-San Antonio commuter rail a reality.

“This is a long-term investment in our communities, and it will never get any easier and less expensive than it would be to do it right now,” said Lone Star Rail District Chairman Sid Covington. “We owe it to our grandchildren.”

Plans have been in place to build the rail since the late 1990s, and Covington was on hand to give council an update on the proposed rail’s progress.

New Braunfels and San Marcos would be the two primary stops along the rail’s route from Williamson County to South San Antonio, he said.

The trains would run on existing Union Pacific lines, and the majority of the freight would be diverted to new tracks that would run outside of the major cities.

Environmental studies are under way along the proposed corridor. 

Read More

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The results are in for the February ASMP forums and online survey. Check it out. Snapp about it!

Posted on April 26, 2010 on the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Website

ASMP Community Input Report

The first Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Community Input Report is now available online. This report includes results from the Austin Mobility Forums held in February and the ASMP Online Survey fielded in February and March.

These results, along with staff and professional input, have been used to develop the ASMP Project Prioritization Process. The PPP will be used to evaluate potential City of Austin mobility projects, including the hundreds of projects that have been suggested by the community since the ASMP began late last year. This process will inform the development of a potential November 2010 bond package, along with the work of a Council-appointed Citizens Task Force which began meeting in April.

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Austin Strategic Mobility Plan proposes a new way of evaluating mobility projects. How do you weigh in?

Posted on April 26, 2010 from the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Website

On April 29, the Austin City Council is set to consider adopting a new Project Prioritization Process for the city's mobility investments, developed as part of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. This new model allows the city to evaluate potential mobility projects based on how well they fulfill key community objectives, including:

• Efficiency
• Regional coordination
• Mobility choices
• Sustainable growth
• Investment and economic development
• Safety
• Environmental stewardship
• Neighborhood connectivity

The PPP's weighting of these objectives incorporates the feedback of Austin citizens, gathered in February and March during ASMP Mobility Forums and the ASMP online survey. The new PPP will be used to evaluate candidate projects for the proposed November 2010 bond package and potentially for future packages. The Citizens Task Force appointed to review proposals for the November 2010 package will also consider the PPP starting with its April 26 meeting.

Download the draft ASMP Project Prioritization Process (PDF).

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Despite Victory, Businesses Still Riled Over Bike Plan

By Lee Nichols
From Austin American Statesman 4/23/10

In the battle over the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard, it's pretty clear that the business interests won. So why won't they just declare victory and be done with it.

Opponents showed up in force at last week's Urban Transportation Commission and continued to blast the boulevard proposal, watered down as it is, as a looming disaster for businesses along Nueces and Rio Grande. And Austinites for Down­town Mobility, on its website www.keepaustinmoving.org, complains that the "number of affected roads has doubled. One of our major concerns has always been the negative impact on the area if you divert traffic from one street to another. So in 'compromise' the city has decided to make traffic worse on two streets." (Repeated calls to Nueces business owner Susan Harris, a leader of the group, have not been returned.)

It's hard to figure out how that charge can be true, since the city has effectively decided to not do anything to Nueces. As noted in previous reports (see "Bump in the Road for Bike Boulevard," April 9), initial thoughts of doing serious traffic calming on Nueces, the original target of the bike boulevard idea, were replaced with mere bike lanes on the northern and southernmost stretches, and "sharrows" (lanes marked with symbols reminding motorists to share the road) between Seventh and 13th. It's true that the lanes will be "enhanced," perhaps raised or marked with bright colors, but it's hard to see how they'll restrict traffic in any way. (Also, in fairness to staff, a major water main project on Nueces scheduled for 2011 nixes any traffic-calming projects for quite a while anyway.)

Read More...

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May is Austin Bike Month. Be sure to 'snapp' about any events you're attending : )

From Austin Post
By Matthew Bay on 4/21/2010

Austin Bike Month Rolls into Town

The Austin Texas Bike Stuff Blog (atxbs.com) reports that the City of Austin has just released its schedule for Bike Month.

Austin Bike Month is officially the month of May (you know, the only month where Austin weather isn’t too cold, too scorching hot, or too wet for you to want to be outside cycling), but it begins Thursday, April 29 with an official proclamation at City Hall.

Because while politicians can’t be bothered to actually put in the Nueces Bicycle Boulevard, they love to have themselves pictured on or near the symbol of a growing constituency and a powerhouse of Austin politics.

There will be public parties, workshops run by the Yellowbike project, and “bike-to-whatever” days, where they will bribe you to bike somewhere (such as work or school) with a fresh breakfast. You probably should have been biking on months that aren’t Austin Bike Month, but this will give you the excuse to work on your health & fitness and avoid the painful Austin traffic. Although you will probably replace all the calories you burned while biking with the plate of migas they’ll serve you.

Toward the end of Austin Bike Month is an inaugural ride along the Lance Armstrong Bikeway that will catch highlights such as newly installed art and the City’s first cycletrack, which I presume is the veloway.

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Don’t miss this chance to have your say! Imagine Austin Community Forums Start Tues 4/27

FROM the City of Austin's Official Event Page
 
These meetings will be divided into two parts:

• An Open House format, open the entire time at each location, featuring a review of the components for a Vision statement, based on the results of the first Community Forums, as well as information about the Strategic Mobility Plan and an exercise to complete Austin streets
• A scheduled Chip Exercise, where participants work in teams to lay out where the anticipated growth in population and employment should go in Austin over the next 30 years.

PLEASE NOTE: It is really useful for us if you let us know if you're coming, so that we can produce the right amount of materials. Please use the RSVP options below to let us know that you're interested.

• Tuesday, April 27, 3:30pm to 9pm at Austin Community College, Eastview Campus, Building 8000, Multipurpose Room 8500 (Map). Chip game sessions are available at these times:
  
  • 3:30pm start time: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook
  • 6:30pm start time: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook
• Wednesday, April 28, 7:45am to 1:30pm, St. David's Episcopal Church (Map). Chip game sessions are available at these times:
  
  • 7:45 start time: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook
  • 11:00 start time: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook
• Wednesday, April 28, 6pm to 8:30pm, Anderson High School (Map)
  Chip game at 6:00: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook
• Saturday, May 1, 9am to 11:30am, Fulmore Middle School (Map)
  Chip game at 9:00: Add to calendar | RSVP: by email to gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us | through Facebook

Getting around Central TX: Miscellaneous driving/biking laws

Ben Wear: Getting There
From Austin American Statesman 10/25/10

Only limit of dogs in cars is common sense: Another edition of 'stupid questions' about legal ways to get around Central Texas

How many dogs is it legal to have in a passenger car?

There is no limit legally. Common sense might argue for keeping the number low, however, and the dogs well away from the steering wheel and accelerator.

Can my dog ride in the pickup bed?

Yes, but an Austin city ordinance requires that the dog be in an "appropriately sized vented container or confined in a manner that prevents the animal from falling or jumping from the vehicle or otherwise being injured." So, no free-range whippets back there. And securing a dog by a leash could lead to it being injured.

Can I ride a bicycle in a bike lane in the opposite direction of that indicated by arrows in the lane?

No. Most bike lanes in Austin are one-way and designed to be ridden in the direction of traffic, Baker said. There are some two-way bike lanes, he said, citing as an example those on relatively secluded Great Northern Boulevard in Allandale.

Can I ride my bike on a sidewalk?

Yes, mostly. The Austin City Code, Title 12, Chapter 12-2, lists 11 streets (most downtown, with Congress Avenue among them) where this is not legal. Fair game elsewhere.

Is it illegal to drive at or slightly below the speed limit in the left lane of a multi-lane expressway?

No, it's legal, which might surprise people tailgating such drivers while honking their horns and blinking their lights. Truth, justice and the American Way is on the side of Mr. Go-Around-Me-if-You're-in-Such-a-Hurry. But, really, just move over, OK?

Read the Full Article

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What songs are a part of your morning commute? This week's #MusicMonday

From NPR Music
By Jess Gitner 4/23/10

Bike To the Beat: Songs for the Urban Cyclist

Too busy to exercise? Too poor for a gym membership? Don't let excuses sideline your pursuit of fitness. Dust off the old bicycle, pump up the tires, oil the chain and pedal to the metal. You'll feel the burn no matter what you're riding, from a trendy fixed gear to a sleek carbon roadster to a knobby-tired Kmart mountain bike.

Riders beware, though: Urban cycling is not for the faint of heart. You respectfully share the road, of course, but you will be confronted by reckless drivers and the occasional angry pedestrian. But you're a warrior, so ride like one. Don't forget to bring your battle gear: a helmet, some LED lights and, of course, a dose of healthy aggression.

These six songs were chosen to inspire you as you embark on your daily two-wheeled journey. So strap a boombox to those handlebars, crank it up (not too loud, because the sounds of the streets are vital in the battle of bike vs. car) and pedal to the beat.

The Songs...

Photo Courtesey of NPR Music- Pierre LaScott/Flickr

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A Summary: Cap Metro - Sunset Staff Report, 2010

Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority: Sunset Staff Report, 2010
Unlike state agencies, Capital Metro is not subject to abolishment under the Sunset Act. Instead, the legislation that placed Capital Metro under Sunset review, Senate Bill 1263 by Senator Kirk Watson, 81st Legislative Session, requires Sunset to assess Capital Metro’s governance, management, operations, and compliance with legislative requirements. In addition to this review, the bill also provides for another Sunset review of Capital Metro in 2017.

• May 6^th is the deadline for Capital Metro’s response to the report.
• May 25 and 26, the Sunset Commission will meet to receive the Capital Metro staff report and take public comment.
• Sunset report topics and recommendation headings are listed below.

Capital Metro Has Failed to Responsibly Manage Its Finances.
Sunset Recommendations:

1.1 Require the Board to maintain a reserve equal to at least two months of operating expenses, and define criteria for its use.

1.2 Require the Board to adopt, and annually reevaluate, a five-year strategic plan that clearly links to, and drives, the budget.

1.3 Require the Board to annually adopt a balanced budget that includes operating and capital spending.

1.4 Require the Board to adopt an ongoing five-year capital improvement plan.

1.5 Require the Board to adopt a clear and open policy for evaluating and compensating its General Manager.

1.6 The Board should evaluate, and take action on, measures to reduce costs and increase revenues.

Costs for Capital Metro’s In-house Transit Services Are Excessive and Not Sustainable.
Sunset Recommendations:

2.1 Require Capital Metro to competitively bid all transit services not directly provided by its own employees.

2.2 Capital Metro should develop a competitive procurement plan for transit services.

Capital Metro Must Enhance Commuter Rail Safety Before Expanding Its Rail System.
Sunset Recommendations:

3.1 Require Capital Metro to maintain a comprehensive rail safety plan and to regularly report on the ongoing safety of the system.

3.2 Require Capital Metro to employ a Rail Director to oversee and be accountable for all rail system development, operations, maintenance, and safety.

3.3 Capital Metro’s Board should take immediate action to prioritize needed replacement, repair, and maintenance of its railroad bridges.

3.4 Capital Metro should develop a contract monitoring plan for major rail projects to ensure accountability for the cost-effective delivery of services.

3.5 Capital Metro should develop a clear approach for planning, developing, and implementing any future rail-related projects.

The Board Has Not Effectively Engaged Stakeholders, Eroding Public Trust in Its Decisions.
Sunset Recommendations:

4.1 Require Capital Metro to develop and implement a policy that guides and encourages more meaningful public involvement efforts.

4.2 Capital Metro should provide sufficiently developed materials to Board members well in advance of meetings.

4.3 The Board should develop a policy for advisory committee reporting to ensure consideration of committee input in advance of Board decisions.

4.4 The Board should assess its overall process for receiving input on paratransit issues, including evaluating the size and composition of the Access Advisory Committee.

Find the entire 55 page report at: http://www.sunset.state.tx.us/82.htm#cmta


Capital Metro-KVUE: Response to the state report

AAS Editorial: Austin transit agency driven into the ground by incompetence

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Fall bus route changes hearing 4/26/10

Bus Route Changes Return


From Austin Chronicle 10/23/2010
By Lee Nichols

Twice a year, Capital Metro makes revisions to its bus routes, and the Cap Metro board will consider the fall 2010 changes on Monday. The adjustments are usually minor, but this year, staff began making some substantial changes in accordance with the Service Plan 2020, including eliminating some routes. Some residents of the Zilker and Barton Hills neighborhoods plan to challenge the elimination of Route 29. "Although they are trying to encourage ridership, they are making it more inconvenient to ride," says Zilker resident Kurt Schultz. He argues that his neighbors "will now have to walk almost a mile, up and down two huge hills, on two streets which lack sidewalks [and] good lighting sight lines, and are also the busiest streets in the neighborhood." But Cap Metro planner James Gamez says Route 29 is "the lowest-performing route in the Capital Metro system, averaging less than 200 boardings each day." That comes out to about 12 boardings per hour, compared to the system average of 30. Gamez says Route 30 will be revised to pick up a cluster of Route 29's riders near Hollow Creek Drive and that Zilker residents would be within two-thirds of a mile of other routes. Of course, that's farther than the half-mile usually considered the upper limit by transit planners. The board meets 3pm Monday, April 26, at 2910 E. Fifth.

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Cap Metro's Rebuttal

Cap Metro differs with state report on key points

From Austin American Statesman
By Ben Wear 4/24/10

Capital Metro's reaction Friday to a stinging critique of its operations by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission could best be characterized as, "Yes, but …"

Yes, Capital Metro leaders said, the 55-page report was "just and fair," a "very thorough job" and a "road map" for reform of the agency's often slipshod financial procedures and halting performance getting commuter rail up and running.

The Sunset Advisory Commission's suggestions for righting the transit agency's ship are "good recommendations," said Capital Metro interim Chief Executive Officer Doug Allen .

But when it came to responding to the report's more damning findings and most politically ticklish policy recommendations, Allen and Capital Metro board Chairman Mike Martinez have some significant differences to beg.

They start with the railroad bridges.

Read More

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Report slaps Capital Metro

From Austin American Statesman on 4/21/10
By Ben Wear

The 55-page report, prepared at the direction of the Legislature under a law passed last year, says that the transit agency must improve basic budgeting and capital planning procedures and that it should spend what money it has on repairing or replacing 13 rail bridges — some of which are at least a century old — rather than on expanding the capacity of the 32-mile commuter rail line, a move often mentioned by Capital Metro officials.

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin , who authored the law prompting the review, said that the report "is exactly what I wanted — and what this community has needed — for some time. \u2026 It provides a road map for where Capital Metro needs to go from here. It's now up to the board to implement these recommendations."

Read More... 


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One person's Metro Rail experience.

From Lamour Hudson's Blog
By Lamour Hudson on 4/20/10

...We started our trip at Highland Mall Station and took it to the Downtown station then back.  We went in the Afternoon, so it wasn’t crowded at all.  In fact, there were only about 7 other people besides us going south bound towards the city.  

One passenger told a group of us on the train, that in the morning its packed with riders and their bikes. We also noticed that the return trip had a lot more travelers.

MetroRail has more of an Amtrak vibe verses the Subway. The ride was smooth and quiet, it was on street level so the view was more scenic.

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Cap Metro to offer a day of Saturday service

From the Austin American Statesman
By Ben Wear on 4/20/10

Capital Metro, which has fielded complaints from some people about MetroRail’s limited service hours, will run trains on Saturday May 1 as part of what it is calling a “rock and rail weekend.”

The trains will run once an hour in each direction from approximately 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The agency will charge regular fares that day: $2 to $3 for a one-way ride, depending on where one gets on and off the train, or $6 for an all-day pass. There are also five-day and 31-day discount passes.

Capital Metro, since MetroRail began service March 22, has run trains only in the peak commuting periods (for about four hours in the morning, four-and-a-half hours in the afternoon and early evening).

A common complaint in on-line comments, e-mails and direct comments to Capital Metro has been that there is no late evening or weekend service. Capital Metro officials have said that they are considering expanding the service, but have not offered details or a timetable for doing so.

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Construction snarls downtown traffic

From KXAN Austin News
By Matt Flener on 4/20/10

AUSTIN (KXAN) - In a growing city, road construction is a rite of passage.

Yet for drivers along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Downtown Austin , road construction has affected drivers on and off for nearly two years.
It started with a sewer project in 2008 that wrapped up last year.

Now, traffic is down to two lanes on MLK between Red River Street and San Jacinto Bouelvard , causing traffic backups along the major east-to-west artery.
Construction crews are laying water line for a massive reclaimed water project with the University of Texas .

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"No Cell Phone" signs installed in all Austin school zones

From: Community Impact News By Staff on 4/22/10

City workers have completed the installation of "No Cell Phone" signs in all of the school zones in the City of Austin's jurisdiction. A state law prohibiting cell phone use in active school zones went into effect in September 2009, but the ban is only enforceable if proper signs are present.

Austin Transportation Department workers installed 533 signs in the school zones of 134 schools, at a cost of about $76,500, according to a city news release. Workers finished the project in five months, seven months ahead of schedule. The city saved more than $20,000 by installing salvaged extensions to sign poles rather than replacing them, according to the release.


Exemptions from the law include using a phone in an emergency situation and using a hands-free device.

The Austin Police Department has written 399 citations for violations of the ban since the first signs were installed. Each violation carries up to a $200 fine.

For more information on the cell phone ban, read a previous Community Impact Newspaper article at http://more.impactnews.com/5721.

Photo Courtesy of Community Impact News Article 9/25/2009

ASMP and Imagine Austin: Community Forums and Speak Week

Posted on April 11, 2010

IMAGINE AUSTIN & THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN
Invite you to SAVE THESE DATES:

Community Forums
April 27, April 28 and May 1, 2010
(visit http://www.imagineaustin.net for additional information)

Don’t miss this chance to have your say at one of four upcoming forums! In the first round of Imagine Austin input, over 5,000 Austinites told us they wanted to see a more diverse population and mix of housing types, multi-modal transportation, and local business growth. We’ve used that public response to craft a vision statement for the future. Now we want your opinion about that vision and whether it truly captures the unique spirit of our city. Help us turn your wishes for Austin’s future into reality. It’s up to YOU to make it happen!

Be heard this month.
Visit Imagine Austin http://www.imagineaustin.net/events.htm
for forum times and locations.
RSVP today - Your voice counts!


Can’t make it to a forum? Make your voice heard during SPEAK WEEK, April 20-29, when Imagine Austin will go out into the city and talk to Austinites where they live, work and play to find out what's important to them. Tell us what matters to YOU as we plan for Austin's future!

Texas Wildflowers: A sight to experience along Texas Roadways

From Tx Dot helps Texas stay in bloom 
By Joeseph M. de Leon:  Community Impact News

Wildflowers blooming along Central Texas roadways not only look beautiful, they also reduce the cost of maintenance and encourage the growth of native plant species.

That is why the Texas Department of Transportation buys and sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds every year, according to a news release. TxDOT cares for more than 800,000 acres of right-of-way and the department’s wildflower program helps keep Texas beautiful.

Read More...

City sets schedule for deciding on transportation bond list

Ben Wear, Austin American Statesman

Austin voters should have a good idea by late June what transportation projects they’ll be asked to vote on in November.

Assistant City Manager Robert Goode, in a memo to the Austin City Council today, outlined a schedule for a citizen’s task force that will be helping sculpt a $100 million list of road and bicycle/pedestrian projects for the proposed bond election. Rail, which the mayor and council members decided to put off until at least 2011, is not on the menu for this bond election.

On May 24, according to the Goode memo, city staff will present a prioritized list of transportation projects to the task force. Then, on June 14, city staff will bring a draft list for the election to the task force. The City Council will have a briefing on that list June 24. Then, after a few weeks of massaging the list, City Manager Marc Ott will present his final recommendation to the Council July 29.
The council, under the proposed schedule, would vote on the exact ballot language and set the bond election on Aug. 5. Election day is Nov. 2

Rail trail still mostly a dream

Column from 4/19/2009 Austin American Statesman  
By: Ben Wear

It must have seemed so simple back in 2004, when rail fans and cyclists were kicking around the idea of putting a hike-and-bike trail alongside Capital Metro's proposed Red Line.

Just throw down some crushed granite alongside the railroad track for those 32 miles, kind of like the path around Lady Bird Lake. And, boom, an instant, cheap bicycle thruway cutting a red slash across the Austin metro area from the far northwest suburbs to downtown. The trail idea even made it into the official notice of election filed by Capital Metro in 2004. Voters were asked to allow the transit agency to build a commuter rail line "that also includes hike and bike trails along some existing railroad right-of-way."

That commuter line, as of March 22, is a reality. The trail, however, is still mostly a concept. Much of it would not be "along existing railroad right-of-way" but instead on city streets. And there would be nothing simple, or inexpensive, about it...

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New freeway exchanges delight drivers

Channel 8 Austin 

By Crestina Chevez

Now, a new job for some could mean more time on the job and less time in the car for drivers. The Texas Department of Transportation kicked off a new project Tuesday.

The agency is building freeway exchanges between Interstate-35 and Ben White Boulevard.

Department officials hope the project will ease traffic and increase safety along Interstate-35 in South Austin.

The $26-million project will add four new direct-connection ramps in the area.

Two new ramps will connect east and westbound Ben White Boulevard to southbound I-35. Two additional ramps will connect northbound interstate traffic with east- and westbound Ben White Boulevard.

Video and Rest of Story

Your Neighbors: Artist finds creativity, profit in morning commute

Channel 8 Austin
By: Ashley Porter


Kathleen McElwaine uses public transportation to commute from her home in Leander to her job at the University of Texas at Austin, and she makes the most of it.

For the last two years, she's found a way to both keep herself busy and make a little money.

"When I started riding the bus, when we first moved to Leander, I realized it was three hours out of my day and I didn't have time to paint every day at home," McElwaine said.

So every weekday, she paints at least two pictures using a small canvas and travel palette of watercolor paints. This week, she was inspired by the bluebonnets and poppies blooming around Central Texas.

Video and Rest of Story

Understanding the Quarter-Cent tax

Capital Metro has been giving a Quarter of each sales tax Dollar to the City of Austin?  Why?

Learn more and tell us what you think.

Cap Metro: The Quarter Cent Shuffle
This week's Austin Chronicle article by Katherine Gregor.

Gone and Quartered

From Katherine Gregor's April 15th 2010 Article in the Austin Chronicle

Stiffed on Capital Metro money, the city scrambles to fund another $51 million for transportation projects

In recent weeks, the city of Austin and Capital Metro have been engaged in a politically sticky negotiation. The transit authority owes the city more than $50 million, but the agency is too cash-strapped to pay its bills. Most reports have focused on how Cap Metro got itself into this unfortunate financial situation. But the other side of the story is what this stop-payment does to the city. It has more than $15.5 million in transportation projects under contract – in all, more than $20.5 million committed – that depend on Quarter Cent cash flow. Another $12.8 million in projects are in design. The transit agency has asked for an extended payment period on its debt; under its proposal, the money wouldn't start flowing again until 2011 and wouldn't be paid in full until 2019.
Meanwhile, the city has bills to pay.

Now what happens? Which projects will be pushed off to an uncertain future? 

Read the full article to learn more about the projects on the table and the city's funding options

Consider Commuting Costs When Relocating

You can read or nap while taking public transportation.

There are various factors to consider when relocating. Factors such as housing costs, employment and schools should all weigh heavily in your decision-making process.  Commuting costs are yet another factor, one that is often overlooked.

Gas prices are again on the rise and will soon reach $3 per gallon. A long commute in your vehicle along with any parking costs while on the job may seriously eat into your budget.  Moving to an area with excellent public transportation is an option that can save you a lot of money.

A recent monthly savings report by The American Public Transportation Association shows that New York is the top city for saving money by commuting. New Yorkers can save $1,149 by taking public transportation while Boston residents save $1,032, San Francisco residents save $1,015 and Chicagoans save $955. The twentieth name on the list of mass transportation savings is Pittsburgh at $681 per month.

While public transportation, especially at peak times, can be crowded, noisy and uncomfortable, the inconvenience may be worth the monthly savings.  On the plus side, you can relax a bit and read, take in the view, nap or study while in transit making better use of your time. These things are difficult to do if you are the driver. Your auto insurance costs should decrease a bit, too, as your weekly mileage is now lower.

Consider the pros and cons of public transportation next time you relocate. It just may save you some cash.

Photo Credit: adam wiseman on www.flickr.com

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