Support and Create Opportunties for a Better America
Yesterday, President Obama called for more transportation investment to support job creation and economic growth. Public transportation can implement more than $15 billion projects in 90 days!
More transit means more jobs and a better economy. Contact the President and your Congressional representatives today and tell them to support more investment in public transit! Public transportation projects create more than 450,000 jobs and for every $1 invested in public transportation, an average of $4 is generated in economic returns.
Act NOW!
NAPTA / 1666 K Street NW / Washington DC 2006 / 202-496-4807
info@napta.net / here.
Council set to consider $1M engineering contract with goal of November 2010 bond referendum.
By Ben Wear AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, December 08, 2009
The City of Austin’s push toward a November 2010 passenger rail referendum could pick up speed Thursday, when the City Council will consider a $1 million contract to design a route and refine what has been a rough $600 million cost estimate.
The city already has hired consultant URS Corp. for $355,000 to develop an “alternatives analysis” of the possible line, as required by federal law. The council could vote by February on a recommended route, which might run from East Austin through downtown to the airport. That could be followed by a council decision in May or June on whether to hold a November bond referendum and a further council vote in August to nail down the exact ballot proposal.
The Texas Department of Transportation is starting to explore a driver mileage tax as an alternative to the state gasoline tax, in the face of dwindling highway funds that will become depleted in 2012.
In late November, the Texas Transportation Commission laid groundwork for a Highway User Fee Exploratory Committee that would begin meeting in March and draft a report by August, a few months before state lawmakers convene.
Finally, we are in the future — Heathrow Airport is rolling out those driverless pod taxis it announced two years ago, and they look just as adorable as ever. The ULTra Personal Pod cars are fully automated battery-powered pods that zoom around at up to 25mph on a special road network, and can transport four passengers and their luggage between Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and its business car parks. If, like us, you have a thing for retro-futuristicdesign, you’ll do well to check out the gallery below, complete with interior shots, and there’s also a video after the break. Enjoy!
The Austin Transportation Department invites you to an Urban Rail Open House. Come learn about the proposed Urban Rail project to serve Central Austin and how you can participate in the process.
You’re Invited!
Monday, December 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
City Hall Atrium
301 West 2nd StreetInformation presented at this open house will be
available on the City Transportation website at www.ci.austin.tx.us/transportation.
Send Us Your Comments Help us refine the issues that need to be addressed in the upcoming rail studies. Send comments to Transportation@ci.austin.tx.us
State Sen. Kirk Watson has told a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) committee that he would not run for re-election as chair of the regional planning organization, a leadership position he has held since 2007. Watson made his announcement in his opening remarks on Monday afternoon before a special… CAMPO-appointed committee that is charged with making recommendations for changing the composition of the CAMPO board.
[editor: The debate will take place on December 7th, at 12 noon PST, so register now and share the link with your colleagues. This could be a great chance to have a listening party for T4A partners and allies in your community.]
Everyone has to get from point A to point B at some point each day. Though most people don’t rate it as one of their most important issues, transportation is something that affects everyone, whether we realize it or not.
Provide Your Input into Austin’s Future
City of Austin
Thanks to the more than 300 participants who joined us at the mid-November Community Forum Series to imagine what kind of future Austin should have. We are busily typing up and synthesizing the results, and will begin putting them online in December.
Daimler launches car-share program in Austin
Austin Business Journal
Daimler auto officials, alongside Austin city officials, launched a co-operative car-share initiative Tuesday to become the nation’s largest car-sharing pilot program by introducing 200 smart cars to the Austin area.
The city and car2go, Daimler’s smart car-based car-share initiative, have forged a barter agreement in which car2go receives on-street parking spaces in exchange for city employees’ use of car2go vehicles for city business. There is no exchange of revenue, but the deal is valued at $85,000, according to the city.
Read more…
