Become an APT Volunteer!

Volunteer Alert!

As you know, the Leander to Austin or the “Red Line” will be running starting next Monday.
We expect a lot of enthusiasm from riders and even onlookers on this historic day for Austin.
In order to grow our transit system - we need to support groups like the Alliance for Public Transportation who will have volunteers at the downtown and MLK Stations all week.

Can you help us by handing out pro-transit literature and asking people to complete a short questionnaire?

Our goal is to reach people who are seeing the value of having multi-modal transportation options by letting them know of APT’s mission.

Our strongest needs are here:

Monday the 27th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at both the Downtown Station and the MLK Station. Many people will be getting off at the MLK Station as there will be CapMetro shuttles going back and forth to the UT campus.

We still have a few slots available for the morning shifts at the downtown station. Those shifts start at 7:00 a.m. and go until 9 a.m.

Please Let Dave Foster know of your interest by e-mailing him at dfoster@cleanwater.org and which of the two stations you prefer to volunteer at. You will be there along with several other APT representatives so don’t worry about being alone out there.

Help us recruit more transit-friendly supporters!

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Friends of Transit:

This is another reminder of a very important regional discussion on mobility.  Please share with others and help us ensure a good showing from transit advocates.

The Alliance for Public Transportation is part of a coalition supporting local option funding for ALL modes of transportation during the upcoming legislative session.  Our own Senator Watson and Senator John Carona of Dallas will be in Austin March 24^th to talk about the role the State of Texas can and should have in funding our future mobility needs.  All transit advocates who are able – should attend this luncheon sponsored by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and learn more about where we stand and how the State can be a partner in the growth our region is experiencing.

March 24^th; 11:30

Four Seasons Hotel

Click on this link in order to register.

Register for the Chamber’s State of Transportation featuring Texas State Senator, John Carona!

Public Transportation Takes Us There

NAPTA / 1666 K Street NW / Washington DC 2006 / 202-496-4807
info@napta.net / here.

Transit Mixer at the The Belmont

The Alliance for Public Transportation is your organization advocating for great public transportation and transit in Central Texas.  Come to our first regularly scheduled happy hour to learn more about The Alliance, what we’ve done and hope to accomplish this year, and how to get involved.  Plus meet two of Cap Metro’s newest board members-to-be Frank Fernandez and John Langmore.  Both Fernandez and Langmore are active APT members.

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2009.  6pm

Where: The Belmont (305 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701-2915 (12-457-0300)

How much: Free for members.  $5 donation at the door for non-members.  Annual Membership is $25.

Cap Metro

Capital Metro Board Appoints Doug Allen Interim President/Chief Executive Officer

October 12, 2009Austin, Texas -Today the Capital Metro Board of Directors named Doug Allen Interim President/CEO. This appointment takes effect upon the retirement of current President/CEO Fred Gilliam at the end of this week. Allen currently serves as Executive Vice President/Chief Development Officer for Capital Metro.

“Doug Allen has a wealth of leadership experience in the industry and has demonstrated his commitment to Capital Metro and central Texas transportation since joining the Authority more than a year ago,” said Capital Metro Board Chair and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez. “During this transition, it is critical that we remain focused on the core mission and goals of this agency.”

With new Board appointments expected by the end of the year, today the Board recommended waiting until January to begin a national search for a new President/CEO.

Allen joined Capital Metro in March 2008, bringing 30 years of transportation planning and development experience. As Executive Vice President/Chief Development Officer, he currently oversees all strategic planning, communications, marketing, community development, transit oriented development, engineering and construction functions.

Allen spent the majority of his career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area beginning at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) in 1978. In 1984, he joined Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and was instrumental in developing plans for the DART light rail system and high occupancy vehicle network.

Allen is a member of several professional organizations including the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) where he serves as vice chairman of the Policy and Planning Committee.

Read more…

[via Cap Metro]

Rush-hour traffic at Sixth and Lamar, looking eastward Courtesy of the Austin Transportation Department

Both Roads and Transit

Counting on traffic fixes