Feb 23
Archive for February, 2007
Feb 20
The US 183A toll road is opening Saturday, March 3, with a community-wide celebration. The festivities will take place at the Park Street Toll Plaza and will include the Road to Hope 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, kid-friendly activities and live musical performances by the Dust Devils, Eight Ball Down and Ray Benson featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel. A complimentary BBQ lunch with cotton candy, popcorn and other concessions will also be provided. The event is free to the public with proceeds benefiting Hope Alliance, an organization providing support to Williamson County families during times of crisis.
Click here for parking directions, additonal information about the 183A Grand Opening and to register for The Road to Hope 5k Fun Run.
If you have a child between the ages of 3-6, and they have a PowerWheels or other battery-powered car, they could be among the first to drive on US 183A - click here for details.
Schedule of Events
8:30 AM - Road to Hope Fun Run (registration begins at 7 AM)
9:00 AM - Community Festival begins
11:00 AM - Opening Ceremony
12 Noon - Ray Benson, featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel
2:00 PM - Community Festival ends
Feb 19
“Take on Traffic” press conference - Feb 20 at 10 AM
Calendar, Regional Transportation, Take on Traffic No Comments »Below the media advisory announcing the “Take on Traffic” press conference that will take place on Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 AM at Zilker Park.
The “Take on Traffic” education campaign is an expansion of CATC’s Transportation Advocacy Program (TAP) effort. The campaign, with support from business groups such as the Greater Austin Chamber, the Real Estate Council of Austin, CATC, and others, seeks to provide an accurate assessment of the Central Texas area’s transportation challenges and promote a regional comprehensive transportation plan.
Directions to the press conference: turn off Barton Springs Road at the booth as if heading to the Springs, veer left and pass the first lot - the conference will be held in the eastern most lot closest to the bridge.
Feb 16
Watson files Tolls Transparency and Accountability Act
CAMPO, CTRMA, Regional Transportation, TXDOT, Texas Lege, Toll Roads No Comments »Sen. Kirk Watson announces the filing of SB 688 - Tolls Transparency and Accountability Act, which you may have read about in today’s news (Austin American Statesman). A copy of the bill text in .pdf format is available at http://catransco.org/Documents/Legis/State/SB00668.pdf
Briefly, the bill would:
Feb 16
Gas tax increase estimates not as far apart as they appear
CAMPO, Regional Transportation, TTI, TXDOT No Comments »An article from the Austin Chronicle comparies projections regarding the gas tax increase amount necessary to cover the projected funding gap for the eight statewide urban area transportation needs - the amount beyond those eight MPO’s constrained long-range regional plans. For the CAMPO area, the shortfall for infrastructure outside of the 2030 Plan and the Phase II toll roads is about $10 billion.
Feb 14
Showdown at the Lege - Carona confronts Williamson
Texas Lege, Texas Transportation Commission No Comments »This Dallas Morning News article recounts the tempestuous exchange between Senator Transportation Chair John Carona and Texas Transportation Commission Chair Ric Williamson.
Carona showed up at a House Transportation Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 13. When invited to speak by House Transportation Chair Mike Krusee, Carona stated that he was there to set up a meeting with Williamson as Williamson’s staff indicated his calendar was booked through March. When Williamson declined to schedule a meeting that week (offering a follow-up to call the Senator instead), Carona let forth a barrage of criticism for both Williamson and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Ben Wear also reported on the confrontation in the Austin American-Statesman’s online blog Postcards from the Lege.
Feb 09
In the wake of CAMPO’s decision to postpone action on the Phase II toll roads, City of Austin Council Member Jennifer Kim is conducting a poll on how to best finance roadway improvements.
Please take a minute to respond to this one question poll here.
Feb 07
Segments 5 & 6 of SH 130 (40 miles from US 183 to I-10 east of Seguin) could begin construction next year. While the details are still being worked out, TxDOT reached an agreement on a $1.3 billion public-private partnership with the Spanish-based Cintra Zachary consortium.
SH130 construction to Seguin may begin in ‘08 - Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
Feb 06
The Austin Business Journal is currently conducting a poll concerning the use of toll roads. Please take a minute to respond to this one question poll at: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/poll/index.html?poll_id=2779
Feb 05
Austin American-Statesman transportation columnist Ben Wear did the math, and discovers that the Leander-to-downtown commuter rail route is quite an expensive ride.
The five rail cars (at $5 million a pop) with a capacity of 200 running five routes from Leander at 30-minute intervals in the morning and evening means 1,000 commuters at a cost of $90 million - and that is full capacity. Ouch.
Ding Ding Goes the Commuter Train - Austin American-Statesman