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A Smarter Route? Proposed Urban Rail Along Trinity Street

by | March 2, 2012 |4 Comments
trinity street

Transportation wonks: is there something different about the conceptual urban rail alignment depicted in the latest flyer from Project Connect?

The portion of the rail system south of 4th Street is showing that the preferred alignment (solid orange lines) is not Congress Ave, rather it’s humble ol’ Trinity Street.

On previous maps, I recall Congress Ave having the bold lines and Trinity Street relegated to a hypothetical dashed line.  This is a subtle change on paper, but a potentially big improvement to ridership and economic impact.

I presume a Trinity alignment would have a stop at/near Waller Creek.  Imagine connecting businesses and visitors to the Rainey Street district, Waller Creek, the Boat House, the MACC, the Convention Center.  There’s greater density of residential and recreational use.  There’s more [taxable] development opportunity along the Trinity alignment.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin, Rainey Street District, waller creek

Austin Bike Share Gets A $1.5 Million Boost

by | December 15, 2011 |4 Comments
minneapolis bike share

In an announcement by the Austin Transportation Department, we learn that CAMPO has approved $22 million for Austin transportation projects, including $1.5 million for Austin bike share!

The $1.5MM grant required matching funds of at least 20%. Mellow Johnny’s, GSD&M, and a growing roster of local businesses are stepping up to raise an additional $500,000.

Ever since seeing a successful bike share in action (Minneapolis and Montreal), I’ve been an apostle for bringing a robust, managed, convenient, and predictable system to Austin.

For years a managed cycle program was not even part of the transit discussion.  The reason for the surge in broad based popularity comes down to money.  For a fraction of the cost of buses, a managed bike share system can solve many of the same last-mile challenges.

Now, because of leadership at City Hall and the financial commitment by local businesses, Austin bike share is integral to discussions of last-mile and urban transportation options in Austin, Texas. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin Tagged With:

10 Minutes From Rainey Street

by | October 20, 2011 |3 Comments
Starting In Rainey Street, How Far Can You Go In 10 Minutes?

Starting in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street neighborhood, we approximate the distance we can travel by foot, by bike, or by car in 10 minutes.

You can try it, too, after the jump.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin transit, life in austin, Rainey Street District, urban planning

Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

by | June 13, 2011 |4 Comments
austin rail

NEWS FLASH: According to a source at City Hall, the Austin Transportation Department is slated to give a big presentation June 14 that will be “a substantial briefing” on urban rail and begins to start answering Uncle Lee’s 30 crucial questions and “then some.”

The mayor has pushed a 2012 bond election funding a first leg for a new mode of mass transit in Austin.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin news, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, development, downtown austin, rumors, gossip, urban planning

Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

by | May 30, 2011 |3 Comments
austin-stolen-bike

There were more bike thefts reported in the heart of downtown Austin during the first five months of 2011, compared to 2010, according to city police records I compiled. However, reports are down in the South Congress area.

I know this because I decided to do my best Council Member Chris Riley impression — sans silver hair — and work on reducing my car usage in favor of pedal power to commute to the Capitol area. I bought a bike over the weekend, did some research and promptly shelled out another $200 for accessories, aimed mostly at anti-theft.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Austin Data & Statistics, austin lifestyle, austin recreation, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, crime, data, statistics, downtown austin, life in austin, rumors, gossip Tagged With: ,

Downtown Austin Home Bicycle Tour (Free Tickets – $44 Value)

by | April 20, 2011 |13 Comments
2011spring2colorBanner

We are awarding 2 free tickets ($44 value) to 1 lucky DAB reader for this AWESOME bike tour happening this Saturday, April 23rd, beginning at 9:30AM.  MEET UP AT WHOLE FOODS ON LAMAR.  Winner will also receive 2 FREE Downtown Austin Blog t-shirts (priceless?)! [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin parks, austin recreation, austin small business, austin transit, downtown austin, life in austin, small business, urban family

Vote For Austin Bike Share

by | April 1, 2011 |4 Comments
minneapolis bike share

We’ve got some momentum on this: improving last-mile and recreational transit by installing bike share hubs throughout Austin’s urban core.   DAB readers know this is something I’ve been passionate about for years.  The idea has the attention of multiple Austin City Council members.  Take five seconds and **VOTE NOW**!

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin transit, downtown austin, urban planning Tagged With:

Where Are You Going?

by | March 30, 2011 |11 Comments
austin rail

In the latest draft of possible urban- and light-rail alignments, we generally see the same routes we’ve been looking at for the past year.  Alas, it’s important to understand that rail will not simply be delivered, it will evolve over decades to serve more and more people.  The Statesman has a nice graphic that shows the heart of the system being envisioned. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin Tagged With: ,

Fat Guy Cycling Club – Downtown Austin Bicycle Rides

by | February 21, 2011 |Leave a Comment
fat-guy-cycling-club

My friend Zeke had a vision.  He had a vision to make workouts fun and accessible to guys who don’t usually work out and who generally don’t really like working out.  He had a vision to blend exercise with exploring.  Zeke (and the other founding members of the group) made his vision into reality with a small (but growing) bike club call “Fat Guy Cycling Club.”  The group does weekly (weather permitting) bike rides around central and downtown Austin, usually followed by a pretty manly lunch.  Downtown Austin Blog loves his concept, and asked him to write a very short blurb on his group….

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin, life, life in austin, miscellaneous, urban family

Do UT Students Use/Care About MetroRail?

by | October 27, 2010 |11 Comments

Six months after the opening of the MetroRail… Downtown Austin Blog contributor, Nicole Sanseverino, hops on board the Red Line with an update on just how well the $110 million dollar project is doing.

The MetroRail makes its way from Leander to Downtown Austin on 32-miles of existing freight tracks.  It’s a commuter rail that runs only during peak traffic hours in the morning and evening.  UT students ride for free using their IDs.  But, some students don’t even know it exists…

“The MetroRail… I don’t know anyone who takes it,” said one UT student.

According to Cap Metro, less than one percent of the UT community take advantage of the rail. One student who lives in Round Rock says the rail is a convenient way to get to class.

“It’s quick, it’s calm, sometimes I can sleep on it. I don’t get sick like on the bus,” said UT student Anke Sanders.  But, she does wish the rail operated at other times during the day.  “If it could ran more often especially during weekends maybe to go downtown for dinner or something that’d be ideal,” Sanders said.

If the City’s proposed Mobility Bond passes in November, it will launch an effort to expand the rail. CapMetro approved mid-day service beginning in January, but doesn’t have any concrete plans to increase the actual infrastructure of the rail.

“We don’t have any immediate plans for building more. I think what people would see first would be maybe purchasing more vehicles, expanding these rail stations,” Cap Metro spokesperson Misty Whited said.

After its first six months, the MetroRail is averaging 800 riders per day, but the city of Austin and CapMetro hope that as the population increases, so will ridership.

“We think it’s a great success,” Whited said. “We’re operating very well and efficiently, we just would like to see some more riders of course, but with any new service it takes time to develop that ongoing ridership patterns that you would like to see.”

Despite some bumpy tracks near its beginning, the rail chugs along.

-Nicole

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin
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