Austin Texas, bad #publictransit means more drunks on the road

Austinite Creates Change.org Petition To Denounce City's Public Transportation Shortcomings: Austinist: "The glaring flaws in the quality, infrastructure, and availability of public transportation in Austin have received increasing attention in the weeks following SXSW. "

Gretchen Nielsen: On giving up my car and riding the bus

azstarnet : "Having been converted, I’ve joined the Bus Riders’ Union. The back of our bright, yellow T-shirts display the words of Enrique Penalosa: “An advanced city is not one where even the poor use cars, but rather one where even the rich use public transport.”

We need more Tucsonans to wise up and live like city folks who wouldn’t dream of being a slave to a car. As an incentive to get real, bus fares should be lowered. Everybody in Tucson will be better off when more of us — rich and poor, young and old — are leaving the driving to a pro."

Columbiana's free public transportation trolley begins rolling around town April 1

AL.com: "The trolley is part of the city's new public transportation service that will run along a still undetermined route in the community and give passengers a ride for free. Donations will be accepted."

Raleigh mayor sums up the #publictransit race to the top in one bite

NewsObserver.com: "“In order for us to remain competitive, we must address the fact that we need a robust public transportation system,” the mayor said in her 15-minute speech at the Raleigh Rotary Club. “This is key for our economic development. Without it, we will be overcome with our success and choke ourselves off with congestion.”"

Guest Column: Effective public transportation for our city

HISTORIC CITY NEWS: "If this city wants to solve our parking crisis the only solution is effective public transportation. When we can development real mass transit to and from our city, non-automotive visitation from St. Johns County and other cities will increase resulting in less pressure on existing parking space making futile plans to squeeze in more unnecessary.

I believe in our city everyone understands the need for viable mass transit to alleviate congestion on all levels and promote minimum impact tourism. We must realize that this is rapidly becoming a crisis that can’t be ignored for much longer. As your commissioner, using my qualifications, experience and expertise, I can and will create and implement a real plan and lay the groundwork for the good of every resident of our neighborhoods, our businesses and the good of our city’s future."

Three Texas Lakes Hit Record Low Levels as Drought Deepens

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

weather.com: "According to a drought update issued Friday by the National Weather Service in Ft. Worth, Texas, Lakes Granbury, Nocona, and Ray Hubbard each plummeted to new record lows since dams creating those lakes were completed in the 1960s. "

Houston among top cities in public transportation ridership growth

khou.com : "Houston, which has been more notable for its sprawl than its public transportation offerings, had a large ridership gain. So did Seattle, Miami, Denver and San Diego. The New York area's behemoth transit network saw the greatest gain, accounting for one in three trips nationally.

Transit advocates argue that the public increasingly values the ability to get around without a car. They offer as evidence the nation's urban shift and the movement to concentrate new development around transit hubs.

"People want to work and live along transit lines," Melaniphy said. "Businesses, universities and housing are all moving along those corridors.""

Another privatization scam exposed

WJBF-TV ABC 6: ""Is it more expensive to have the private contractor in there?" we asked. "Most certainly, it is more expensive plus it limits what you can do," says Lockett.

During the Finance Committee meeting, Commissioners questioned the Finance Department's number, suggesting employee benefits or other factors were not included, and that the comparison was not "apples to apples".

"Those were the bottom line numbers. It includes all of the costs, not just salaries and fringes," says Susan Kain, the Finance Department's grand coordinator.

"So, it shows when the city ran transit for a six month period, it was less expensive," we asked Kain. "Correct," said Kain. "So, there was no manipulating of the numbers?" we asked. "Absolutely none," she said."

When will enough be enough. The private auto system does not work. Does. Not. Work.

washingtonpost : "The man who crashed into a crowd of pedestrians at the South By Southwest festival in Austin will be charged with two counts of capital murder and 23 counts of aggregated assault, police said Thursday morning."

Houston sees public transportation ridership rise

Houston Chronicle: ""People always ask, 'Are Houstonians going to be willing to give up their cars?' Well, a lot of people already have," O'Brien-Molina said."

Baton Rouge expanding #publictransit

CATS on target for March 30 expansion rollout | NOLA.com: "The Capital Area Transit System is set to roll out its expansion at the end of the month, with additional routes and shuttles that CEO Bob Mirabito says are meant to increase interconnectivity among Baton Rouge neighborhoods, shorten bus wait times and increase the amount CATS buses are on the road by about 40 percent."

Cars are not freedom, choice is freedom - TrAC, Miami

Nonpartisan PAC aims to increase the priority of public transportation in Miami-Dade - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com: "“We want accessible transportation options,” said Francine Madera, 30, one of TrAC’s supporters. “We want choices.”

TrAC’s vision is to have “freedom in movement” where residents and visitors of Miami can choose if they want to walk, bike, take public transportation or drive.



...Viciedo hopes to change the habits and perceptions of Miami residents who see a car as a symbol of freedom.

“Freedom is having ultimate choice,” Viciedo said. “If you can choose how to get around, that is freedom.”



Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/04/3973479/nonpartisan-pac-aims-to-increase.html#storylink=cpy"

I-55 in Arkansas nearly impassable for 36 hours due to wrecks, ice

wptv.com: "The combination of ice, jackknifed trucks and minor traffic accidents have made Interstate-55 in Arkansas nearly impassable for about 36 hours, with crews unable to reach the problem areas."