why is the public transport system so bad to most on here? (Victoria: live in, dangerous)
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I thought there was a bus route from downtown to the airport, the Airport Flyer #100.
I'm still trying to figure out why a rail line to the airport is so important to some people. The number of people who would take it would seem to be very small in comparison to a good commuter route, especially one built around TODs. I think most people only go to the airport once or twice a year, which leads me to believe that there must be a lot of upwardly mobile business travelers clammoring for this.
As far as the time it takes when riding a bus versus taking a car you have to actually do something with the time that the bus affords you. I use that time to read books and magazines. I don't look at the 7-8 minute walk to the stop and back as time wasted but rather light exercise.
As far as promoting use of transit in this city I think one thing that would help - and this is mostly for the downtown employers - is for them to stop subsidizing their employees parking. This is more fair to those who do not use the parking as they are not missing out on a benefit and it would encourage folks to carpool and take transit. If you think about it a parking space is about the size of a cubicle space (or at least where I work downtown) so by discouraging parking you are freeing up valuable real estate for something that is actually productive.
Great points. I enjoy the down time on public transportation. I'm a firm believer that operating heavy machinery at a high level of concentration for long periods of time is an unfair requirement for most people. Hell, people get paid big money for doing it Especially for mundane tasks like going to work everyday. Most people are trying to juggle too many activities to properly pay attention. And like you said, the exercise is great. Ever notice how people in cities with good walking structure and PT aren't as fat?
You're right, most people won't need the airport line more than once or twice a year. However, the SE part of Austin TOWARDS the airport is the next logical pocket on the cusp of redevelopment. Look at a map of Austin: there is no area closer to downtown that has not been developed and/or driven up in price. It's the last. There is also the Metro-Center area(near Riverside and Ben White) that has quite a large office park as well as several hotels(my wife works in this area). Also, the reason Riverside has been pegged for rail, is that even at its present width, it could accommodate a light rail/streetcar system without losing too much existing auto lanes.
Either you are not familiar with the area or you are not reading all of the posts in this thread. Yes, CapMetro has lines that go to the airport, but only directly from certain directions. The point is not can you do it, but is it REASONABLY CONVENIENT. From most directions it is NOT. Here's a map or you illustrating my point. The heavy red line would indicate a Ben White Express that would in effect, connect all of the various routes currently operating in S Austin. This would make getting out to the airport from anywhere south possible. Cap Metro actually built a transportation hub on Ben White, so I'm not sure why they haven't done this yet(probably $). It wouldn't even have to run all day, maybe every 2 hours or so. The lighter red circle encompasses some fairly dense areas that cannot go East with out traveling significantly North. The 331 runs down Oltorf which is pretty close to downtown. So anyone south of there has to make several transfers. Nobody would do that if they didn't absolutely have to.
yes but that is anywhere and everywhere in the US, even NYC. nothing on Public is going to be right outside your door. and REasonably Convenient is subjective. I think that Austin, and yest grew up in Texas so i know the lay of the land, has a pretty decent layout, much like most cities its size.
yes but that is anywhere and everywhere in the US, even NYC. nothing on Public is going to be right outside your door. and REasonably Convenient is subjective. I think that Austin, and yest grew up in Texas so i know the lay of the land, has a pretty decent layout, much like most cities its size.
Oh, I agree, the U.S. is generally ambivalent towards public transportation.
But I think you misunderstand me my friend. I understand that no system is perfect nor am I asking for service "right outside my door". I've ridden on many subways and trains, so I am familiar with limitations and/or inconveniences. I am a choice rider, so I'm willing to put myself through more than the average rider. By "reasonably convenient, I mean a system that gets me to where I need to be within a 3:1 ratio, give or take a bit. That is, if a trip takes me 10 minutes by car, I'm willing to put up with 30 minutes. This is not hard and fast though.
For most things I find Austin's bus system to be decent. I'm simply making suggestions and observations based on MY experience riding trains, subways and buses in different settings for quite a while. If you find that negative or unreasonable, well I can't help that
I tried the suggested sites for finding a bus between Lakeway and the airport, but no luck. Looks like the buses don't go west at all; its mostly a north/south axis.
I tried the suggested sites for finding a bus between Lakeway and the airport, but no luck. Looks like the buses don't go west at all; its mostly a north/south axis.
Lakeway, Bee Caves, Westlake, etc.. are not city of Austin nor part of Capital Metro. Austin has expanded N-S mostly, with some annexation to the east. But just west of Austin, even close in, has resisted being annexed. That's changing, with the annexation of Lost Creek in 2015. Anyway, you'd need to get to a park-and-ride location. Northwest (620/Lakeline), Barton Creek Mall, ACC Pinnacle, somewhere like that. Doesn't help much, though, if you are trying to get to the airport without a car!
studying transit maps doesn't tell the whole story
Jack:
I've read this entire thread. You seem to have several strong opinions about Austin and its transit system without having spent anytime actually using transit in Austin. Some things cannot be gleaned from studying transit maps. Your quote below is a perfect example.
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinajack
well as a new train, it seem to go exactly like any train system in the country does, like Septa or Metro North in ny
or metro in dc
What is your opinion based on? Do you know anything about where major employment centers are based in Austin? SEPTA and DC metro funnel people directly to major employment centers in their respective downtowns. I am less familiar with Metro North in NY and will not comment on that.
There are three major employment centers in central Austin: (1) the University of Texas, (2) the Capitol / surrounding state gov't offices, and (3) the central business district - CBD. Austin's commuter rail line will not serve 1 or 2 at all and is only convenient to a tiny portion of 3. The "downtown" rail station is at the very southeast corner of the CBD. Only a couple of office buildings are within a 1/4 mile walk of the station.
The region missed a huge opportunity in 2000 when a light rail measure narrowly failed. That light rail line would have been extremely convenient to UT, the Capitol, and the CBD. You can get more info on that line from older posts on the blog referenced above.
Oh, I agree, the U.S. is generally ambivalent towards public transportation.
But I think you misunderstand me my friend. I understand that no system is perfect nor am I asking for service "right outside my door". I've ridden on many subways and trains, so I am familiar with limitations and/or inconveniences. I am a choice rider, so I'm willing to put myself through more than the average rider. By "reasonably convenient, I mean a system that gets me to where I need to be within a 3:1 ratio, give or take a bit. That is, if a trip takes me 10 minutes by car, I'm willing to put up with 30 minutes. This is not hard and fast though.
For most things I find Austin's bus system to be decent. I'm simply making suggestions and observations based on MY experience riding trains, subways and buses in different settings for quite a while. If you find that negative or unreasonable, well I can't help that
Twange,
i dont knwo what you are talking about, i didnt refer to you or was talking about you negatively. I too have ridden public transport from Portland and Seattle and SF to NYC, DC Philadelphia and Boston, Montreal, to charleston, jackson, Dallas, Paris to Mexico and Honduras. so i am only basing what i am talknig about on experience as well, so i dont think anyone was saying you said anything negative
I've read this entire thread. You seem to have several strong opinions about Austin and its transit system without having spent anytime actually using transit in Austin. Some things cannot be gleaned from studying transit maps. Your quote below is a perfect example.
What is your opinion based on? Do you know anything about where major employment centers are based in Austin? SEPTA and DC metro funnel people directly to major employment centers in their respective downtowns. I am less familiar with Metro North in NY and will not comment on that.
There are three major employment centers in central Austin: (1) the University of Texas, (2) the Capitol / surrounding state gov't offices, and (3) the central business district - CBD. Austin's commuter rail line will not serve 1 or 2 at all and is only convenient to a tiny portion of 3. The "downtown" rail station is at the very southeast corner of the CBD. Only a couple of office buildings are within a 1/4 mile walk of the station.
The region missed a huge opportunity in 2000 when a light rail measure narrowly failed. That light rail line would have been extremely convenient to UT, the Capitol, and the CBD. You can get more info on that line from older posts on the blog referenced above.
I'm a regular reader of that blog as well and I couldn't agree more. I think Cap metro is WASTING their money on this line. Since the 2000 light rail proposal didn't pass, CapMetro would have been better off pouring whatever money they still had into the bus system to make it more comprehensive, instead of forcing the "any rail is good rail" philosophy on the city. That way, when another opportunity for QUALITY light rail/commuter rail comes up, they could say "see how well we've been able to develop the city's public transportation"? I think the voting public as well as the Feds would feel more confident that the project was in good hands.
Instead I'm afraid that this new system will get grossly under-utilized which will simply strengthen the anti-PT argument, preventing Austin from ever getting anything worthwhile. I hope I'm wrong and that the new streetcar plan is further analyzed and implemented.
you can remain negative about it if you like, i just dont see a nice transport system(all have some shortcomings that some may not like) as a negative thing and it seems like they are providing something that wasnt there before. dont have to be a rider to know what the map and bus schedules at least provide.
dont make it personal plz
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Especially for mundane tasks like going to work everyday. Most people are trying to juggle too many activities to properly pay attention. And like you said, the exercise is great. Ever notice how people in cities with good walking structure and PT aren't as fat?
