A crisis in local leadership? (Austin, Paris: living, trains, cars)

[Roadking2003]

Our leaders just approved a plan to spend $35 billion on roads, busses and rail over the next 25 years. As a result, our traffic congestion will get MUCH WORSE. With average speeds on I-35 going from 40 MPH to 23 MPH and toll road speeds going from 77 MPH to 41 MPH.

Oh, and 13.5 billion of that spend will go to rail and busses. One way or another our leaders will waste billions on rail and ignore the needs of the people. This is what we get when politicians have billions of other people's money to spend with NO accountability.

Nice plan????? Is everyone happy????

[Tim_Barton]

Its a great plan at least there is a start. The more the better that comes for sure. So many opportunities here why would not anyone not want to come and reside in Austin. Great family living (burbs) and singles and young folks in / around Austin. I could not think of a better place to live! Awesome food, live music, beer pubs. breweries, SxSW, acl and wonderful lakes to think of on top of my head.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Nice plan????? Is everyone happy????

At least one elected official isn't happy:

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt was the sole abstention on the Plan vote (no nays), saying that she doesn't believe the plan as it stands is sufficiently forward-thinking on the need for more mass transit or even recognizing that existing road projects simply cannot accommodate projected regional growth, depending on "people driving in cars alone."

Notice the false dichotomy -- the choice is only between "more mass transit" or "people driving in cars alone".

Of course, she opposes the only plan to reduce "people driving in cars alone" from SW Austin. So one has to wonder what her REAL agenda is.

[ToddATX]

I don't know the specifics of the plan that was passed, but increases busses and (especially) rail is a GOOD thing and is the way to go. The infrastructure of this country is a flipping joke compared to other first-world nations, we need alot more high speed trains and rail options for mass public transit.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by scm53

At least one elected official isn't happy:



Notice the false dichotomy -- the choice is only between "more mass transit" or "people driving in cars alone".

Of course, she opposes the only plan to reduce "people driving in cars alone" from SW Austin. So one has to wonder what her REAL agenda is.

She fits with the decades of leaders we have had who refuse to give the people what they want. Rail has been proven over and over again to be a black hole that benefits very few people. The voters who have to pay for it have repeatedly vote it down. Meanwhile, millions of hours of our time is wasted every week because our leaders (???) refuse to fund roads.

The problem is nobody is held accountable for the RESULTS. What we have is a total failure of government.

[scm53]

After one actually lives in "other first-world nations", and uses those systems, you realize that any comparison to our way of life in Austin and theirs, is the "flipping joke".

It's like thinking you look good in a Speedo because you saw a guy in Italy wearing one.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

She fits with the decades of leaders we have had who refuse to give the people what they want.

Like her father, she knows better what you need than you do.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by ToddATX

I don't know the specifics of the plan that was passed, but increases busses and (especially) rail is a GOOD thing and is the way to go. The infrastructure of this country is a flipping joke compared to other first-world nations, we need alot more high speed trains and rail options for mass public transit.

Fine, as long as somebody else pays for it. Investment in new Rail is a total failure. It's silly to compare rail in NYC and London to rail in Austin.

Here is just one example;

Train in Vain?

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by scm53

After one actually lives in "other first-world nations", and uses those systems, you realize that any comparison to our way of life in Austin and theirs, is the "flipping joke".

It's like thinking you look good in a Speedo because you saw a guy in Italy wearing one.

Transportation in Austin and Paris have nothing in common and never will, nor should they. It's really funny when people try to apply solutions to one area the work in an entirely different environment. Of course, it's alway funded by "other people's money" so it's pretty easy to spend a few billion on a boondoggle.

[unihills]

I read about the Leander rail line being standing room only. That seems to belie the argument that mass transit doesn't appeal in Austin metro area. I think we are being short-sighted in not developing more of it to reduce people on the roadways. Other people's money? It's all our money.

To me a reasonable approach provides funds for both roads and mass transit. Why should it be an either/or choice?