Category Archives: Transportation

Bus City Blues

Posted on January 27, 2015 by JGA

CapMetro bus ridership has remained stagnant for over 15 years even as Austin experienced substantial population growth and bus spending significantly increased. Land use reform by the City and a service strategy shift at CapMetro can end the ridership stagnation era.

Posted in Transit, Transportation | Comments Off on Bus City Blues

Prop 1 in 1 minute

Posted on November 4, 2014 by JGA

This FAQ provides a pro-transit, anti-Proposition 1 perspective. Here’s the extended version of this FAQ.

Posted in Transit, Transportation | Comments Off on Prop 1 in 1 minute

Pro-Transit, Anti-Proposition 1

Posted on September 29, 2014 by JGA

Why would a pragmatic progressive that wants to move Austin away from car-dependence oppose an investment in light rail? In brief, because the details of this proposal mean more sprawl and lower transit system ridership. Here is the pro-transit, anti-Proposition … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on Pro-Transit, Anti-Proposition 1

Rail Risks

Posted on September 25, 2014 by JGA

Proposition 1 rail has much higher operating costs than bus-based alternatives, yet it will achieve essentially the same ridership as bus service. This is due to the selection of a route with ridership potential too low to take advantage of … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on Rail Risks

Let’s Go do rail like Houston!

Posted on September 9, 2014 by JGA

Advocates for this November’s “road and rail” Proposition 1 would like the electorate to believe the proposed light rail segment will achieve success similar to Houston’s stellar Red Line. Here are the top 3 reasons why they are wrong and … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on Let’s Go do rail like Houston!

Better Billion

Posted on July 28, 2014 by JGA

November’s urban rail and road package aims to “do something” as Austin clamors for transportation solutions. Sadly, as blog readers know, the proposal will not be effective at reducing congestion or promoting car-independence. It will, however, exhaust our reserves of … Continue reading →

Posted in Development, Transportation, Water | Comments Off on Better Billion

A day late and a few thousand riders short

Posted on June 18, 2014 by JGA

Earlier today, Project Connect released a methodology memo (PDF version) providing an overview of their approach to estimating ridership.  The memo raises three major concerns, which I describe below.

Posted in Transit, Transportation | 11 Comments

Trophy, Hammer, Lottery, Transit

Posted on June 15, 2014 by JGA

The proposed urban rail route’s operational costs are too high. This will undermine the overall transit system by slowing down frequency increases for productive bus routes; it could potentially also lead to outright future cuts to system coverage. The likelihood … Continue reading →

Posted in Transit, Transportation | 26 Comments

Time for plan B(RT)

Posted on June 4, 2014 by JGA

The initial ridership and cost estimates are in for the proposed Grove-Highland Rail (GHR) route. And they are thoroughly disappointing. Simply put, GHR will consume an enormous amount of our transit borrowing capacity without providing mobility at a meaningfully lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | 6 Comments

Peak Misinformation

Posted on June 4, 2014 by JGA

Project Connect’s staff and consultants recommended against using Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in large part because of its inability to meet peak time needs as the Austin of 2030 and beyond keeps growing. However, upon closer inspection, BRT seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | 3 Comments