Travis County Commissioners Court
December 9, 2008
Item 15
15. Consider and take appropriate action on candidate projects for 2009 build central Texas program from capital metropolitan transportation authority
>> good morning once again. These are funds that come from capital metro. They are the project criteria that you see in your backup. Mainly they are transit related. And we have proposed a number of sidewalk improvements that -- to improve the accessibility of the transit system by improving sidewalks to the transit stops. Mainly along wells branch parkway and thermal which is in the same vicinity of the wells branch area, fairly heavily populated area. Sidewalks need to be done and it is in the unincorporated area within the service area of capital metro. These type of projects are eligible and we think that capital metro will have no problem approving these projects. Unless there's further comments or questions, t.n.r. Would recommend the adoption of these to submit to capital metro.
>> these are -- these projects will be funded by capital metro dollars if approved.
>> that's correct.
>> by capital metro.
>> that's correct.
>> they are all in the service area of capital metro.
>> and, judge,
>> [indiscernible] the question that I have is do you think that the peer review that campo is going to address this issue at some point? It keeps coming up, you know, and -- and as we get into rail, that money is all going to be necessary to fall back so we can address that. When is campo thinking of making a recommendation.
>> real soon. That addresses capital metro's revenue, but I don't think it specifically addresses projects that are --
>> expenditure.
>> expenditure.
>> right. Because I know in the peer review report it was addressed at 150 million? Spent on projects. That are other than rail. Which are very close to the capital metro mission.
>> although I don't anticipate that campo will be making any kind of recommendation in terms of that. I think that campo's intention is to leave it with the capital metro board to grapple with.
>> all I ask is don't punish us folk partners with the rest of the players in the service area, you know, to say well you are spending money that you could have on rail, but sense you're not doing that, so I would like to work with you all on that.
>> in terms of this particular b gap I mean the funding that -- that the way we have utilized it in the past, we have made considerable investment in improving the sidewalks and -- in that part of the county, this augments those efforts. It is just a tremendous help for -- for particularly the transit dependents because you can't get a wheelchair down --
>> well, that's a point no matter the rail system needs a supporting system. Just like the highway was collector streets that feed it. The rail system is going to need not only transit routes but pedestrian routes to get to the station. I think this type of spending would be compatible.
>> we have always been partners, we are glad to be partners. I don't want it to be held against us as not spending all of the money that we have coming in on the mission.
>> I have no -- I haven't heard anything in terms of the b gap program whether this would be looked askance. Particularly in light of the criteria laid out, the criteria is amazing. Projects must be capital in nature --
>> they have been in place for a long time
>> [multiple voices]
>> yeah, sure.
>> preference --
>> I'm aware.
>>
>> [multiple voices]
>> passenger safety.
>> absolutely.
>> it's an excellent list that makes that money -- it and the no slush fund is what I'm saying.
>> yeah.
>> goes directly towards -- because it just comes up from time to time anyway, it keeps coming up. I just want to have some kind of conversation with y'all about it. Okay.
>> if you are running short of revenue, at some point you have to prioritize it, as a community we need to get together on it. There is a need for better collaboration there. Move approval of number 15.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 3:10 PM