Travis County Commissioners Court
November 2, 2004
Citizens Communication
Citizens communications is next and one citizen has signed in and that is
mr. Jimmy castro.
>> good morning, judge Biscoe and Commissioners. My name
is jimmy castro. I’m here to speak on my own behalf. I’m also with the capital
metro advisory committee. Have I some slides to show you this morning. This
first slide shows I’m here to remind everyone to take the time to vote in
today's November 2nd election. Organizations endorsing the commuter rail proposal
include the Austin downtown alliance, the greater Austin chamber of commerce,
and the league of women voters. The all systems go is a 2-year, long-range
transit plan by capital metro. The proposed rail service will not require
any new taxes or any future bonding authority and will utilize capital metro's
existing freight rail lines. Circulation will include highland mall, especially
for shopping. And the j.j. Pickle research campus. Capital metro is working
with local area biking organizations for hike and bike trails. Rapid bus service
will include [inaudible] shuttle buses at train stations. Increased express
and local bus service to area restaurants. Increased downtown local bus service
especially to the area hotels. Capital metro also offers special transit services
for the disabled. The dillo routes include the warehouse district. Capital
metro also divides 22 u.t. Shuttle routes -- provides. Future proposed rail
service could include the university of Texas medical school at Austin. The
dell children's medical center of central Texas. Finally, let's do the right
thing by passing the commuter rail starter line proposition for Austin's future.
So Austin can maintain its status as the most livable city in america. Thank
you judge and Commissioners.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Castro.
>> mr. Castro, could I ask you a question?
>> yes, sir.
>> maybe a couple of questions. What is the proposed ridership
in the first -- in the first year of this rail line? Do you know what that
is?
>> no, sir, I don't exactly.
>> I mean if I told you that it was 2,000 boardings, and
that's 1,000 people, and there are 433,000 people that commute in this community
and that's less than one-half of one percent, are you saying that's what you
think this community ought to spend $60 million on?
>> well, when you take a look at the $60 million and you
take a look at one lane of one mile of highway, this is going to be a pretty
good investment. But when you take a look at it, it's not only just $60 million
for chuter rail line. At the very beginning if you noticed it's a 25-year
long-range transit plan not only including commuter rail but the transit system.
Rapid bus system and also circulating buses at the train stations. You may
be ride about the ridership at the very beginning, but when I compared to
the dart system in dallas area, they started off very small on their starter
line. As soon as they got that starter line in dallas running, then they've
expanded and the rider ridership has increased.
>> mr. Castro, I think you ought to look at your numbers
in dallas and I think you would find that's not the case. What they've increased
ridership is they have increased building lines farther and farther. The initial
39,000 boardings that they have, they have not increased their ridership.
I mean if you look at this project and you look at 21 years out, you know
what that figure that capital metro says? Well, mr. Castro, you ought to know
some of these numbers before you come and tell us and tell this community
that we ought to be supporting this. Because that's 17,000 boardings in 21
years from now. 17,000 boardings is 8500 people. It will be less than one-half
of one percent. A so I mean I take exception to your recommendation. I realize
that you have the prerogative to come down and do that and I appreciate the
time you always take, but unfortunately there are a few more statistics that
need to go out on the airways other than what you just said. Thank you.
>> isn't america wonderful? Everybody is entitled to their
own opinion.
>> speaking of a wonderful america, last Friday we did have
our combined charities festival. That was an outstanding turnout. We had in
addition to real good food and drinks, we had a haunted house and the old
historic courthouse put on by the sheriff's office, and that was very outstanding.
We had the honor guard from the sheriff's office to do the presentation of
the flag during the opening ceremony. We had a kimberly ortz, who works in
the sheriff's office and an outstanding singer also. All of the departments
that participated in did an outstanding job. I spent all the cash that I had
on me and borrowed, I think, three dollars that i'll pay back next payday.
But the money is still rolling in and I just want to thank county employees
for such an outstanding effort. And this is a reminder that the deadline for
pledges and contributions I November 15th. And let me apologize up front because
chances are you will receive a whole lot of communications from yours truly
and the co-chair people, chair persons of the charities effort this year between
now and November 15th. We have a goal of just $150,000. We're well on the
way there. Next week we'll try to give a monetary update. But encouragement
to keep on keeping on and a remained minder that November 15th deadline is
just a little less than two weeks from today. And so this effort helps nonprofits
help needy residents in our community and so is an outstanding purpose. Anybody
else for citizens communication? That's to draws the court on any -- address
the court on any matter not on the agenda. Okay.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:21 PM