BIKE: transit update

[Mike Dahmus]

Since there's no point in arguing with our resident super-geniuses, 
here's something possibly more productive:

Patrick and I and two other members of the UTC went to a briefing 
yesterday. Cap Metro's long-range transit plan is changing, and it's 
replacing light rail with "rapid bus" in-town. They are not planning on 
any prioritization other than the "hold the green light for me a couple 
of seconds". They're sticking two buses together (articulated), but no 
bus lane or other such dedicated or even partially-dedicated 
right-of-way which would get the bus ahead of the car gridlock.

So, in other words, the urban core will be getting slight improvements 
to the #101 route, while the people in far northwest suburbs, many of 
whom chose not to pay taxes to Cap Metro, will be able to drive to a 
park-n-ride and take a commuter train into "downtown", although there's 
no promise they'll get any closer than 4th and I-35.

Anybody who cares about providing reliability and performance 
improvements to the urban core needs to watch this and get ready to make 
your voice heard.

- MD