BIKE: Questionable Voting Practices

[David Dobbs]

At 22:00 -0600 11/2/04, Fred Meredith wrote:
>Anyway, it meant I could vote a straight ticket and get the hell out of there.

That's humorous and just how I felt when I voted absentee, but, of 
course, I did have the commuter rail on my ballot.

 From what I can determine, you are talking about the 252 bus that 
connects Odom Elementary, Bedichek JHS, Williams Elementary, and 
Akins High School.  I have tried to locate an accurate and clear city 
map showing city limits, but have been unsuccessful.  The one map I 
did find on the City of Austin site seems to indicate that the city 
limits extend along first street to FM 1625 and that would put Akins 
inside the COA and Cap Met service area.  The fact that bus service 
goes to Akins would seem to confirm this.

The 252 bus was necessary because the high school originally opened 
with only a freshman class (or perhaps it was a freshman and 
sophomore class) so none of the kids could drive and parents demanded 
that there be someway to meet the needs of pre-school and 
after-school activities.  My guess is that the city made sure Akins 
was included in the city limits for this reason, probably with a 
strip annexation down the new South First Street sometime around 2000.

Akin's, incidentally, is in precinct 411.

You are right.  The reason that San Leanna is in Capital Metro is 
because they voted to be a part of the authority as a city.  Since 
there is probably little cost to San Leanna from the Capital Metro 
sales tax (not much business in San Leanna) and there are probably 
people who need STS, the folks there see it to their advantage to be 
a part of the authority.

One last note:  In Texas, unincorporated county areas can be a part 
of a transit authority if, in an election held for that purpose, a 
majority of the voters in that precinct vote to do so.  When the 
original Capital Metro formation election was held in January 1985 
several central Texas cities, at least one precinct in Williamson 
County and all four Travis County precincts participated, but in 
Travis County only Precinct 2 voted to join the new transit authority.

Dave Dobbs
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Texas Association for Public Transportation
9702 Swansons Ranch Road
Austin, Texas 78748
Ph 512.282.1149

Visit our website at  http://www.lightrailnow.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At 22:00 -0600 11/2/04, Fred Meredith wrote:
>At 5:21 PM -0600 11/2/04, David Dobbs wrote:
>>Fred,
>>
>>Looking at the voting registration list, your residence is in 
>>Manchaca which is outside the taxing authority of Capital Metro. 
>>San Leanna near you is inside the Capital Metro jurisdiction, but 
>>other than Special Transit Services, I cannot determine that there 
>>is any other bus service.  The agent at the Capital Metro help line 
>>(474-1200) says that the closest service to your residence is the 
>>intersection of Slaughter and Manchaca, but it may be that your 
>>voting precinct (310) covers part of the city and has service 
>>through it at another point that I am not aware of.
>
>Yes, most of what you say is true, but explain the bus service out 
>South First Street, past Slaughter nearly to FM1626 and well into 
>Pct. 310 and yet, not to San Leanna. So, why would San Leanna be 
>within the taxing authority and the rest of Pct. 310 not?  I guess 
>you have to be incorporated. or within the City Limits.
>
>Anyway, it meant I could vote a straight ticket and get the hell out of there.
>
>Fred
>--
>When in doubt ... ride your bike (or at least write about it).
>
>Fred Meredith
>P.O. Box 100 (12702 Lowden Ln for UPS/FedEx)
>Manchaca, TX 78652
>512/282-1987 (office/home)
>512/282-7413 (fax)
>512/636-7480 (wireless)
>More than you want to know at: http://2merediths.com

==================
Dave Dobbs
ddobbs
Austin, Texas
==================
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