BIKE: Moving back to Austin area

[Eric Anderson]

Dennis:

Welcome back to Austin. First, a plug for the new Round Rock Cycling
Association (RRCA). Below, a few pointers regarding new urbanism and
emerging TOD(s) in Williamson County.

You may find some answers to your questions from RRCA members. They are
already working on advocacy and education, have their own list-serve, host
some rides and social events. RRCA is a -chapter- of ACA, and seems to be
part of an emerging strategy toward a metropolitan coalition? of local
bike groups. Some folks are watching this closely, suggesting perhaps a
NACA, SWACA, SACA, and CACA!.

FFI on RRCA, contact:
Amy Gelfand <agelfand>

Regarding New Urbanism emerging in Round Rock and Williamson County, I
have but these insights gained through my involvement with the commuter
rail proposition:

1) Leander is rapidly laying the groundwork for a 2000+ acre Transit
Oriented Development (TOD) defined by a new urbanist framework; Contact
City of Leander, or do search for Scott Polikov, Gateway Planning
2) (eventually) Round Rock may be served by commuter rail on both Mokan
(MKT) corridor and UP line
3) Cap Metro has embraced Rails-with-Trails (RwT) concept and will (upon
affirmative Nov. 2 vote) commence master-plan for implementation of RwT
along 32 mile Leander-Austin commuter rail line
4) Nov. 2 legal ballot language calls for RwT: "includes hike and bike
trails along some existing rail rights of way"
5) Cap Metro's long range transit vision suggests RwT along not only
Austin-Leander line, but along all future commuter rail corridors,
reaching Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, Round
Rock, Pflugerville, Manor, Elgin and ABIA
6) In the short term, other Austin TODs will include Saltillo,
Featherlite, and Mueller; longer term prospects include infill at Highland
Mall, Huntsman, Pickle/IBM/Domain, and a far-reaching project at City of
Austin ETJ annexed Robinson Ranch (UP/Cap Metro rail connection near
Howard Lane)

Finally, the City of Austin is developing a TOD ordinance, with tools
similar to the West Campus overlay, encouraging mixed-use, affordability,
density, walkable and bike-able projects.

The speed with which Austin and Leander (are finally) moving in regards to
Transit Oriented development (and new-urbanism?), may suggest a latent
demand, soon to be followed perhaps by Round Rock, Pflugerville and
Manor???, perhaps accelerating the provision of rail transit to these
communities.

Vote YES on rail; early voting begins next week,

Eric Anderson <bikeeric>
(512) 476-7304

--- Dennis Abbott <bicycleadventure> wrote:

> Well after being battered by George Bush's economy for the last 2
> years I am most likely headed back to the Austin area to re-enlist
> with Dell Computers in November.  In fact I fly in to interview on
> Saturday.  I used to frequent this list way back.  I was laid off from
> AMD in 2002 and have lived in both Fort Lauderdale, FL and Green Bay,
> WI since then.  I have learned an immense amount about commuting by
> bicycle and communities in general.  I'll save the detail of bike
> commuting in Florida and Wisconsin for a later email.
> 
> What I want to know is if anybody has an opinion(what this group?)
> about where to live with respect to the Dell campus in Round Rock.  I
> noticed that CapMetro no longer visits one of the largest employers in
> the metro area so I'll be exclusively on bicycle.  I'm gravitating
> towards Round Rock east of I-35.  What I don't don't want is a replay
> of the suburbs that I was confined to in Wells Branch 2 years ago.  I
> have a wife and 2 kids in elementary school and if I can get close
> enough to an elementary school she will walk the kids like she does
> here in Wisconsin.  Have any sections of Round Rock come to light in
> the style of the New Urbanists?  I'm sticking to my single car(wife's)
> no matter what.  If I have to bike 10 or 15 miles I can handle that. 
> I just want to be somewhat close to work and close to schools and
> services such as groceries.  Downtown RR is the obvious choice but if
> anyone knows of something else please let me know.  And no I don't
> consider Pflugerville a town, hell Round Rock is barely cutting it. 
> I'm going to rent at first until the housing market crashes on the
> back of America's debt problem and then pick up a house in a year or
> two.
> 
> Oh, and why would I want to leave a nice place like Wisconsin?  I work
> in IT for a very large trucking company and we are getting blown away
> by high diesel prices, I was hoping I had a few years to wait out
> things here as it is a very nice company.  Did not pan out that way.  
> Its bicycle heaven here, gonna miss it.
> 
> -- 
> Dennis Abbott
> 902 Estes Dr
> De Pere, WI 54115
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list
> 



=====
Eric Anderson <bikeeric>
(512) 476-7304


		
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