BIKE: Cap Met's Vehicle Choice is No Choice, Yet

[Phil Hallmark]

Mike,

I think the most compelling part of your argument is the shuttle bus 
component. And I have been nodding in agreement with it. But, I'm not 
sure it is totally accurate to claim that every single rider must 
transfer to a shuttle. How many high-rise offices are within a 5-block 
radius of the stop downtown? Aren't there quite a few? Yes, the Capitol 
and UT people will need to use shuttles. That could be a disaster as you 
predict. But there are possibly thousands of people who could walk from 
the stop to their office. TOD may not happen out in Leander, but it sure 
might downtown. If you were going to build a high-rise office and there 
was a commuter rail stop down there, where would you build it? I would 
build it as close to the stop as possible.

Even an in-street light rail system requires some amount of walking for 
the vast majority of riders. I think a 5-block walk would be perfectly 
acceptable to most people. If not, then they would not ride light rail 
either, especially if the light rail ride would take longer than 
commuter rail due to more stops along the way.

I voted early today since I'll be in Florida during the election. And I 
held my nose and voted "for". Steak dinner for you in 2015 if your 
predictions come true and this kills transit hopes for Austin.

Anyone want to join me in Florida to do some foot-soldier work? Just a 
few days is all they need. It will at least be good for some stories to 
the grandkids some day....
http://www.floridagotv.com

Regards,
Phil Hallmark



>From Mike D:

3. Those lucky few being delivered rail service are precisely the people 
who have been the LEAST WILLING to ride buses, and yet in order to use 
this rail line, they're going to have to ride a bus every single day.