{"id":1050,"date":"2020-11-11T11:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T11:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/?p=1327378"},"modified":"2020-11-11T11:00:27","modified_gmt":"2020-11-11T11:00:27","slug":"texas-voters-green-light-7-1b-plan-to-overhaul-austins-public-transport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=1050","title":{"rendered":"Texas voters green light $7.1B plan to overhaul Austin\u2019s public transport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article<\/a> was originally published by Christopher Carey on <\/span>Cities Today<\/span><\/a>, the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders. For the latest updates follow Cities Today on <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>LinkedIn<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>YouTube<\/span><\/a>, or sign up for Cities Today News.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Austin residents have voted in favor of the city\u2019s US$7.1 billion <\/span>Project Connect<\/a> <\/span>plan that includes a new rail service, a new and expanded bus service, an all-electric bus fleet, and park and ride facilities.<\/p>\n

Voters passed Proposition A on Tuesday, agreeing to use property tax revenue to fund the project, while federal funding will cover approximately 45 percent of the project\u2019s capital costs.<\/p>\n

The move is set to transform mobility in Texas\u2019 state capital, after previous attempts to introduce light-rail services in 2000 and 2014 were rejected by voters.<\/p>\n

Spencer Cronk, Austin City Manager, said: \u201cWith the passage of Proposition A, voters have given the green light to a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionize our transportation infrastructure and provide people in our community with a safe, reliable way to get around.<\/p>\n

\u201cProject Connect\u202fwill be\u202fbetter\u202ffor\u202four\u202fresidents\u2019\u202fhealth, the environment, our safety, and our economic prosperity. Now, in partnership\u202fwith the community, we are ready to begin the hard work to\u202fmake\u202fthis\u202fvision a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new light-rail system will cover 27 miles and 31 stations, and will travel underground in the city\u2019s downtown area. There will be four new BRT lines introduced to the city\u2019s transit network, too \u2013 though one of these may eventually be converted to a light-rail service.<\/p>\n

Residents also passed Proposition B, a US$460 million investment in \u202fother transport projects including improving sidewalks, bikeways, urban trails, and safety projects within the <\/span>Austin Strategic Mobility Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the vote, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said: \u201cI\u2019m proud to live in a city that is looking to its future \u2013 one not satisfied with the status quo. Austin is pushing to be more sustainable, equitable and affordable in new and innovative ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Portland rejects transport plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Elsewhere in the US, Portland voters <\/span>rejected a US$4 billion transport plan<\/a> <\/span>which would have seen an expansion of the MAX light rail train system in the metropolitan area, and an additional US$1 billion towards regional programs including the creation of safer routes to schools, free youth transit passes and replacing diesel buses with low-carbon or electric ones.<\/p>\n

Portland Metro<\/a> was also expected to leverage more than US$2 billion in federal or state funding, making the plan worth roughly US$7 billion in total.<\/p>\n

Lynn Peterson ,Metro Council President, said: \u201cThough disappointed, we are still committed to the vision and to the community who helped identify and build the vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not giving up on it, we need to move forward as a region. Safe, reliable transportation remains a regional challenge that we must address together \u2014 doing nothing is not an option.\u201d<\/p>\n

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SHIFT is brought to you by Polestar. It\u2019s time to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. That is why Polestar combines electric driving with cutting-edge design and thrilling performance. <\/i>Find out how<\/i><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Published November 11, 2020 \u2014 11:00 UTC <\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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