Svarzbein Is Making My Days

Rep. Peter Svarzbein (Photo by Rudy Guttierez, El Paso Times)

Rep. Peter Svarzbein with Senator Rodriguez District Director, Sito Negron (Photo by Rudy Gutierrez, El Paso Times)

I didn't endorse Peter but he is beginning to surprise me in wonderful ways. I'm still concerned about a PAC that hasn't been closed and, of course, I wasn't happy about the vote on the downtown historical survey. I did think that Peter wasn't sure about all of the ramifications of that vote. He seemed to be following his heart when he should have just stuck to a campaign promise. I also think that he needs to be more judicious when it comes to promising someone a nomination and then giving it to someone else.

All water under the bridge.

In the endorsement post I stated that Peter isn't green. I was wrong. He is proving to be a real proponent of progressive, green initiatives. On the newly inaugurated bike share program, there was Peter. (Read the Herald-Post story online about the program. You will especially like their really cool map.)

Peter wants to do more for our trailheads which is about time. Peter told me that he sees trailheads as a way to make El Paso unique and to stand out. Improvements at trailheads don't need to be lavish. (Most of us don't want them to be.) Peter likes the idea of a bench, some parking spaces, a sign and a simple solar panel. [Note to Peter: think trees. Work with the West Texas Urban Forestry Council that supplied trees for the Lost Dog Trail.] His pick to the Open Space Advisory Board, Rick Bonart, was the principal architect of the Lost Dog Trail - a true representation of what our trailheads can and should be. I might add that the Lost Dog is the only trailhead with inviting amenities. No matter how much money was spent on the Palisades and how many charettes people have attended over the years, zilch, zero, nada has been done at the Palisades except for a sign and the City's refusal to travel up a perfectly adequate road to remove graffiti. 

Peter recognizes that open space preservation will encourage infill development. He argues that the construction of the trolley will encourage more attractive development along the route.

I was wrong. Peter is green. He recognizes the need for smarter development. 

Oh - and that bike share program - I sincerely hope that David K is wrong about his prediction. Scott White, the head of Velo El Paso and a strong proponent for more biking, bike lanes and public transportation, says that we should think the best of El Paso and not expect the worst. "We are the City with the lowest crime rate," he told me.

When I ran for District 2, I frequently expressed that what kept me inspired was the energy and creativity of the younger people who we need to keep and encourage. El Paso needs people such as Peter and Scott.

Now Leeser Is the Giant Pothole for El Paso Bicyclers

It's confusing why Mayor Leeser was so concerned about spending federal money on a new bike share program that he deleted an item discussing that new program from yesterday's City Council meeting. Read KVIA's report. 

One city staffer with the Sustainability department said that the "Mayor may have been confused about the deletion and then addition of the $100,000 for the feasibility study which was the only difference in the presentation from the last time he saw it (per direction from the City Manager). He wanted more information about why we are providing funding for the start-up operation and maintenance (O & M), though I’m a little confused because he saw the entire presentation yesterday.

"He believed that the larger system ($1.9 million) did not budget for any O & M, though the MPO had presented that proposal and had intended to cover a year of O & M costs. Seems the item was deleted from today’s agenda because he wanted more discussion on it before action was taken."

The question is why does the Mayor want more discussion? We've been over this issue now many times. Perhaps pitching a bike share program to a car dealer is just doomed to failure from the get go.

Here's Sustainability's presentation:

Bike Share Presentation 102913.pdf by jimhtolbert434

The smaller bike share program is on the agenda of this Friday's Transportation Policy Board meeting. However, it's unlikely to be discussed until the El Paso City Council decides what it will do.

More and more communities across the country are becoming bike friendly including Fort Worth with its bike share program.

Bicycling and Walking Make Sense

Our friends at TxDOT, City Planning, City Manager's office, City Council, the CPC, the Transportation Policy Board of the MPO, etc. should watch the videos below. In fact, all El Pasoans should see these. Together both will take just 31 minutes of your time. Watching them beats a sitcom re-run. The first came to me from Judy Ackerman via Fred Eiland. The second I learned about from the speaker himself in an email. He was a key speaker at a city planning workshop over a year ago.

The question is why are we so backwards when it comes to urban design including more opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists? There is so much to be gained as the videos will show.


Upon reviewing some documents relevant to TxDOT's refusal to allow CMAQ funds to go where they were intended to go (an El Paso bike share program), one expert told me: "They [TxDOT] don't see bicycles as a form of transportation!  So for them the only way to reduce emissions is to enable/encourage more people to drive, then make them more efficient (which actually adds, not cuts emissions).

Speck speaks to the question of walkability/lifestyle versus more efficient gadgets:

City Council Unanimously Supports Bike Share

Bike share was back on the City Council's agenda today:

16B.      1.   Discussion and action on requesting a letter of support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization to transfer CMAQ funds from the proposed bike share to the P3 Program on the bridge as the bridge proposal will provide a more significant impact on air quality than the proposed bike share.
[Representative Michiel R. Noe, (915) 541-4701]
[Representative Cortney Niland, (915) 541-4123]
[POSTPONED FROM 10-01-2013]

2.   Discussion and action on developing a bike share program.
[Representative Michiel R. Noe, (915) 541-4701]
[Representative Cortney Niland, (915) 541-4123]

[POSTPONED FROM 10-01-2013]

Apparently something occurred between now and past meetings at the MPO and with the City Council to lead to a deletion of 16B at today's meeting. It is becoming clear that taking CMAQ money for the P3 Program on the bridge is a No-No. Instead, a motion was unanimously passed to fund a bike share program with whatever funds available.

There is a planned meeting in Austin among the Federal Highway Administration, the MPO and TxDOT regarding CMAQ funds that have been designated for El Paso's bike share being used instead for the P3 Program. One can only hope that TxDOT will finally be persuaded to do the right thing especially as they see public support gaining traction among elected representatives and legal experts.

Stealing the CMAQ Funds Is Just Like...

Here's one more thought about Bike Share and the attempt by the powers to be to steal the CMAQ money for the border crossing project:

Diverting bike share funds to the bridges is like diverting the $10 million federal grant for the Northpark/Northgate redevelopment project to fund the downtown ball park's $10 million cost overrun. 

Wouldn't you agree Joyce, Ted and Bob?

The Fix Is In

I'm tired of this endless saga of bike share and TxDOT. Today's Transportation Policy Board of the MPO convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the fix is in and has been in for some time. Here's how it is going to go down and why.

In answering a question from Courtney Niland, TxDOT's Bob Bielek once again repeated in many more words than necessary the bottom line: TxDOT sees no benefit cost to spending CMAQ money for a bike share program. Mayor Leeser then stated it best: "In other words, the answer is 'no'." It doesn't take a B.S. (and I don't necessarily mean an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree) to figure this one out.

The motion from Joyce Wilson basically stated that we will wait one more month to be told the same thing again so that we can use the money for the Border Patrol bridge project. Bielek made clear that CMAQ money could not go for personnel but for structure. You watch and see how the money taken and spent on personnel will be justified as structure in some way. Wilson and others repeated two new themes (new to the public not to themselves). The first was that, if we can't do this big bike share program, we will do a smaller program and then fund it more as more money comes available (or not).  The other theme: let's all make sure that this current fussing over money doesn't damage our relationship with a great agency - viz., TxDOT. They're worried about ruffled feathers!? I don't think so. They (the City Manager's office) wants to make sure that this appearance of a disagreement is sustained but that anyone who really, truly believed it will now be ready to make nice and move on.

The mantra from city of El Paso officials was this: Just tell us if TxDOT will release those funds or not. How many times and how many ways can Bielek say publicly that the will of the people of El Paso and their elected representatives means nothing to the most powerful agency in the State of Texas especially when they are most probably in cahoots with the top people in El Paso city government (who were probably driving this from the beginning) and there is a stupid belief that throwing away the CMAQ money will really help improve bridge times - until the money runs out and there is new federal bloat to pay for in perpetuity never mind that the the better answer is to re-prioritize the personnel that the Border Patrol already has.

Here's how the deal went and how it will go down. I already related to you an August 12th email gathered from an open records request in which Bielek says: "Why are we complicating this? The discussion prior to the MPO meeting with the Mayor [Leeser of El Paso], Representative Pickett and Mike Medina (Director of EPMPO) was based on deprogramming the bike share program so that those funds could be used in the pilot program to decrease congestion at the bridges. The city would look for funds elsewhere."

Elpasonaturally has learned that Wilson was already looking for money for the bridge project and  was hoping for some money from the MPO for her "smaller program" (throw the bike riders a spoonful of refried beans). All of this back and forth has gone on first because we do have representatives like Senator Rodriguez and Naomi Gonzalez and Joe Moody who have principles; and, second, process window dressing to convince us that everything that could be done was done: We talked to everyone. TxDOT won't release the funds. We've got to get along. Let's put the money for the bridge and give a token nod to bike share. 

Somebody please tell me why the City is fixing a federal government problem and, for that matter, not even fixing it - or, what they propose won't really fix it. 

I hope that those who see a future better than Big Oil, automobiles, consumer economies will really start pointing out that those currently in power are playing games and doing it behind closed doors - all of the public process is just for show. I also hope that our representatives will continue to stand up against this current city sham. After all, it really would just be easy to release the CMAQ funds intended for a bike share program in El Paso to go to a bike share program in El Paso. This would be a lot easier than months of putting on a show.

MPO Unanimously Rejects TxDOT Proposal

Pay attention everyone.

If you or your organization have ever been told "No" by TxDOT...

If your community and all your stakeholders have ever supported one thing and TxDOT has rejected your proposal...

If you have ever been part of a public meeting to give TxDOT input and then heard them tell you how things really are going to be...

Pay attention. 

This story is all about local control versus a very powerful agency which does not have to answer to you the people.  That agency, of course, is TxDOT which is only answerable to the Texas Transportation Commission which is only answerable to Gov. Rick Perry. (More on this relationship in an upcoming post. For now, just look at the recent contributions of Texas Transportation Commission Chairman, Ted Houghton, to Rick Perry.)

At last Friday's meeting of the Transportation Policy Board for the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), TxDOT asked that the El Paso Bike Share program be deprogrammed and that federal money (Congestion Mitigation Air Quality - CMAQ - funds) be used differently.) See Items 7 and 8 on the agenda. Never mind that CMAQ funds had been given for the express purpose of the El Paso Bike Share program. Never mind the fact that the City of El Paso, the County of El Paso and UTEP had already pledged to the program. Never mind the fact that all of El Paso's elected representatives in State and Federal government stand for the Bike Share Program. Never mind any of this. One very powerful state agency with no accountability to the people and with no regard to the will of the people, will do whatever they want and take money for whatever project they deem to be worthwhile.

So, here's what happened at the Transportation Policy Board for the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization last Friday. Each and every member of that Board voted against the proposal to deprogram bike share (only El Paso TxDOT engineer, Bob Bielek, voted in favor). That was Item number 7. The Board deleted Item number 8 - where TxDOT wanted to take money they would steal from bike share. The message was loud and clear: We the People having local control of our government, vote to accept CMAQ funds for bike share and, dearest TxDOT, you had better deliver.

Senator Rodriguez: "Local decision making IS the issue. The Federal Highway Administration has approved funds. We, the local community, decide - not a state agency."

Mayor Leeser: "City Council and the community support bike share."

Representatives Marquez, Gonzalez and Moody were adamant for bike share and against the usurpation by TxDOT.

Can TxDOT still torpedo bike share? You bet they can. They can refuse to spend the money that way (the Federal Highway Administration gives that right to the state agency). They can refuse no matter what the local community wants. 

But they may have a harder time this time. They have no support among elected representatives from El Paso. Word on the streets is that the Federal Highway Administration is now investigating them. I suggest to Senator Rodriguez and all of our elected state representatives that they visit with their fellow legislators in Austin and find out how many stories like this one there are throughout the State regarding TxDOT's disregard of local government and community decision-making.

I suggest to many in El Paso that they pay attention. I know many of them know stories about TxDOT's total disregard of stakeholder and public opinion.

Hey TxDOT Teddy - this is just the first post in a series. Much more to come.

Action Alert: Stop TxDOT from Deprogramming Bike Share in El Paso

TxDOT is now trying to deprogram bike share in El Paso - in effect stealing the federal money designated for the program. Below in red is the opening of a call to action to the public by Velo Paso. READ THE FULL ALERT WHICH HAS A LIST OF OFFICIALS TO CONTACT. 

Bike Texas has the same alert.

DON’T LET TXDOT DEPROGRAM BIKE SHARE
Save our Bike Share!(updated September 8)
Earlier this year, El Paso celebrated the fact that we would be getting a bike share program.  That celebration was short lived, as TxDOT refused to sign the contract with the Regional Mobility Authority to provide the approved funding, claiming they didn’t think the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds were appropriate for such a program.  Velo Paso asked you to contact TxDOT to tell them to ‘free the funds.’  Now we need your help again!

TxDOT has asked the Metropolitan Planning Organization to deprogram the Bike Share Program!

Please contact the members of the Transportation Policy Board of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and tell them to save bike share and vote against TxDOT’s request to deprogram the bike share program.

Then join us at the next Transportation Policy Board meeting to speak out against this attack on bike share!

TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD for the EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Friday, September 13, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. [Agenda]
El Paso MPO Office, 10767 Gateway Blvd. West, Suite 605, El Paso, Texas 79935 [Map]

In a September 10, 2013 open letter to the El Paso Metropolitan Planning OrganizationTransportation Policy Board, Velo Paso presented the case against TxDOT. In short, TxDOT is denying federal funds that were targeted for a bike share program. TxDOT's actions are arbitrary and dictatorial. Here's the Velo Paso letter:

Letter to TPB 091013 by jimhtolbert434

Here is the supporting material from the United States Department of Transportation:

Letter From USDOT to TxDOT 061213 by jimhtolbert434

Ironically, TxDOT's foolishness comes at a time that a NYC study shows that bike lanes have sped up not slowed down traffic. (Read the NY Times story too. Also the Grist summary.)

Besides the importance of creating bike infrastructure in El Paso, two other issues with this whole matter are TxDOT's acting beyond their authority and, in effect, stealing money from the federal government.

Why Bike Share for El Paso

Why Bike Share for El Paso

Click on icon in lower right hand corner to enlarge.

Bicycle Community Stresses Action Now

What we, Velo Paso: El Paso Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition, are telling people is . . . 

1. Read and respond to the El Paso Times article:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23860793/txdot-denies-funding-el-paso-bicycle-sharing-program

If you have Facebook, please respond to the El Paso Times article. Important points to make:

1. This isn't just about bikes, this is about the health of our community. I want my children to be able to bike safely to school and programs like Bike Share would put MORE riders on the road. 

2. The real question is why is TxDOT taking this away from our city after local agencies and elected officials already agreed to move forward on it? TxDOT is merely the fiduciary agent - the middle man. Bike share meets all qualifications for the funds. 

3. Fort Worth Bike Share was funded by TxDOT. What makes El Paso different from Fort Worth? 

Your own points. This is about solidarity and not ceding any money when it comes to bikes and pedestrian initiatives. This whole process is being obstructed by two individuals who simply don't believe bikes are a viable form of transportation. PROVE THEM WRONG RIGHT NOW. 

2. Write a letter to the editor:

SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: 

http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323

3. Email Rep. Pickett

Email Rep. Joe Pickett and tell him:

I live in El Paso and I want Bike Share. Don't treat El Paso differently from Fort Worth or any other city in Texas. Ask TxDOT to fund our Bike Share program.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=79&session=83 

4. Attend our Velo Paso Community Meeting, Saturday, 8/24 10am-12pm at the main branch of the El Paso Public Library, downtown. Food will be provided. 

5. Contact TxDOT and tell them El Paso wants a bike share pogram!

(512) 486-5003.  http://www.txdot.gov/contact-us/form.html?id=tpp-email

Take Action Now: Support Bike Share

The Velo PasoBicycle-Pedestrian Coalition attended the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority's (CRRMA) monthly meeting to support the city-wide Bike Share program after Bike Texas and the League of American Bicyclists sent out an urgent 24-hour action alert. 

The CRRMA announced that TxDOT would not be issuing the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding that it controlled.  Funding which the bike share program fully qualifies for. When asked why, it was reported that TxDOT did not believe this was an appropriate use for these funds.  
Raymond Telles, Executive Director of the CRRMA, said that without the $1.6 million from TxDOT, the funding available for the program was now down to just $400,000.  All interested stakeholders not only still support the Bike Share project, but Telles announced that Fort Bliss, the Army's second largest military installation in the country, has also expressed interest in joining the Bike Share program.

So, is Bike Share dead?  At this point, it isn't, but what will happen next is unclear. 

"No final decision has been made yet," said Veronica Beyer, a TxDOT spokeswoman. "TxDOT plans to coordinate conversations with transportation partners to garner more information on how we can dedicate those limited funds to important congestion-mitigation projects around the state."

Community members are disappointed that the funding is being withheld, especially after local agencies and elected officials conducted the required due diligence.  Now it seems that bike share has been thwarted by just one or two individuals who are hiding behind the facade of the state agency.

El Pasoans demand to know why TxDOT refuses to fund El Paso's Bike Share program when they funded Forth Worth's bike share with Transportation Enhancement money.

More importantly, community members want to know why TxDOT is telling local governments, regional agencies and the University of Texas what to do.

If you want to save bike share, tell Rep. Joe Pickett, former chair of the powerful transportation committee, and Ted Houghton, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, that you live in El Paso and see the valuable health, environmental and quality of life benefits bike share would bring to El Paso. Tell them that we deserve bike share just as much as Fort Worth, Austin, Houston or San Antonio.

Email Ted Houghton or call him at (512) 305-9509.

Email Joe Pickett, visit his district office at 1790 Lee Trevino #307, call him at (915) 590-4349 or fax (915) 590-4726.

Follow the local media coverage as this story continues to evolve.

EPTimes: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23860793/txdot-denies-funding-el-paso-bicycle-sharing-program

El Diario: http://diario.mx/El_Paso/2013-08-14_ff1795d4/retira-txdot-fondos-para-programa-que-fomenta-uso-de-bicicletas/

KVIA: http://www.kvia.com/news/rma-state-denies-bike-share-funding-state-no-decision-made/-/391068/21472060/-/rekturz/-/index.html

KTSM: http://www.ktsm.com/news/txdot-holds-16-million-back-el-pasos-bike-share-program

KINT Univision: http://www.kint.com/2013/08/14/buscan-iniciar-con-proyecto-de-trasporte-en-bicicleta/

KTDO Telemundo: http://www.holaciudad.com/suspenden-programa-bicicletas-compartidas-n343736