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.
Showing posts with label CMAQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMAQ. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
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?
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?
Friday, October 4, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, September 30, 2013
TxDOT Assault on Popular Bike Share Program Just Won't End
Back room politics is the modus operandi when it comes to TxDOT - especially if they feel that they may not get their way.
Dr. No and Courtney Niland put an item (Item 11A1) on tomorrow's agenda which would, if passed, scuttle Bike Share in favor of a TxDOT proposal for the money. However, elpasonaturally has learned that Niland will ask for a two week postponement of the item. In the meantime, Mayor Leeser will ask the Transportation Policy Board of the MPO this coming Friday for an up or down vote on Bike Share. (They have already approved it.)
It is obvious that TxDOT does not want to spend the CMAQ money for a bike share program. Some believe that, without TxDOT's cooperation, El Paso will simply lose out on federal money. When it comes to TxDOT, resistance seems futile. Elpasonaturally has also learned that City Council Representative Courtney Niland has said that nobody can go up against TxDOT. "They are the most powerful agency in Texas," she is quoted to have said. Never mind representative democracy where the people elect their policy makers. In the case of TxDOT, elpasonaturally believes that there is one Dictator - Ted Houghton. He has cronies and he hobnobs with others who care not one bit about democracy. (An agency that is so powerful that the people and/or their representatives cannot go up against it should be abolished.)
The big question is why does TxDOT want to scuttle bike share in favor of giving federal money back to the federal government by way of a program that would employ more Border Patrol people in order to speed up bridge times? Who is behind this attempt to divert (steal) funds from one federal program to another?
To begin be sure to read Cindy Ramirez's excellent story in the Times this morning about this latest assault on Bike Share as well as the fact sheet from VeloPaso below that well explains the situation and the debate:
It is obvious that TxDOT does not want to spend the CMAQ money for a bike share program. Some believe that, without TxDOT's cooperation, El Paso will simply lose out on federal money. When it comes to TxDOT, resistance seems futile. Elpasonaturally has also learned that City Council Representative Courtney Niland has said that nobody can go up against TxDOT. "They are the most powerful agency in Texas," she is quoted to have said. Never mind representative democracy where the people elect their policy makers. In the case of TxDOT, elpasonaturally believes that there is one Dictator - Ted Houghton. He has cronies and he hobnobs with others who care not one bit about democracy. (An agency that is so powerful that the people and/or their representatives cannot go up against it should be abolished.)
The big question is why does TxDOT want to scuttle bike share in favor of giving federal money back to the federal government by way of a program that would employ more Border Patrol people in order to speed up bridge times? Who is behind this attempt to divert (steal) funds from one federal program to another?
To begin be sure to read Cindy Ramirez's excellent story in the Times this morning about this latest assault on Bike Share as well as the fact sheet from VeloPaso below that well explains the situation and the debate:
TxDOT wants the money transferred to a program (the P3 Pilot Program) to reduce border crossing wait times. They argue that the bike share program does not meet their emissions reduction threshold. However, TxDOT cannot impose such a threshold. Talk about a cooked up deal. What is TxDOT's interest?
The P3 Pilot Program which funds the Border Patrol has not been nominated and may not even be eligible for CMAQ funds because the Feds do not fund salaries beyond that of statewide bicycle coordinators. An FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) official said that they would have to make an extraordinary case for CMAQ to apply.
Prior to the last MPO meeting, the P3 Program had not been discussed publicly. However Open Records Requests show that it was discussed at a breakfast meeting behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny (how Houghton and his cronies like it). In an August 12, 2013 email from Bob Bielek to a number of officials, he writes: "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."
By the way, if the goal is to reduce border crossing wait times, then I suggest that there is a means of doing so rather than throwing more federal money at it: transfer half of the border patrol personnel who are currently marching up and down the bridges with sniffing dogs to gate posts so more car lanes can be opened up. I'm a conservative guy who hates to see government waste. I'm also a conservative guy who believes that we the people make decisions and not little dictators and their cronies behind closed doors. The CMAQ money belongs to Bike Share and nothing else. TxDOT should either release the money or be compelled to release the money. If they do not, they should be dismissed and jail time ought to be a consideration.
The P3 Pilot Program which funds the Border Patrol has not been nominated and may not even be eligible for CMAQ funds because the Feds do not fund salaries beyond that of statewide bicycle coordinators. An FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) official said that they would have to make an extraordinary case for CMAQ to apply.
Prior to the last MPO meeting, the P3 Program had not been discussed publicly. However Open Records Requests show that it was discussed at a breakfast meeting behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny (how Houghton and his cronies like it). In an August 12, 2013 email from Bob Bielek to a number of officials, he writes: "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."
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, August 16, 2013
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