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

Danger Will Robinson: Stupid Proposal about PSB before City Council

Some tried before with the Blue Ribbon Council on the PSB's land management.  Here we go again!  From the budget meeting documents comes "Items Requiring Council Direction".  Item 4 reads: "PSB Structure - Review of cost/benefits and pros/cons of dissolving current structure and moving into organization as city department enterprise fund operation . . . "

Click to enlarge and see the stupidity for yourself.

Looks like a big fight coming up.  

I suggest reviewing this video now:

Lurking in District 8 and the City Manager's Office?

Critters above Alamogordo

What's in this picture taken above the hospital and just north of the Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo? Click image to enlarge.

 Look carefully. Click image to enlarge.

Barbary Sheep!

Picture taker, Michael Romero (El Paso Hiking Meet-up Group) said after a July 23, 2013 hike: "Great adventure this AM, this is the largest herd of Barbary Sheep that I have seen on the mountain. I believe that I counted 19 or 20. I watched them and they watched me for most of an half hour."

Learn more:

Wikipedia article

Arkive

Heritage Tourism: It's All Good

A very good thing happened yesterday.  Senator José Rodriguez' Heritage Tourism Advisory Committee gave a presentation to District 7 Representative Lily Limón.  Rep. Limón listened attentively and enthusiastically.  At the end of the meeting she summarized what was said and told the group her next steps including asking them to keep her informed.

El Paso City's Management Must Value Trees More

Italian Stone Pine in memory of Margaret H. Tolbert planted at Newman Park and donated by the office of Rep. Susie Byrd as part
of the Memorial Tree program of El Paso.

My friend, Marshall Carter-Tripp (the former Director of UTEP's Centennial Museum) raised again the issue of the need for more trees in El Paso.  To make that happen we need a city management which really values trees and doesn't just use Tree City USA as public relations window dressing.

Smart Code Works

Smart Code works and the El Paso Times has spotted it.  Too bad the 5 Points Business Regressives (aka, Association) and City Council Representative Larry Romero are preventing this new model of urban planning from working miracles along Piedras, Grant, Pershing and Montana.

State Park Entrances and Dead Birds

I'm not sure what the title of this post should be. "Point/Counterpoint".  "Maybe Bielek Was Right and I Owe Him an Apology".  Or "Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition Fiddles While . . . "  Read on.  It's lengthy but please read on.