Texas State Capitol
Doesn't Trust Cap Metro
RECEIVED Fri., June 11, 2004
Howdy y'all
Scene: the Austin Convention Center on Thursday, June 10, at 8am to 12pm. Many of the Cap Metro workshop tables sat understandably empty, retail-tax-paying Austinites were at their jobs. Lee Walker, chairman of the Cap Metro board spoke first, he said the words "plan the end of sprawl." What a farcical statement!
Peter Calthorpe is the developer behind the Triangle project near 51st Street and Lamar, Peter is very proud of his Triangle project. As Peter spoke, admiring glances were exchanged with the Cap Metro chairman, love was in the air.
Peter pedaled the specious hype that 1.25 million people would move to Austin in the next 25 years. Population growth of Austin last year – purdy close to zero. Peter and Cap Metro have revealed a plan to correct that problem!
Cap Metro's new commuter rail/light rail combo is now a big boy named TOD (transit-oriented development). TOD lusts for a rail line north to the Robertson Ranch, to cover up that 6,000 acres of grass and trees with houses and shops. And TOD, he gets his lusty strength when you combine the unstoppable legal powers of the Commuter Rail District with Cap Metro's limited mandate. This "synergy" will allow TOD to force, and spread, more sprawl south of Austin. The extra pollution TOD creates it will move into Austin on the north and south winds.
So, "go" with Cap Metro and the Commuter Rail District and watch this TOD fellowship rape the Austin environment we all love.
By the way, if you go to one of these workshops, don't ask how much your property taxes will increase if you live near the rails/rail stations – at present, Cap Metro does not want to give an honest answer – it might effect your vote come November!
Scene: the Austin Convention Center on Thursday, June 10, at 8am to 12pm. Many of the Cap Metro workshop tables sat understandably empty, retail-tax-paying Austinites were at their jobs. Lee Walker, chairman of the Cap Metro board spoke first, he said the words "plan the end of sprawl." What a farcical statement!
Peter Calthorpe is the developer behind the Triangle project near 51st Street and Lamar, Peter is very proud of his Triangle project. As Peter spoke, admiring glances were exchanged with the Cap Metro chairman, love was in the air.
Peter pedaled the specious hype that 1.25 million people would move to Austin in the next 25 years. Population growth of Austin last year – purdy close to zero. Peter and Cap Metro have revealed a plan to correct that problem!
Cap Metro's new commuter rail/light rail combo is now a big boy named TOD (transit-oriented development). TOD lusts for a rail line north to the Robertson Ranch, to cover up that 6,000 acres of grass and trees with houses and shops. And TOD, he gets his lusty strength when you combine the unstoppable legal powers of the Commuter Rail District with Cap Metro's limited mandate. This "synergy" will allow TOD to force, and spread, more sprawl south of Austin. The extra pollution TOD creates it will move into Austin on the north and south winds.
So, "go" with Cap Metro and the Commuter Rail District and watch this TOD fellowship rape the Austin environment we all love.
By the way, if you go to one of these workshops, don't ask how much your property taxes will increase if you live near the rails/rail stations – at present, Cap Metro does not want to give an honest answer – it might effect your vote come November!
Rick Hall