Friday, May 9th, 2008 (Capital Metro Downtown Customer Service Center – 323 Congress Ave), 11:00am – 12:30pm – accessed by downtown routes

Post Public Hearing Meeting

Historically the most heavily utilized bus stop in town, +/-3,000 people a day step on and off buses with the Capitol as a backdrop, but “NO MORE!” says Governor Perry, who resides across the street. The decision to close these stops was made by Gov. Perry and the State Preservation Board (since by law they oversee all infrastructure surrounding the Capitol).

The ACLU-TX Central Texas Chapter opposes the elimination of the Capitol Transfer Center (the 11th St. and Congress Ave. bus stops), scheduled for August 24, 2008, since the stated reason for doing so, “safety,” has yet to be substantiated as a legitimate concern.

CapMetro offered several alternatives to closure in response to Perry’s stated concerns (which just recently developed?), but he and the Board offered no viable explanation as to why the alternative solutions wouldn’t suffice. So now Transfer Center activities will be rerouted to 10th and Congress, causing serious interruption in traffic as buses will bottleneck in the traffic lanes vs. the utilizing the shouldered, designated bus lanes on 11th.

Debbie Russell,
president, ACLU-TX Central TX Chapter
secretary, Better Austin Today
member, CoA Public Safety Task Force

EDITOR’S NOTE: Cap Metro proposal also eliminates Dillo Service on Rio Grande (ACC).