NPT Juxtapose: Public transit: New bills; hollow words?

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Perry’s concern that a bill aimed at creating a North Texas urban rail system would have implications across the state: “The local-option bill would allow counties to choose different ways to finance transportation improvements (i.e. rail) and to call elections to get voter approval for the plans.” [link]

From El Paso City Council’s state legislative agenda:“The city of El Paso has the goal of becoming the least car dependent city in the Southwest.” [link]

Might El Paso be one of those counties Perry is worried could take advantage of this legislation if passed, and so locally fund quality rail and metro service, thus becoming the Southwest’s public transport poster-boy?

Probably not, seeing that in July the City Council committed a generation of El Pasoans to a billion dollars worth of new road projects.

Taking advantage of the nation-wide, state felt, fed-funded momentum toward alternative transport? “Least car dependant city” in the Southwest?

Agenda-schmenda, says El Paso…again.

–Ben Wright