Austin Metric

ART review

Early electric Autonomous Bus Rapid Transit (ART) models have exhibited progress on self-driving. There are no demonstrations of urban ART "platooning" or dynamic, real-time route-changing.

art_bus_communication_v2vTheoretically, vehicle-to-vehicle communication enables ART proximity at light-rail speeds, boosting the capacity ceiling for the mode.

What is Autonomous Business Rapid Transit?

At the moment …

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Effective Transit Investment

Transit capital projects should prioritize winning mode share. Reducing the system’s per-rider subsidy should be the main prioritization metric.

houston_metro_red_line

METRO's Red Line in Houston, Texas.  A definitive example of an effective Sun Belt transit investment.

Financial Constraints

Transit systems have a limited annual budget they can spend on operations …

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ART Audit Request at A&FC

Citizen Comment delivered to Austin City Council's Audit & Finance Committee on September 26, 2018.

toy_robot_busses.png

Good morning.

I am here to request that the Office of the City Auditor conduct a Special Report on Autonomous Bus Rapid Transit (or ART) technology.

The City of Austin will likely face a request from …

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LDC Rewrite Success

Metrics for a worthwhile LDC rewrite.

ldc_success_cake

The CodeNEXT-branded process is effectively over. A new land development code (LDC) rewrite plan will be developed by the City Manager. A successful LDC rewrite would:

  1. Meaningfully reduce the rate of housing cost increases
  2. Catalyze transportation mode shift away from single-occupant car commutes
  3. Increase …
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There's no free kicks

City-owned land should maximize resident happiness.

hancock-golf-course

The City of Austin's Hancock Golf Course, located in central Austin. Image courtesy of Brandon Tucker. 

The ongoing debate about the best future use of the former Reichhold Chemicals site at McKalla Place highlights two important policy gaps City Council should address: (1) the …

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