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   Get Involved Alliances East Texas El Paso Houston San Antonio South Plains Tarrant County  Regional Policy References State Policy References State News Just Transportation Alliances PO Box 10472 Austin, TX 78766 (512) 451-2634 info@justtransportation.org |
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Contact Information Call! E-mail! Location/Mail Activities The goal organize a viable, self-sustaining, citizen advocate group that can take an active role in the decision-making process. We want to facilitate people working together for improvements and to elevate the conversation beyond confrontation. The Greater Houston Just Transportation Alliance (EPJTA) is currently recruiting citizen advocates and a steering committee for orientation and training. Everyone is a transportation expert. It‘s knowing how to "achieve the changes and improvements" needed that does not come naturally for most people. We will work with you to develop the skills needed to become a change agent in your community. Now, it is your turn to create the future. If you nurture it and help it to grow, it will be a success. News Yes to Rail! After three decades of struggle,
what now? Houston’s rail saga began in 1983 when residents voted against a heavy rail referendum only to vote for a monorail referendum five years later in 1988. But constituents’ votes proved fruitless a few years later when they elected Bob Lanier Mayor of the City of Houston. Lanier opposed the plan and scrapped it when he came into office. The Houston mayor is able to appoint the majority of Metro Board, a power that can largely influence the course of transit in the city. In the years after Lanier was elected, Metro canceled the monorail plan and switched much of the transit revenue not already slotted to roads over to roads. Lanier now supports the current plan as does mayoral candidate Bill White. Mayoral candidate Orlando Sanchez ran opposed to the rail plan, instead favoring the 100 Percent Plan, an unfinished study that includes increasing roads by more than 50 percent, but has said he will support the recent vote. Before any construction begins, Metro must first obtain funds from the federal government, which could take years of completing pre-requisites including plans and other items. Both US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) among other Metro supporters have promised to obtain as much federal funding for light rail in Houston as possible. US Representatives Tom Delay (R-Sugar Land) and John Culberson (R-Houston) who have previously blocked federal funds to Houston for rail have said that they will respect Houstonians’ vote and allow federal funds to go to Houston. Metro expects to complete the University of Houston-Downtown extension of the Main Street light rail line to Northline Mall, the southeast line, and inner-southwest line to the Galleria in years 2008, 2009, and 2012, respectively. Houston’s first light-rail line, the 7.5-mile Main Street line, will begin operating on January 1, 2004. Gulf Coast Growth News KUHF "Transportation for Harris County's Elderly and Disabled" a pilot program under development since 1996 and is now up and running. Harris County Judge Robert Eckels says the transportation is provided through a partnership between the county, the American Red Cross, the Houston Galveston Area Council, the Harris County Area Agency on Aging and several other agencies. There is a charge for the transportation paid for through the purchase of coupons. Participants can purchase up to 40 coupons at a cost of $1 each. The further the trip, the more coupons needed so a ten mile ride would cost three coupons. Eckels says the actual value of each coupon is $5. For more information contact Vernon Chambers. Currently Forming: |
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