Let's Clearup Traffic Congestion!

For all those people that have experienced the traffic congestion in central Texas yearn for the government to do something about it. We talk about Central Texas transportation issues and think of many solutions to solve it but the changes never took into place. Traffic congestion is not like the weather, we have the control over it. I believe we need to get together and treat this as a region’s traffic problem not just a downtown Austin problem. We need easier access to all the different regions that we are heading towards like MoPac Boulevard (loop 1) and the northbound lanes of Interstate 35.

Everyone is hungry for better access, for a system that connects them to all places they need and want to go. What we need is a regional transit system, one that connects all areas of our region such as one that uses the right system for the connections, whether commuter rail, light rail, ultra light rail, streetcars, trolleys, express buses, bus rapid transit or local bus. We should really use the existing rail lines to add commuter rail from Elgin/Manor to Austin. We need to link Georgetown/Round Rock and Austin using a commuter. Then finally we need a link from downtown to Austin-Berg storm International Airport. The new, wide open roads and trafficking will help clear up alot of traffic congestion. With all these positive changes everyone will be much happier and safer. We will wake up next day for work and will not be hesitant to get onto Interstate 35 or onto any other regions.

New Growth

I enjoyed reading an article called, “House vs. Tree” written by a colleague, Sunday. Its main focus is the economic crisis and how there is still a cap in the housing industry. Many new houses and new developments that were suppose to emerge have halted because the lack of funds and profits. Austin with its bustling is certainly suffering overall from the US economy and experiencing the trickle down effect. The cause of that fewer people are moving into Austin and lesser companies willing to give money for housing development means that there are fewer jobs and money. Bigger cities with a larger population are not doing so well compare to the smaller cities. We need to come together and agree on a plan that will help the market pick itself up. We shouldn’t completely wipe out all the green trees for our gain but we can’t afford to not sacrifice it either for new constructions. We need the bigger companies to help develop the smaller companies to grow and provide new jobs and bring in new money to the economy. I would say yes to more road construction, better lighting systems and timers. I agree with Sunday that we need to seek opportunities for more economic growth in our city but at the same time we should do something to help our country keep the green nature.

In an editorial, “Plan could help Reagan High School trim dropout rate”, written by the editorial board in the American Statesman, Eric Sanchez speaks of a plan to get youngsters back on school campus. Eric Sanchez is a very educated dropout intervention specialist that knows a great deal about why students drop out. He learned over the years that students who disappear before graduation tend to do so because of their own workload at home like taking care of their children. Besides the other reasons like drugs, students falling into gangs or just loose interest in school, I completely agree that we need a plan. Now, there is no surprise that young students get carried away with personal, love-like relationships at such an early age and get caught in it making it difficult to finish high school. In addition, there are students out there who want to continue school but can’t because they have to work to help parents pay bills. Sanchez figures that Reagan High School could retain most potential dropouts if the school offered a self-paced program similar to the one at Garza High School. The school day is broken into two four- hour sessions, so students attend from 8 a.m. to 12 noon or from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be easier for students to work around their work schedule for only four hours of school instead of a full day. Reagan faces closure by the state in 2009 if it receives flunking grade on the state’s report card as it has for three consecutive years. Reagan must show significant progress on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills and reduce its dropout rate to earn a passing grade and remain open. I think not only will this plan work like it is at another high school but it will do well for our future as a whole. We need knowledgeable, self-motivated, and educated students to get out into society to make a difference and enlighten others. This plan that Eric Sanchez is speaking of is a great way for other high schools to consider and act on if school officials want a more lasting solution to reduce drop out rates.