Transportation

By Ella Tyler

The agenda for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature will be dense with bills that, directly or indirectly, affect the quality of the environment in Texas. More than 50 bills have already been filed that match the criteria “environment” on the legislature’s online bill search.

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By Ella Tyler

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is a partner with regional transportation agencies in a program called “Commute Solutions”, a one-stop alternative transportation resource in the Houston-Galveston area. The program’s staff provides advice, answers and assistance on commuting options and employee transportation programs. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

The Houston area now has three electric car dealers!

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By Ella Tyler

I am starting a trip to Fort Davis in the morning, and the e-mail from the Chronicle “Subject: Breaking News – Texas gasoline prices hit record high” made me really glad that I have rented a Prius for the trip.

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From Peter Wang
(Wang is a League of American Bicyclists cycling instructor, serves on the BikeHouston Advisory Board, and is a Citizens Transportation Coalition Member)

Electrified rail and bicycles are the two most efficient and least-polluting modes of transportation. Combining the two is essential to induce Houstonians to reduce private vehicle usage. As of now, regular bicycles (but not folding bicycles) are banned from Houston’s light rail trains during rush hour. Furthermore, at other times, only two bikes are allowed per train car. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

If you want to make your holidays green, there will be no shortage of ideas coming your way in the next few weeks. Magazines, TV shows, e-mails, and newspapers will feature stories like “12 Ways to Have a Green Thanksgiving” “Dreaming of a Green Christmas? Shop Debra’s List” and “Eco Friendly Holiday Gifts.” (more…)

By Ella Tyler

The Houston-Galveston Area Council has extended the deadline for pubic comments about its draft 2035 Regional Transportation Plan until July 16. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

The City of Houston’s Planning Department, as part of its Urban Corridor Planning, is holding a series of workshops so residents can participate in planning for growth along METRO’s light rail and guided rapid transit corridors. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

The Texas Department of Transportation has indefinitely suspended the state Transportation Enhancement Program, which distributes federal grants to local governments for projects that “encourage diverse modes of travel, increase the community benefits to transportation investment, strengthen partnerships between state and local governments, and promote citizen involvement in transportation decisions.” The grants are informally referred to as STEP grants. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

In the past ten days, METRO staff, engineers and consultants have literally rolled out aerial maps, engineering drawings, and artists’ sketches of six possible routes for the University Corridor rail line at three neighborhood meetings. The meetings have been well attended, with, according to the Houston Chronicle, about 150 people at the final meeting on July 25.

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By Ella Tyler

A green vacation does not have to be an “eco-adventure” to a foreign country or a Spartan camping trip to a remote park. Trips anywhere, for pleasure or business, can be made green friendly by staying at hotels that conserve resources, using public transportation at your destination, and supporting local businesses. (more…)

Houston TranStar announced this week that it is beginning a free service to send notices of traffic delays to motorists’ mobile devices. The notices can be sent to color Palms, pocket PCs, and certain Blackberrys. (more…)

Purpose: To build community support for a coordinated planning process to make improvements to Houston’s quality of life.

3015 Richmond, Suite 201
Houston, Texas 77098
(713) 522-0590/fax: (713) 523-3057
hsweetnam@blueprinthouston.org

www.blueprinthouston.org (more…)

Purpose: To improve quality of life in the Houston region by providing independent research and communications for Houston’s tomorrow. The Institute explores practical approaches to urban policy questions to provide the region’s decision makers with the cutting edge research and analysis they need to make good choices about Houston’s future.

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Purpose: To promote bicycling among men and women as a healthful outdoor sport, and to promote and encourage bicycle safety in Texas among adults as well as young people.

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Purpose: H-GAC is a voluntary association of 132 local governments and local elected officials in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning Region of Texas. Its service area is 12,500 square miles and contains over 4.9 million people. H-GAC’s mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region’s orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens.

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Purpose: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

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