[AusTex]

[QUOTE from LoneStarMike - "I'm not sure if this idea would work or not, but I'd like to see a development that only had enough parking for maybe 75% of the residents. The actual living units could be priced the same for everyone, but the ones who had cars and needed parking would have to pay extra for their parking spaces." QUOTE]

I agree! Allow me to rant for a minute....But where are the options for commuting? Nearly everyone MUST use a car to get around.

I truly hope Cap Metro and the residents in its service area "grow up" to the fact we need an efficient fixed rail plan to reach all parts of the area...and beyond. Without the option of a fixed rail system plan in place already, we are creating a future nightmare of traffic by not directing density to transportation nodes. All these new apartments are just adding more automobile traffic to existing/new roads.

South Lamar is a classic example of the past short mindedness of elected officials and local residents. Barton Skyway/Lightsey/Woodward were to be connected to allow traffic to move from MoPac to I35 on one roadway. However, the powers that be in the 1970's choose to not follow through and in 2012 ALL traffic to MoPac must travel along Lamar to Loop360 or Barton Springs to use the freeway.

We are committing the same craziness now by not insisting on a fixed rail option to move folks around and locate density by the stations.

The plan to move folk from downtown to the airport on a street car along Riverside Drive helps....however it will be a slow train. At least the new residents of all the apartments going up and planned in the corridor will have an option. We as a voting public need to be insisting on the past proposal to run fast Light Rail through East Austin (on existing right-of-way of the Red Line) then across the river south straight into the airport. Then someone in Leander might be able to get to the airport without a car trip. NO ONE is crazy enough to ride the Red Line to downtown Austin then Transfer to a Street Car to get to the airport.

OK my RANT is over! We are going to continue to see lots of population increase in our metro area...see a lot of new mid/high rise buildings. We can direct them to be built at transportation nodes or allow them to just be built where ever. I hope we the people see the wisdom of investing in a region wide - intermodal approach.