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AFTERNOON.[Capital Metro Grant News Conference]
WELCOME TO OUR CAT METRO HEADQUARTERS ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR AUSTIN, TEXAS.AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ESTEEMED GROUP OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE JOINING ME ON STAGE AND IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
UM, JOINING ME ON STAGE, UM, INCLUDES CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT, FTA ADMINISTRATOR, NUIA FERNANDEZ KA, METRO BOARD CHAIR, JEFF TRAIAN, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND KA METRO BOARD MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS AND ATTP BOARD CHAIR VERONICA CASTRO DETA.
ALSO JOINING US TODAY, OUR KA METRO BOARD MEMBER MATT HARRIS AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZOE CADRE AND VANESSA PUENTES, AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
GREG KAMAL, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER MOBILITY.
MR. ROBERT GOOD, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PROJECT CONNECT OFFICER, AN GUDAY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
TODAY, CAP METRO IS HONORED AND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED MORE THAN 65 MILLION IN GRANTS.
THESE GRANT WILL HELP US EXPAND OUR CAP METRO RAPID SERVICE AS PART OF THE OVERALL PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM.
THE FTA IS A CRUCIAL PARTNER AS CAP METRO AND PROJECT CONNECT CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION FOR MANY YEARS TO COME TO HELP MAKE OUR AMAZING CITY EVEN BETTER AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THE FTA DOES A FANTASTIC JOB PARTNERING WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CREATE AND ENHANCE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, AND WE ARE HONORED THAT THEY HAVE SELECTED CAP METRO FOR THESE GRANTS.
THESE FUNDS WILL HELP US IMPROVE SERVICE BY BUILDING OUT OUR PLEASANT VALLEY AND EXPO CENTER CAP METRO RAPID LINES THAT WILL SERVE PLACES LIKE EAST AUSTIN, GOODNIGHT RANCH, AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, AND BE SERVED BY AN ALL ELECTRIC BUS FLEET.
FROM THE FOLKS WORKING ON THAT ELECTRIC BUS FLEET.
AND NOW I IS MY EXTREME HONOR BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY TO INTRODUCE A TIRELESS TRANSIT ADVOCATE AND ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE GREAT TEAM THAT YOU'VE ASSEMBLED HERE TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS GET TO WORK, TO PLAY THE SCHOOL, UH, AND ENJOY LIFE IN AUSTIN.
UH, I, UH, THINK WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TODAY, UH, PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION, ON SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS, UH, NOT ONLY TO GROW OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM, BUT TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
WITH ELECTRICAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, WE, UH, CAN DO THAT AND GROW EQUITABLY.
UH, THIS IS CALLED, UH, I BELIEVE A SMALL START GRANT, BUT IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE LAYOUT, UH, FOR BOTH OF THESE NEW LINES.
I THINK THEY HAVE, UH, GREAT POTENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD ON PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, CONNECT IS ABOUT ASSURING THAT OUR NEIGHBORS CAN GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT ISN'T, IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
WE KNOW THAT LONG HERE IN TEXAS AND CONTINUING, THERE'S BEEN A STRONG BIAS IN FAVOR OF, UH, PUTTING ALL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTO, UH, CARS, GOING DOWN WIDER AND WIDER HIGHWAYS.
AND WHILE WE NEED GOOD HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURE.
THIS ELECTRIC BUS FLEET, UH, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT LATER THIS SPRING WITH SOME OTHER WORK THAT I'VE DONE, UH, IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELPING US ADDRESS A CLIMATE CRISIS THAT IS ALREADY ALL AROUND US.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THESE FUNDS THANKS TO THE HELP, UH, NOT ONLY OF THE CONGRESS THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT AND THE OTHER LEGISLATION WE'VE PASSED, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A DYNAMIC LEADER WHO IS BACK AGAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FROM, UH, THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
UH, SHE HAS PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE HAVING WORKED IN, UH, SANTA CLARA, UH, OUT IN THE SILICON VALLEY.
WE'RE HERE IN THE SILICON HILLS, AND, UH, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HER HERE, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT DETAILS IN OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO, UH, WELCOME, UH, FOR COMMENTS AND, UH, CHECK SIGNING.
I THINK WE, WE'VE CAME FOR THE SHOW ME THE MONEY AND, UH, IF NOT THE CHECK SIGNING, AT LEAST THE CONTRACT TO GET THE CHECK, UH, THE ADMINISTRATOR, NUIA FERNANDEZ.
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YOU VERY MUCH.UH, CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT, YOU HAVE BEEN JUST SUCH A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
YOU BELIEVE IN THE VISION THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE PROJECTS UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE GONNA BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU MAKE SURE TO BE THERE TO BE HELP DELIVER THE FUNDS TO GET IT UNDERWAY.
YES, WE'RE GONNA BE SIGNING SOME CHECKS, BUT, UM, I THINK I'M ENTITLED TO MAYBE A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE DO THAT,
I, I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK, UM, DOTTIE, UH, BECAUSE A DOTTI, YOU HEADING UP CAP METRO AT THIS TIME.
IT'S SO CRITICAL, NOT ONLY FROM THE CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO THROUGH OPERATIONS AND CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SERVE, AND TO BE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE OTHER CHOICES.
AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE OTHER CHOICES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THE BEST CHOICE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, TO ALL OF THE OPERATORS, UH, MAINTENANCE FRONTLINE WORKERS, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOU, THE ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, OFFICES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING AT THE HELM.
WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU IN WASHINGTON DC AND ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME.
UH, I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, UH, GAIL, LIZZIE, WHO IS OUR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR IN REGION SIX.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S MAKES SURE THAT, UM, EVERY YEAR WHEN THOSE DOLLARS ARE APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS, THAT YOU CAN HIT THAT SEND BUTTON AND IT LANDS IN YOUR ACCOUNT.
SO SHE'S A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON TO KNOW.
AND I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE JOINED US TODAY, BECAUSE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD PROJECTS.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KEEP THE EYE AND FOCUS ON MOBILITY.
UH, WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, Z CADRE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, VANESSA FUENTES.
THERE SHE IS, THERE HE IS
UH, WE HAVE OF COURSE, UM, THE ATP BOARD CHAIR BEN CASTRO, AND WE HAVE, UH, MATT HARRIS, I BELIEVE, WHO'S ALSO A, UH, A, A CHAIR BOARD, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, GREG CONNOLLY, STILL WITH THE SES FRONT ROW, UH, ATP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND MEMBERS OF DOTTY'S EXECUTIVE TEAM.
THAT IS THE POWER BEHIND THE POWER, AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT.
SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS JOURNEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ON, AND IT'S A JOURNEY THAT HAS MADE SO MANY GOOD THINGS POSSIBLE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND RIGHT HERE.
SO THESE TWO NEW BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINES ARE GONNA PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL HIGH QUALITY MOBILITY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES.
I JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THIS HISTORIC SIGNING OF TWO GRANTS, TWO CONSTRUCTION GRANTS, ONE FOR THE EXPO CENTER, B R T, AND THE OTHER ONE FOR THE PLEASANT VALLEY, B R T, UH, A START TO A VERY OPTIMISTIC FUTURE OF FUTURE THAT IS GETTING BRIGHTER EACH DAY.
SO THESE PROJECTS ARE GONNA PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED RAPID TRANSIT OUT TO NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST AREAS OF THE CITY.
AND THERE ARE ALSO LINES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF TWO PARTS OF THE AUSTIN TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT CONNECT.
AND IF YOU FORGOT WHAT THAT IS, JUST LOOK AROUND YOU.
UM, AUSTIN IS CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST AND MOST VIBRANT GROWING CITIES IN AMERICA.
AND WHEN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THESE PROJECTS WITH DOTTY 66 MILLION, BECAUSE WE DO ROUND OFF
SO PROVIDING MOBILITY FREEDOM IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT TRANSPORTATION DOES.
TRANSPORTATION IS ABOUT FREEDOM, AND IT KEEPS THE CITY GOING.
UH, EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE AT THE SOUTH BY SOUTH BY
BUT WELL BEFORE THAT ICONIC FESTIVAL STARTED, YOU COULD WALK DOWN SIXTH STREET AND HEAR THE FIRST PERFORMANCES OF BANDS THAT WOULD GO ON TO CONQUER THE AIRWAVES.
YOU COULD THROW YOUR HORNS, AS I WAS REMINDED, UM, AS YOU WATCH YOUR FAVORITE UT PLAYERS, AND YOU COULD SEE THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS EXPAND TO FIT EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO MOVE TO THIS GREAT PLACE.
SO NOW, THOUSANDS MORE OF YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE A QUICKER, EASIER WAY TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC.
BECAUSE OF THESE TWO B R T PROJECTS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE RICARDO SALVA, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC GROUP, DOVE SPRINGS PROUD THAT THE B T'S DIRECT CONNECTION TO BUILD CHILDREN'S
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MEDICAL CENTER, THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND THINKERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WILL MEAN SO MUCH.IT'S SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR RESIDENTS IN DOVE SPRINGS.
IT WOULD ALSO CONNECT THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TO THE REST OF THE CITY BY LINKING TO FUTURE RAIL SERVICES.
SO JUST IMAGINE HOW THE WORLD OF EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TODAY IS GOING TO CHANGE FROM STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND WORKERS AT UT AUSTIN, AS WELL AS AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE EASTVIEW, THAT WILL HAVE AN OPTION TO SPEED UP THEIR COMMUTE, UH, TO WORK IN CLASSES.
UH, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO ONE OF THE THREE MEDICAL CENTERS OR CATCH A SHOW AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY EXPO CENTER.
EAST AUSTIN IS ON A GROWTH SPUR, AND THE NEW B R T LINES WILL REDUCE TRAVEL TIME FOR THE 2.1 MILLION MONTHLY RIDERS AND BE READY FOR THE ANTICIPATED GROWTH TO OVER 4 MILLION RIDES.
THE TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVERYONE'S TIME IS IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHY WE LIKE TO PARTNER WITH, WITH TRANSIT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES LIKE YOURS, BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR GOALS AND YOUR VISION TO TURN IT INTO A REALITY.
SO IN CLOSING, I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT VISION, YOUR FORESIGHT, YOUR PERSEVERANCE, AND MAKING THIS TRANSIT EXPANSION POSSIBLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES OF TAP METRO FOR COMMITTING THIS CLEAN GREEN, CLEAN GREEN AND EFFICIENT TRANSIT EVERY DAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING AND INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU TO HAND OUT THESE BIG CHECKS.
WELL, WELL, UH, IF, IF I COULD TAKE A MOMENT AS, AS A CABINET METRO BOARD CHAIR, AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK A CONGRESSMAN WHO WORKS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY GETS THE THINGS THAT IT NEEDS, AND MAKE SURE THAT MOBILITY IS A PRIORITY, UH, I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO, TO, UH, SPEAK TO MY REPRESENTATIVE, LORD DAUGHTER.
UM, IT, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE HIS VOICE HERE AND, AND, AND, UH, ADMINISTRATOR FERNANDEZ, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE WELCOME IN AUSTIN ANYTIME, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A CHECK,
AND THEN I, I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT, UH, CONGRATULATING DOTTIE WATKINS.
UH, SHE EXEMPLIFIES WHAT WE WANT IN A LEADER, SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED HERE, SOMEONE WHO'S GROWN HERE, SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED HERE, AND SOMEONE WHO IS TRUSTED BY HER TEAM.
AND WE'RE PROUD THAT YOU'RE LEADING OUR ORGANIZATION INTO THE FUTURE.
SO THIS REALLY IS A SPECIAL OCCASION, UH, BUT IT IS PART OF A FULFILLMENT OF A COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE, UH, TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY HERE.
WE SAID WITH PROJECT CONNECT, UH, THAT WE WERE COMMITTED TO DESIGNING PROJECTS THAT WERE GONNA BE STRONG CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A COUPLE PRETTY GOOD CANDIDATES THOUGH.
SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY IS FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING RIGHT HERE.
BUT AN IMPORTANT THING IS YOU SEE THEM COMING IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
WE'VE TALKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ABOUT 18 PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN EAST AUSTIN, UH, SINCE, UH, SINCE 2018, UH, MORE THAN $26 MILLION BEING SPENT ON IMPROVING MOBILITY IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THIS WILL ALSO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTEND, CONTINUE TO BUILD AND TO CONNECT THE CITY IN VERY IMPORTANT WAYS, UH, THROUGH OUR METRO RAPIDS.
JUST, JUST, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COLONY PARK AREA COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT YOU'D HAVE A METRO RAPID LEAVING EVERY 15 MINUTES FROM THE EXPO CENTER.
REALLY IMPORTANT, REALLY SOMETHING THAT WILL CONNECT FOLKS TO WORK, GETTING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, GETTING TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
UH, WITH THESE INVESTMENTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT NETWORK GROW.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS BRINGS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, AND IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE OFTEN BEEN DISCONNECTED, UH, WE, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THOSE COMMUNITIES FIRST.
AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE'LL BE CONNECTING THEM, UH, WITH AN ALL ELECTRIC BUS FLEET.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE, THAT'S CRITICAL IN THIS TIME OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE A TRULY GREAT COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE SAID THIS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IN ORDER TO BE A TRULY GREAT COMMUNITY, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A TRULY GREAT, UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND I THINK THIS, THESE INVESTMENTS REALLY ARE GOING TO BRING MORE GREAT TRANSIT, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING IN CENTRAL TEXAS,
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AND WE'RE HONORED, UH, TO PARTNER WITH THE FDA TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.UH, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR, ON OUR PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE, CONTINUE TO SEE RELIEF IN OUR CONGESTION AND, AND ALSO, UH, WE HOPE OUR, OUR CONNECTIVITY WILL BENEFIT AS WELL.
AND WE'LL COME TOGETHER AS NEVER BEFORE.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PROUD OF, OF THIS TEAM.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO THE STAGE FOR OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, AND, UH, WE, WE CALL OUR NEW BABY BOARD MEMBER, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER PAGE ELLIS.
I AM AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM PAGE ELLIS.
I'M ALSO FORTUNATE TO BE CHAIR OF THE CITY'S MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
AND AS COMMISSIONER TRAIAN JUST SAID, I AM ONE OF CAP METRO'S NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH EVERYONE AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL LEADERS TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL OCCASION.
I WANNA THANK THE FTA FOR ITS DISCERNMENT IN AWARDING THESE GRANTS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE CRUCIAL CAP METRO RAPID SERVICE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ALREADY RELY ON ON A DAILY BASIS AND MORE WILL DO WHEN THE EXPO AND PLEASANT VALLEY LINES COME ONLINE.
AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW, WE'RE EXPERIENCING AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT THREATENS THE VITALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THIS GREAT CITY.
WE'RE WORKING ON MANY STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUES, BUT EXPANDED TRANSIT OPTIONS LIKE THE RAPID ROUTES ARE A VERY CRITICAL TOOL RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE TRANSFORMATION THAT PROJECT CONNECT WILL BRING TO AUSTIN.
OFFERING EQUITABLE, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES WILL OFFER AFFORDABILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I'M PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT CAT METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP HAVE DEVELOPED TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT TRULY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR PARTNERS FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AND I WILL INVITE UP THE CHAIR VERONICA CASTRO DAVIDA BOARD CHAIR FOR AT P E.
LET MYSELF REAL QUICK, UM, I'LL TRY TO SPEAK A LITTLE SLOWER SO YOU CAN HELP US WITH SIGN LANGUAGE,
I KNOW SOMETIMES I CAN GO REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
SO WHAT HAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T ALREADY SAID BEFORE? AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE TO BE SURROUNDED BY INCREDIBLE LEADERS THAT HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS DAY.
I OFTEN THINK OF IT'S SO INCREDIBLE, IT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FEELING THAT PEOPLE ARE FINALLY LISTENING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SAYING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSIT FOR SO LONG THAT I FINALLY FEEL LIKE I WANNA DO THE HAPPY DANCES AND SAY, YES, WE CAN DO THIS, AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER, AND WE CAN DO IT WITH JOY AND WE CAN DO IT WITH HOPE.
AND THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DATE FOR US TODAY.
AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'M HONORED TO BE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH WAS CREATED BY CAPITAL METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FOR US TO DELIVER THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WE'VE DONE THE HARD WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AUSTIN HAS DONE THE HARD WORK OF VOTING TWO YEARS AGO TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION.
AND THAT VOTE CANNOT BE IGNORED.
THAT IS A MONUMENTAL VOTE BECAUSE IT TOOK US MORE THAN TWO DECADES TO GET HERE.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WE REMEMBER THAT WE LOST THE 2020 ELECTION BY 1,976 VOTES, RIGHT? WHO REMEMBERS THAT? BY LESS THAN 2000 VOTES, WE COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH FARTHER AHEAD, BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT REMEMBER THE PAST.
UM, BUT HERE WE ALL ARE IN A DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR, NU HERNANDEZ, A TIRELESS LEADER, AND FOR HER GENEROUS GRANT AND THE GRANT THAT HAS SO MUCH EMBODIED BEHIND IT.
AND I WANNA SPECIFICALLY THANK THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE ENTRUSTING THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE TRUSTING US ARE GONNA BE WELL SPENT.
AND YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE STRETCH THOSE DOLLARS.
THE MOST WE HAVE, THESE FUNDS ARE REALLY GAME CHANGERS.
THEY'RE CRUCIAL IN FULFILLING OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE FREQUENT SERVICE TO MOVE AUSTINITES EFFICIENTLY THROUGH THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY.
AND BECAUSE WITH PROJECT CONNECT METRO RAPID IS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER, THESE TWO NEW ROUTES WILL BE, UH, EXPANDING ACCESS TO OTHER ACTIVITY AREAS THAT DESERVE BETTER CONNECTIVITY.
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AND IN THE WORDS OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER CHAIR, TRILLIAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, NOT ONLY HAVE THEY DESERVE THIS CONNECTIVITY, THEY'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT IN WAITING FOR THIS CONNECTIVITY.SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN PROJECT CONNECT, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE EVOLUTION OF OUR LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.
ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS ARE CREATING A ROBUST MOBILITY ECOSYSTEM.
THESE METRO RAPID LINES WILL BE IMMEDIATELY BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY COME ONLINE.
AND WHAT'S BEST IS THAT, IS THAT THESE ROUTES WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE AS WE BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM AND SEEK OUT SOLUTIONS FOR CONNECTING THEM INTO THE FUTURE.
ROUTE LIGHT RAIL NETWORK, EXPANDED TRAILS, PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND SHADED SIDEWALKS.
IT'S AN ECOSYSTEM OF MOBILITY.
WHEN WE PASSED PROP A, WE ALSO PASSED PROP B, AND PROP B WAS ABOUT ACTIVE MOBILITY TO CONNECT THE MISSING LINKS THAT PROFIT CANNOT DELIVER, BUT PROP A CAN.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE LIGHT RAIL, EXPANDED TRAILS, PROTECTED BIKE LANES, AND SHADED SIDEWALKS.
IN TEXAS, SHADE IS THE BIGGEST COMMODITY.
WE HAVE NEVER UNDER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SHADE.
AND I OFTEN SAY THAT MY PARENTS, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ME SAY SO FORGIVE ME IF I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, RIGHT? BUT MY PARENTS TRUSTED THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR YOUNG.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT I AM THE PRODUCT OF A WALKABLE CITY THAT NURTURED MY CURIOSITY AND GAVE ME THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE THE CITY FROM A VERY LOW, FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.
I HAVE ALSO LIVED THE PAINFUL REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DEPEND ON A CAR FOR SURVIVAL.
DUE TO THE LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THE FREE RANGE CHILDHOOD AND LATER YEARS OF POSTERITY IN MY LIFE HAVE SHAPED MY CAREER AND FUELED MY PASSION TO DESIGNING AND GUIDING PUBLIC INVESTMENT DECISIONS TOWARD MORE INCLUSIVE, HUMANIZING CITIES WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.
IMAGINE A CITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS, AND WE CAN SEND OUR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND MOVE AROUND, AND EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN SUPERVISE OUR CHILDREN.
I KNOW I LOVE WHAT MAYOR KARA WATSON SAID RECENTLY IN HIS, UH, REMARKS WHEN HE GAVE HIS SPEECH, HE SAID THAT PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN WAS HE WANTS TO MAKE AUSTIN THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN WHICH TO RAISE A CHILD.
THESE MOBILITY INVESTMENTS HELP US NURTURE THE CHILDREN AS A COMMUNITY.
DO WE FEEL FREE TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO TAKE THEIR BICYCLE TO SCHOOL, HOP ON A BUS, AND GET TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES? LET'S SEE IT FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF A CHILD.
I LOVE TO CALL THIS VISION THE ARCHITECTURE OF MOBILITY THAT FOSTERS THE ARCHITECTURE OF COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING HARD HERE IN AUSTIN TO ACHIEVE A NURTURING COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES TRANSIT ACTIVE MOBILITY, NOT ONLY AS A WAY TO GO ABOUT DAILY LIFE, BUT AS A WAY OF LIFE WHERE WE CAN ALL THRIVE.
THIS GENEROUS GRANT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS CAN MAKE THESE GOALS A REALITY.
AND THE RECENT POLICY DIRECTIONS OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS ADVANCED JUST THIS WEEK ON E T O D, THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS ADMIRABLE.
SO I REALLY WANNA PAUSE AND THANK OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, VANESSA FUENTES, QUADRI, PAIGE, ALICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT LEADERSHIP BECAUSE YOU'RE BEGINNING THE PROCESS, YOU'RE BEGINNING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA MAXIMIZE OUR LAND USE, THAT WE CAN GET THE MOST PEOPLE CLOSEST TO TRANSIT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK HAND IN HAND WITH CAB METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE AUSTIN WITH WORLD CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND IN THE WORDS OF OUR MOBILITY, OFFICER ANIQUE, PLEASE WAVE CUZ I LOVE TO QUOTE YOU ON THIS ONE.
IF TRANSIT CAN SUCCEED IN TEXAS, THE FUTURE IS INDEED BRIGHT AT THE REST OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE.
WE'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN AUSTIN.
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN IN YOUR CITY TOO.
AND I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN SPANISH.
SO, UM, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THE SIGN LANGUAGE, UH, IN SPANISH, IF WE DON'T HAVE A, A SPANISH SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR, BUT ALL OF YOU IN THE CAMERAS, I'M SURE PEOPLE CAN
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HAVE CLOSED CAPTION.BUT I WANNA SAY THIS LAST REMARKS IN SPANISH BECAUSE OUR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, NUIA, LED BY NUIA FERNANDEZ, A LATINA WOMAN THAT I AM SO PROUD.
AND THE FIRST TIME I MET HER, I TOLD HER I'M STARR
AND I WANNA SAY THE LAST WORDS IN SPANISH, AND IT'S OF DEEP GRATITUDE.