Tag Archives: Austin

A short post about airport WiFi

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport now has free WiFi service. Maybe after the Terminal B construction is finally done, IAH can have it, too.

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A short post about airport WiFi

Austin wants to get on the bike sharing bandwagon

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. San Antonio became the first city in Texas to install a bike-share system last month, when it opened 14 B-cycle stations within a few miles of downtown. Now Austin is considering spending about $1.8 million, plus operating … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Austin rail debate

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Austin is gearing up for another debate about how and where – and if – to build more rail there. This is the third time since 2000 that they’ve gone through such a debate. This AusChron story … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Austin rail debate

More on the Lone Star Rail District

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The following comment was left on my earlier post about the Lone Star Rail District and its efforts to build a rail line between Austin and San Antonio, and I thought it was worth highlighting: LSTAR is actually much further … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the Lone Star Rail District

San Antonio still in for Austin rail line

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them the very best of luck with this. San Antonio officials will continue to pursue a passenger rail line that one day could connect the Alamo City to Austin, a transit project that’s already been in the works … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

District representation in Austin

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have to admit, it hadn’t occurred to me that there were any large cities in Texas that didn’t have City Council districts, but Austin is such a place, at least for now. Mayor Lee Leffingwell will soon propose sweeping … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on District representation in Austin

What school districts may do to respond to the budget cuts

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They may raise taxes: Some school officials also are considering even more unpopular options – increasing property tax rates or eliminating special tax breaks. In some cases, even those moves aren’t expected to raise enough money to plug the worst-case … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What school districts have to look forward to

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From San Antonio: The San Antonio Independent School District is bracing for $33 million to $55 million in cuts for the coming fiscal year, due mainly to the state budget shortfall. The trustees Tuesday night discussed options to reduce costs … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Katz’s finally kloses

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

An era comes to an end. Marc Katz’s delicatessen on West Sixth Street is finally closing. Katz, whose business M&M Katz Inc., has been mired in U.S. Bankruptcy Court since 2004, said his business is shutting down Jan. 2 after … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Opening thoughts on the carnage

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In no particular order… – Republicans gain 22 seats in the State House, for a 99-51 advantage. That’s with Pete Gallego, Hubert Vo, and Donna Howard, all of whom had been trailing early, coming back to win. Howard’s margin of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

San Antonio smoking ban protests

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The proposal to strengthen the smoking ban in San Antonio has drawn protest from a previously silent constituency. LULAC, the San Antonio Mixed Beverage Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the San Antonio Restaurant Association … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Meria Carstarphen

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the Chron had a profile of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier that looked at what he had accomplished and what people thought of him after 10 months on the job. This week, the Statesman has a profile of Austin’s … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Austin ponders its urban rail future

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As with so many things these days, how to pay for it is a big issue. The Austin City Council, looking at a daunting $1.3 billion tab to build a proposed urban rail system, voted Thursday to spend $100,000 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Austin ponders its urban rail future

Austin divests itself from Arizona

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Austin City Council decided Thursday to end business and travel ties with the state of Arizona to protest a new state law that will allow law enforcement officers there to detain people they suspect are in … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Austin divests itself from Arizona

I shot a coyote in Austin just to watch it die

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I believe that very little happens in politics by accident, so I feel certain there’s a reason that Rick Perry picked this week to tell us all about that coyote he killed in February. Something like this: WildEarth Guardians, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

West U and Bellaire on the Google Fiber bandwagon

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The deadline for submitting an application for a city to be a part of Google’s experimental fiber network was last Friday, the 26th. The cities of West University Place and Bellaire got theirs in before the deadline. Cindy Siegel and … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on West U and Bellaire on the Google Fiber bandwagon

“Drop by drop”

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve talked a lot about flooding and drainage issues, and about the possibility of water rate increases in Houston, but something that has not gotten a lot of attention is water conservation. I want to call your attention to a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Sugar Land wants Google Fiber for Communities

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sugar Land joins Austin in making a concerted pitch to bring Google Fiber For Communities to their town. “This project is suited to Sugar Land. Our population is highly educated. We have high standards,” said Sharlett Chowning, director of information … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Do we want Google Fiber For Communities in Houston?

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Perhaps you’ve heard about Google’s latest project. We’re planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We’ll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Austin’s rail service to get started in March

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Austin’s long-awaited rail service, which was approved by the voters in 2004, is finally ready to roll. After what seems like endless series of problems and delays, Cap Metro has announced that light rail service will begin in March. Service … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Car2Go

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve heard of Zipcars, you’ve heard of CarShare, now meet CarsGo. The city of Austin and car2go have embarked on a car-sharing project that allows city employees access to 200 Smart Fortwo cars for business or personal use. The project … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Car2Go

Carole the chameleon and Kinky the commissioner

Posted on December 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This would be a little too weird. [Bill] White, expected to say Friday that he’s shifting his political sights from the U.S. Senate to the Democratic nod for governor, confirmed Thursday that [former Comptroller Carole Keeton] Strayhorn has tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lone Star Rail

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve talked a number of times in this space about the possibility of building a commuter rail line between Houston and Galveston, possibly connecting to another line that would run out Highway 290 to College Station. That effort is just … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SNCF proposes high-speed rail route for Texas

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not the Texas T-Bone, but it’s a start. Last December, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Representative John Mica (R-FL) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration would begin accepting Expressions of Interest for the development of high-speed lines in … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The best idea you’ll hear for what to do with the Alabama Theater

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

How about turning it back into a movie theater? And not just any theater, either, but an Alamo Drafthouse theater. I wholeheartedly endorse the concept that ‘stina enunciates in her letter to the Alamo Drafthouse corporate office. I don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

West U to consider a texting-while-driving ban

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, the city of West University Place banned using cellphones while in school zones. Now they’re looking to add a texting ban to their roster of no-nos. West U. City Council has asked city staff members to draft an … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Katz announces for Lite Guv

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least we have a candidate. Marc Katz can’t help it. He’s gotta tell you. He’s planning to run for lieutenant governor. Katz, 62, Austin’s self-proclaimed deli king, said he plans to file paperwork to enter the race as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Katz announces for Lite Guv

Brown’s energy plan

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Completing our trifecta of Mayoral policy examinations, we come now to Peter Brown’s energy plan. As with other policy matters, Brown goes into more detail than the others – David Ortez recently wrote that Brown is “winning the policy campaign”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Austin to ban texting while driving

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

After considering it for a long time, the city of Austin is set to ban texting while driving. Council members Mike Martinez and Chris Riley and Mayor Lee Leffingwell are proposing to prohibit writing, sending or reading text messages, instant … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Austin to ban texting while driving

More money for SUPERTRAINS

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. [Thursday], the U.S. House passed its housing and transportation bill, which will provide funds for fiscal year 2010. Approved mostly by members of the majority Democratic party, the bill would allocate $4 billion to high-speed rail programs — if … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More money for SUPERTRAINS

RIP, Nerd Bird

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The economic slowdown claims another victim. When the Statesman’s business desk got a tip from a reader that American Airlines was grounding the Nerd Bird, I was more than a little dubious. The twice-a-day nonstop flight between Austin and San … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

SCOTUS upholds Voting Rights Act

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

For now, anyway. The Supreme Court ruled narrowly today in a challenge to the landmark Voting Rights Act, siding with a small Texas governing authority but sidestepping the larger constitutional issue. The court, with only one justice in dissent, avoided … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Obama head on the move

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hello, Austin! President Barack Obama’s concrete head rested peacefully on an open-bed trailer outside Vino Vino wine bar on Guadalupe Street on Sunday evening. The 20-foot-tall sculpture of the president had just been hauled from Houston. Its creator, 82-year-old artist … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Obama head on the move

Streetcars and buses

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little discussion starter for all you transit geeks: Infrastructurist’s list of 36 reasons why streetcars are better than buses. I’d boil a lot of it down to a smaller list: The ride is generally more pleasant, as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments