2022 Candidate Questionnaire

Yes. As a kid, my dad was a truck driver and on the road for days at a time. My mom didn’t have a driver’s license, so she would take me into town by bus for us to run errands when he was away. For my family, the bus meant freedom and opportunity. I have been a long-time advocate for public transit options in Austin. I was an enthusiastic public supporter, and endorser in my official capacity as State Representative, of Project Connect when it went before the voters.

A project of this scale won’t happen overnight, but it will take a mayor with a steady eye who has a personal connection to public transit that assures our tax dollars get us the biggest bang for our buck. I am committed to fulfilling the high equity expectations the voters had in 2020. At this critical time for the future of our transit system, our focus must be on how we can create the greatest connectivity for all people in all of Austin without adjusting the dollar figure that the voters approved.

2. How will you work to further collaboration between the City of Austin and both Capital Metro and the Austin Transit Partnership so that transit riders relying on busses, trains, and paratransit for their everyday needs get the best possible service?

I’ve been an advocate for transit for years, most notably as chair and lead organizer for the Alliance for Public Transportation, which was the main advocacy group to encourage a financial agreement between the City and Cap Metro so the City could offset the costs of weekend Red Line service.
As someone who would enthusiastically be serving on the board of ATP and has a long history of transit use and advocacy, I will move forward in partnership with our transit authority to ensure we have a first-class service that brings our city and region together.

Relationships are critical to realizing our dreams of a robust transit system and that means responsiveness and honesty to build the good will. In order to maximize public trust and public investment, we need to ensure the relationships between the City and CapMetro are strong, honest and open. The future of Austin is brighter because of this potential.

3. What is your position on enabling greater density along transit corridors? Specifically, which land use and zoning changes would you like to see implemented and what is your position on the $300M in anti-displacement funds managed by the City?

As I’ve said on the campaign trail, this election is about who can afford to live in Austin and who gets to decide. Transportation is a significant input into the cost of living in our city. The City has a responsibility to maximize opportunities to grow in a thoughtful way as we build out our transit system, and a successful transportation network directly depends on the supportive partnership of the City to allow more housing, businesses, health care, and educational opportunities along its corridors. I support allowing more Equitable Transit-Oriented Development with increased height and higher affordability requirements in order to meet the housing needs of so many Austinites.

We should also be more engaged when there are opportunities to repurpose commercial space and re-zone it to residential or mixed-use residential. These locations could also lend themselves to transit accessibility.

The passage of Project Connect brought with it a first-of-its-kind $300 million commitment to anti-displacement to mitigate gentrification along major corridors. I was a strong supporter of the inclusion of these funds in the transit package. Working with regional and national partners, we can augment these funds and create meaningful housing opportunities, and we must move with urgency as land value in Austin continues to rise.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

In 20 years, I envision a fully built-out Project Connect with land use changes that support our transportation system. I will work with Council to improve density along our major corridors, modernize processes for creating missing middle property, utilize city-owned land for deeply affordable housing near transit lines, and work with the private sector to repurpose underutilized commercial property and parking lots. Initial discussions have begun with city and county leaders along the greater Central Texas corridor to improve commuter opportunities and a shuttle service that serves the corridor from north of Austin down to San Antonio. With a change in Austin leadership, it will be important to continue the partnership and discussion. We must actively partner with jurisdictions along the greater I-35 corridor to create a safe, connected, multi-modal-friendly, and forward-thinking transportation region that supports the diverse transportation and access needs of the growing Central Texas region of today and the future.

With I-35, we have a multi-generational opportunity to push for a transportation asset that we can be proud of. To me, that means a new I-35 that provides true east-west connectivity, enhancements that ensure safety for all modes of transportation and that is technology-forward. I support creating caps across significant portions of downtown Austin and the central portion of I-35. This would provide the opportunity to capture land value and create a long-term revenue generator that can be put toward affordable housing, anti-displacement, and transit infrastructure for decades to come.

Gary Spellman

No Response.

Jennifer Virden

No Response.

Senator Kirk Watson

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I support Project Connect and I’m proud to have been a rail transit advocate and leader for over 25 years. I worked hard as mayor to help create and pass Austin’s first proposed rail system in 2000, and despite our narrow failure to do so (though a majority of Austin voters supported it) I have continued to play a leadership role, including working between the time I was mayor and senator to support and chair the election effort to create the Red Line. In the senate, I worked to help launch and expand MetroRail. I support Project Connect because I believe effective rail transit can and should play a primary role in our overall public transit network and regional transportation system. I am a strong supporter of all viable public transit alternatives and believe that our city and region are years behind where we should be on investing in expanded transit.

I believe the Austin mayor’s office should take a more active role in optimizing the working relationship between the City and its transit and transportation partners, and if elected will work to create a protocol for more routine communication in service to improved collaboration, transparency and accountability, across jurisdictions. I am especially concerned about the need to actively, carefully collaborate across many jurisdictions on the $25 billion worth of major regional mobility infrastructure projects that are either in the pipeline or already underway, including Project Connect, reconstruction of Interstate 35, expansion of the airport, and a range of other major mobility investments. To the end, as mayor I propose to create a new, regional Transportation Construction Command Center – a daily working partnership between the City of Austin, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Capital Metro, the Austin Transit Partnership, county governments, public safety and emergency response agencies, and potentially a range of other stakeholders, to create an integrated ongoing approach to managing these major upcoming mobility projects. The Transportation Construction Command Center partners should aggressively collaborate to streamline and optimize the planning, design, contracting, permitting and construction of projects, including developing and executing strategies to mitigate impact, with special attention to ensuring that our public transit system is utilized to maximum effect.

As a way to address our housing, transportation and affordability challenges, I very strongly favor creating designated hubs of greater density, especially along transit corridors, where the City would require minimum development limits as opposed to setting caps. Among the related land use and zoning changes I would like to see implemented are reducing compatibility and reducing or eliminating parking requirements in targeted areas; changing vertical mixed-use zoning to allow more height, especially in exchange for more affordable housing units; and creating incentives to convert office buildings into residential buildings and add housing to existing parking lots. With regard to anti-displacement, my position is that Project Connect voters approved $300 million in separate anti-displacement funding, which I view as an acknowledgement that greater density is inherent to a successful rail transit system, and that Austinites want the City to ensure equity as we pursue necessary changes that may impact housing in low-income communities. As part of doing so, I’ve proposed to hold “accountability sessions” at least every six months, where Austinites would receive a briefing on the status of Project Connect and each of our major transportation projects, including information on anti-displacement outcomes, and be able to ask direct questions to project managers.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision for transit in 20 years is that we will be sustainably operating a technologically-advanced, robust and interconnected system of rail, bus and other mobility options, not just in Austin but across the region. To make that vision into a reality, we first must acknowledge that our transportation and transit challenges are indeed regional. To improve and expand transit options, I believe Austin needs leadership with a proven ability to convene diverse stakeholders from across our 5-county area to find new ways to work together to get things done on issues that impact us all. I believe we also need to work to ensure, through regular review and analysis, that our local transportation planning bodies like CAMPO are effectively executing their charge on an ongoing basis. Finally, to reach our goals, I believe we must remember and be continuously motivated by the certain consequence of failing to successfully expand our regional transit and transportation system: a future of more inequity rather than more opportunity. My greatest concern may be generational. If failing to fix our transportation (and housing) problems is among the factors that put financial stability out of reach for our children and grandchildren (or young people already here and working to build their future), we’ll be undermining our community’s promise in a way that negates every other step we may take to protect it. Our progressive rallying cry must be that we will prevent this. We simply cannot be the generation that denies subsequent ones the same opportunities that Austin gave us.

District 1

Natasha Harper-Madison

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes. I was a vocal supporter of Project Connect during my first term and still fully support it. For too long our city has prioritized car-oriented development (COD.) Project Connect gives us the opportunity to reverse this course and retrofit Austin with transit-oriented development (TOD.) By retooling our existing systems to allow for more TOD to replace the existing COD, we take big steps toward achieving our housing, mobility, and climate goals. Transit-oriented development is the right choice for the city, the people, and our environment.

As the representative for District 1, I have the responsibility of representing some of the lowest income areas of the city. Many of my constituents, friends, and family members rely heavily on public transportation and as we work to implement the many different facets of Project Connect, it is critical that we execute these projects minimizing wasteful spending and eliminating unnecessary redundancies. Cap Metro has done a phenomenal job with the resources they have and I know with increased support and communication, we can ensure a high functioning city transportation system. I will work tirelessly to ensure Cap Metro and the Austin Transit Partnership have what they need to do their job. Continuous feedback and procedural evaluations should play an integral role in determining whether or not our residents receive the best possible service that I know we can provide. When we experience some type of roadblock or barrier to progress we need to take time to identify the root causes of those issues and work to prevent them from happening again.

When they first built Mopac back in 1971, they flattened dozens of homes and displaced hundreds of black residents from Clarksville; one of the last Black neighborhoods west of I-35. With Project Connect, we now have a chance to significantly invest in our city infrastructure without displacing the most marginalized members of our community. I am grateful, proud, and honored to have played an integral role in securing the $300M anti-displacement fund and will continue to advocate for all of our working families. I also support sensible and pragmatic changes to our land development code that enable us to build more housing; both affordable and market-rate units. We need to carefully evaluate compatibility and our use and prevalence of vertical mixed use units to increase our housing supply while ensuring responsible and equitable development.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

I am a supporter of the Zero Carbon by 2030 plan, but I know we can do a lot more to reduce the city’s carbon footprint long before then. I have a vision for a city that is eco-friendly and prioritizes the use of sustainable energy sources over the burning of more fossil fuels. I have a very pragmatic and realistic approach that will help make this vision a reality. It is centered around a focus on equitable transit-oriented development. For decades, the growth of the city focused on car-oriented development and this is a big reason why our infrastructure lacks more efficient public transportation. With a renewed focus on transit-oriented development moving forward, we can reduce our carbon footprint by building both new affordable and market-rate housing developments around our enhanced bus lines and railways. By doing so, we will have more people using city transportation and more people saving money by doing so. In addition we will also increase the city’s return on its transportation investments and Project Connect.

Melanie House Dixon

No contact information available.

Misael Ramos

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I actually support Project Connect but I think the execution needs to be better. In District 1, we haven’t seen the benefits of PC quite yet from a transportation aspect and the anti-displacement initiatives aren’t as accessible or publicized as they should be. To me this is a place where the district needs a leader that is engaged so the community is informed of the transit development plans and anti-displacement efforts beforehand. As the next District 1 City Council member, my team would be able to support these efforts day 1 after I’m elected.

As the D1 City Council rep, my plan is to bring the community with me in everything I do. To do this, I would create an open remote meeting on Saturdays to hear concerns or feedback so folks that use public transit during the work week are able to access their city official without leaving their house. From there I would take that feedback to all standing meetings between CapMetro, Austin Transit Partnerships, and COA to advocate on any transit issues people are having. Basically taking a bottom up approach to ensure folks are heard but then working with the appropriate groups to make sure we’re pushing improvements and getting things done.

For me, greater density along transit corridors can be a good thing as long as the city identifies areas or neighborhoods that are most vulnerable to gentrification and works with those communities to bring services the people in those areas need. This can be done by utilizing UT’s Uprooted maps and engaging with neighborhood leaders in those areas.
To address the question around how the city has managed the anti-displacement funds, honestly, you can’t help but to be frustrated with it. There are a lot of groups really engaged and passionate about anti-displacement work. I say this as a member of a coalition that helped write the policy which eventually developed into Project Connect’s Anti-Displacement Community Acquisition Program (ADCAP) program. For context, the original intent of the program was to help provide neighborhoods, non-profit community development corporations (CDCs), and other non-profit organizations leverage over the housing market by allowing them to access a pool of funds rapidly so they could compete against wealthier development firms and other housing market elements. Our coalition worked with Greg Casar’s office to get it passed through council. After council passed it, unfortunately the program lost everything that made it rapid and people haven’t utilized it as much because they don’t know about it. I think with better communication, marketing, and community engagement the $300 million could have a really positive impact it just hasn’t been felt yet.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision for Austin is to ensure there are more rapid and frequent bus routes so folks don’t have to wait long on the street for a bus and are able to get places quicker once they’ve boarded. I would also like to see a rail system that connects each region of Austin with other public transport options feeding into it. To have this vision be a success, it’s going to take a good deal of collaboration with CapMetro and bringing creative solutions to the table like rethinking I-35 so that we’re able to connect East, West, North and South Austin easier.

Clinton Rarey

No response.

District 3

Bertha Delgado

No response.

Gavino Fernandez

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes, through our neighborhood association organizations under El Concilio Mexican-American landowners in East Austin we provided information to our residents in preparation for the Ballot item before the voters. We also owe the voters of Austin who approved the bond accountability in the dissemination of the $300 million set aside for anti-displacement. Plus I serve as a Capital Metro Project Connect connector and enter phase 2 of the information data needed to stay informed to the public as the implementation and construction of project connect to move forward. As Austin continues to grow we as a community must provide Transportation alternatives to mobilize people in our Metro community. And project connect when completed will provide the opportunity to reduce car emissions into the ozone.

Continue the ongoing collaboration amongst all those providing funding or additional resources in order to complete their charge of assuring that all capital metro services provide a safe, clean, Affordable, and efficient delivery of passenger service to the public.

As a neighborhood advocate, I would support Density along transit corridors with certain neighborhood protection Noise levels not exceeding 75 disciples, Height limits no more than 5 stories. The entrance and exit of development residents do not pour into neighborhood streets but major corridors to minimize the effect of the increase in traffic to close homes. I support the $300mil anti-displacement to mitigate the potential relocation of small businesses or homes within the TOD along all the transit rail corridors. Especially mom and Pop operated businesses in communities of color.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

Regional Rail service from Austin to San Antonio, extension rail service to West Austin, service to Austin Colony. Working with all political divisions along said alignments to see it become reality. Seek Federal, state, and local funding to support this vision. Working with Campo.

José Noé Elias

No response.

Daniela Silva

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes, I fully support Project Connect. We are decades behind on where we should be when it comes to our public transit system. The number of working-class people who can afford to live in Austin is shrinking rapidly and this is having a huge impact on the economy. Businesses are struggling to hire people because more and more folks moving here from other cities or states are high-wage earners that can afford to pay the higher rents, and investors are gobbling up affordable homes and properties in order to build luxury housing. Without an adequate transit system, people can’t afford to commute 1-2 hours into town, assuming they even have a car. Small businesses are being acutely impacted by this since they operate on smaller margins and can’t afford to either be understaffed nor pay employees the wages necessary to afford living in Austin. Building a robust, reliable, and efficient transit system is of absolute priority and we must move forward with Project Connect before costs go even higher.

Public transit is one of the best tools a city has to expand equity for its citizens, and equity must be centered in every aspect. While the pay has increased for bus drivers, which I am in full support of, many of the people who would work those jobs cannot afford to live here. Prioritizing the protection of existing, and expansion of, deeply affordable housing is vital to attracting a robust workforce, which is necessary to maintain reliable and amble transit routes. I have, and will continue to, advocate for denser housing around transit corridors and that a good percentage of the housing is deeply affordable. I will also work with COA, CapMetro, CAMPO, and ATP to explore different options to ensure the people who rely on existing public transit the most – our low income and unhoused neighbors – are able to continue affordable ridership across all transit services as CapMetro develops. For expanding ridership and simultaneously expanding voting rights, I would like to work to provide free transportation to and from polling places through early voting and on Election Day. If I’m able to successfully leverage that partnership, I’d like to expand that to local and municipal election days as well.

My position is that we need greater density along our transit corridors. The first step is passing VMU2. I’d also like to make land use and zoning changes to prioritize higher density, affordable housing developments nearest our transit corridors by expediting the permitting and licensing stages for those projects. The anti-displacement funds should be used to protect existing housing for people earning at or below 50 MFI, encouraging on-site affordability, and developing more deeply affordable and missing middle housing throughout all of Austin. As a Council Member, I will make sure the City continues to partner with and fund projects led by Habitat for Humanity, GNDC, Foundation Communities, and other affordable housing groups. The time it takes to complete a housing project in this city has increased substantially, and I’d support using anti-displacement funds towards moving affordable, high density projects through quicker approval processes.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

At the the regional level I would work to expand interlocal agreements through CAMPO, the cap metro board, and ATP to ensure that transit to underserved areas is increased, that current transit grows to keep pace with the rapidly growing population, and that a direct line of transit was built from all corners of the greater Austin metropolitan area. I would also continue to support projects that are designed to increase transit in our core corridors like Project Connect. While not directly related to transit, I think it’s also important to work with regional leaders to help shape the future developments of nearby cities and towns to be more walkable and transit-friendly, while also cultivating their arts and culture programs. People are moving to Austin for the nature, the culture, and the arts – so if we are able to help other towns in the region develop those qualities, we can hopefully relieve some of the development pressure from Austin while also prioritizing connectivity throughout the region.

José Velásquez

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

As a 4th generation Austinite we are far behind where we should be with public transit comparable to other cities our size. More transportation options makes for a more equitable Austin. A better transit system will help with affordability issues, congestion issues, and environmental issues.

I have an existing collaborative relationship with the parties mentioned and we work well together as it stands. Should I be elected to council I would work to deepen those relationships and ensure all riders of public transit get the services they deserve. I was born and raised in East Austin and when I was a kid, Cap Metro was the only transportation we had. That lived experience informs my decisions, collaborations and service.

We need greater density along those corridors. And we need it now but will especially need it to help with affordability and displacement once the lines come online. We need to legalize housing in Austin. We need to work on policy that offers the following:

Encourage and allow for subsidies/reduction in fees for our community partners with underutilized land.e.g. AISD, Travis County, CapMetro etc
Density hubs to encourage growth & public transit utilization
Incentivising more affordable housing units by removing height restrictions for VMU projects along major thoroughfares
Revisit minimum parking requirements.

The $300 isn’t enough. We need a lot more, especially considering that only $20 million is allocated for non-profit partners doing the anti-displacement work.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?
I want to see it grow, provide better service and connect Central Texas better. I think the problem with a lot of the major lifts like transit and the LDC rewrite is that we need to build coalitions that better reflect a proper sample of Austin. My contribution to helping see these major projects through to fruition will be to help build those coalitions and leveraging the trust and standing I have in the community to get it done.

Yvonne Weldon

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I support a “public” transportation system that can effectively serve and prioritizes the most needed users that are dependent on public transportation which are the working-class population that utilize it to get to and from work. In addition, there should certainly be strategically designed routes that enable most residents, workers, students, shoppers, tourists, etc. access to commute and be transported. Austin is now home to some of the greatest engineering minds as well as one of the richest men in the world (who coincidentally happens to also own an infrastructure and tunnel company) whereby we need to bring to the table to scrap Project Connect and come up with a sensible plan as well as how to pay for it without forcing taxpayers now who likely won’t or may never get to utilize the new system for years and years. Voters were misled by what some have been calling and are confirming was “Project Con” and it needs to be scrapped with the tax rate reduced.

As we continue to focus on long term solutions, we also must address the current public transportation crisis that are impacting commuters and students. Specialty routes that accommodate major corporations, events, etc. should be suspended and those companies and organizers can figure out their own transportation solutions. This planning should not just be a collaboration of the City of Austin and Capital Metro and other special interest groups, but also to consider county and state entities and the public to provide input. Specific input and solutions must include involvement for special needs and accommodation services.

There are some areas where greater density makes sense and others where it does not or that it is intrusive. The anti-displacement was part of Project Con and should be scrapped and the tax rate reduce.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

An effective transportation system utilizing the right mix of busses, trains, roads, highways, sidewalks, and possibly even air space travel.

Esala Wueschner

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I support the concept of Project Connect which helps Austin residents to be able to travel to their destinations fast and efficiently. I would like to see a detailed plan, as well as money distribution, so I am able to provide some solutions to make it better with the respect of my voters in District 3.

I would like to see a blueprint of the current plans for Austin transportation for the next 5 years. Based on the resource, I would like to see if it is possible to build a high-speed subway system that will be able to travel underground throughout Austin without hurting the underground spring water system.

Due to the lack of transparency to the public regarding this matter, it is difficult for me to have a position. Until I get the full details on the matter, I would like to hear the alternative views and build my stance based on the most optimal solution.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision for Austin regional transit in the next 20 years would be to make it easier for the outside city residents to be able to travel to Austin by reducing the time that vehicles get stuck in traffic by 25-40%.

District 5

Ryan Alter

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes. Austin needs transportation solutions that are not just building more roads. We need a robust multimodal transportation system that allows individuals to get around town without having to drive a car. Project Connect is a great first step toward achieving this goal.

This is also an equity issue. While the city needs to make significant land use reforms to allow more people to live where they would like across Austin, having a transportation system that truly connects people to all parts of the city allows for residents to enjoy all that Austin has to offer, even if they are unable to afford to live in certain areas of town.

Our city should be walkable, bikeable, or otherwise easy to navigate without a car. Project Connect will help us achieve this goal while connecting our residents, reducing harmful environmental impacts of cars, and improving the daily lives of everyone.

For Project Connect and the overall transportation system we are creating to be successful, we need every level of government to be aligned in our strategies and goals. The only way mass transit is successful is to make it reliable and accessible to everyone. To support these efforts, the city needs to allow for transit-oriented housing along these routes and work with these entities to ensure rights of way and other land use decisions allow for a robust network. Our first real test will come when the ETOD study is released. The city can show it is a true partner in this project by helping usher through the necessary land use changes, or it can act as a barrier that prolongs this process making it more expensive and even further delayed.

Throughout my career at the Capitol, I have worked with state agencies and various levels of government to ensure coordination on various projects. I have learned the importance of maintaining constant channels of communication and follow up to keep everyone moving in the same direction. This is the type of effort I will employ as a member of Council so that we can deliver a high-quality product to the public in as fast and efficient manner as possible.

I am in full support of allowing greater density along the transit corridors. We need more housing opportunities everywhere across Austin, not just along the corridors. However, the corridors should be a main focus. I support both greater density immediately adjacent to the corridors as well as deeper transition zones into our neighborhoods that allow for more housing to be built within ¼ mile of these transit lines. This must also be paired with a dramatic change in our compatibility rules that are choking our ability to build along these corridors and eliminating parking minimums, at least in these areas if not on a greater scale.

I am also very happy the city included the $300M in anti-displacement funding in this overall package. We have a poor track record of listening to the people in certain areas of Austin, particularly East and South Austin, and giving their homes and lives the same priority as other areas so often enjoy. These funds will be a significant tool to help mitigate some of the displacement that we know will occur due to Project Connect and I am committed to working with communities to hear how they would like to see these funds used for their neighborhoods instead of assuming council or staff have all the solutions.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

It is my plan to enact policies that make the goals of the strategic mobility plan a reality. I want to make sure no one who wants to walk, bike, or utilize transit to get around Austin faces barriers to doing so. That means we have an extensive network of sidewalks and bike lanes; buses and rail that are easily accessible, reliable, and enjoyable to use; and people are able to live where they want to live to support this infrastructure.

To make this plan a reality, we are going to need council members who will show a constant commitment to these efforts. We have to always be thinking about how decisions we are making will impact transportation. Too often we take too narrow a view when making decisions that will affect our transportation needs. It is essential that we have people who understand that taking certain actions such as building new roads, approving development, or implementing building rules can either support or hurt our transportation goals, and that we choose to make decisions that are aligned with our vision for the future of Austin’s transportation and not make them in a vacuum.

Brian Anderson

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

With 58 percent of Austinites voting in favor of Project Connect, this is not up to me or any other candidate or council member. We had a policy decision via direct democracy over raising taxes to invest in our city’s future and Austinites said yes. And when 6 in 10 voters say yes to higher taxes for something, it’s clear they care about it and see it as vital for our city’s future. The job of a city councilor is to deliver on the will of the people and that is exactly what I intend to do on this issue. As someone who uses public transit every day, I am the District-5 candidate most qualified to oversee this critical investment in our city’s future.

What our city needs is a council member who has regularly used transit in other cities and here in Austin in their daily life. As a council member that takes the bus, I’ll know what to look for and pay attention to when issues arise and need to be resolved. I will work with all stakeholders to formalize channels of information sharing so that the wheels of each organization are moving toward the same goal. This will keep everyone involved focused on the most critical transit priorities shared by Austinites. I’ll use my position to make strategic reforms, repairs, and improvements happen more efficiently and effectively, so the people of Austin can go about their lives more efficiently and safely.

Austin grew by 85 percent in the twenty years between 2000 and 2020. If that growth continues from 2020-2040, we will be the size that Los Angeles is today. The question is: do we want LA traffic? The answer of course is “NO!” The way to keep traffic down and our economy growing is through mass transit with more density along transit corridors. And more density does not mean a giant skyscraper like in downtown – it means 4-6 story apartment buildings, multi-unit row houses, and minimizing street width to make pedestrian travel more efficient and enjoyable. It’s all these things and more.

The anti-displacement fund is critical for ensuring the lives of our citizens who are most at risk of displacement are protected during Project Connect development. While I support affordable housing construction, more attention needs to be given to housing complexes with a minority of affordable units. Spreading affordable units out over many new apartment/condo complexes (instead of one affordable-only complex) would spread out the funds and the geographical reach of affordable housing. Doing so will provide Austinites with not just the option to stay in one affordable building in their neighborhood but choices to choose from. What’s more, this kind of policy connects people of different incomes, which has been shown to increase the likelihood of children climbing the economic ladder. The issue is not the $300 million price tag. The issue will be answering the question, “Are we using this money wisely and for its intended purpose?” I believe I am the best candidate to provide guidance and oversight for these investments.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision for Austin’s future regional transit system is a cornerstone of my campaign: the short-term includes adding a “Circulator” (Washington, DC) bus system to our current bus network, as well as converting more bike paths to protected lanes. The medium-term is implementing Project Connect with care and intention through the eyes of a mass transit user, and, building a “606”-inspired (Chicago) raised bike/run/walk road without cars across the city. And for the long-term, starting the process now of building an Austin-San Antonio International Airport in between the two cities (like DFW), with Austin-Bergstrom becoming a domestic/regional airport similar to Dallas Love Field. Best of all, there will be a high-speed train connecting Austin, this new shared airport, and downtown San Antonio. Each leg to the airport would be 15-20 min while the full distance would be 30-35 min. between the two downtowns. These short, medium, and long-term plans serve us today, tomorrow, and for future generations.

Stephanie Bazan

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Everyone should have access to quality public transportation. Austinites voted for this project and I support Project Connect and the vision to ensure equitable access and effective and comprehensive transit throughout Austin. As Austin continues to grow, our city and community needs reliable, sustainable and rapid transit to help grow our economy, create jobs and continue to improve the quality of life for everyone in our city. Importantly we must ensure that Project Connect is completed on time and on budget to meet community expectations.

Transit works best for riders when it is comprehensive, reliable and sensible to use to get to where you need to go. It’s important to keep the community being served in mind, reflect their input and remain transparent in order to enable improved planning and solution development to create a more integrated and effective transit service for all.

I would encourage continued efforts like ATX Walk Bike Roll that contribute to helping people get around more easily, especially in traveling to and from transit hubs. I would champion ongoing collaboration so that transit riders can count on transport with good frequency that reaches their desired destination within a reasonable time.

I believe that allowing for greater density along transit corridors is an essential part of addressing our housing crisis. We could benefit from enhancing density bonus programs to encourage the construction of desirable and affordable housing. We need land use rules that everyone can understand so we can construct with certainty and build the city we want for our future.

As areas become more desirable they are often met with a greater price tag, and people who once called the area home can quickly be priced out. I support the $300 million in anti-displacement funds. While we invest into transit oriented communities it will be essential to help the most vulnerable benefit from this change. I believe that the anti-displacement funds managed by the city will play a critical part in ensuring that all who call our transit corridors home may continue to afford to live in their community and reap the benefits. The funds need to be used quickly to make the greatest impact and they are most useful in communities facing earlier stages of displacement.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

In 20 years I would want to have a legitimate and viable transit solution to enable our community to actually be less dependent on car use. Less cars on the road makes streets safer for everyone and helps both transit riders and drivers. It would also help our environment through reduced carbon emissions. Our future state of transit would allow our city to be more livable, ideally with shorter commutes, local job creation, and more access to all the things we love about Austin including parks and public spaces.

Improved transit would also help with our affordability challenges by driving down the cost of living. Most households cite that car based transportation is the second highest cost to the family, only behind housing. To make the visions a reality, I would start by championing transit supportive programs and policies. I would push for Project Connect to deliver on its promises to voters on time and to make the most of the budget.

Ken Craig

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I fully support Project Connect and voted for it.

Project Connect is a necessary and long overdue step in the evolution of our city and region. Project Connect will provide a transit framework from which to build an extensive transportation network that offers alternatives to point-to-point auto trips (including light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, MetroBike, MetroAccess (paratransit), MetroExpress (commuter), Pickup (on-demand), and bus service). This network will include “first/last mile” solutions and mobility for those who have limited access as well as points of access by alternative transportation modes. Project Connect will therefore be the structure for providing equity in mobility, opening access to more parts of the city to more people which will make us a more vibrant city, accessible for all.

As a Senior Policy Advisor in Councilmember Ann Kitchen’s office I helped support placing Project Connect on the ballot and subsequent actions, including passage of the Contract with the Voters, the Joint Powers Agreement, and creation of the $300 million anti-displacement fund. The District 5 Council office has been very involved in Project Connect, supporting Councilmember Kitchen on the CapMetro Board as well as City Council. In addition to that collaboration, I was able to attend information sessions and public meetings expressing my support as well as my less formal word of mouth campaign.

As a candidate I have also had the opportunity to speak to the reality of Project Connect that it represents the will of the people as expressed through their votes. The further point to be made is that successfully enacting the people’s charge requires cooperation and coordination among all entities, not only the City of Austin, ATP and Capital Metro, but also extending to entities such as neighboring jurisdictions as well as community based advocacy and service organizations.

Also, from a personal perspective, I and my neighbors who are also riders of the #3 Menchaca Rd. route in South Austin are eager for the improvements to come in the next year. We are looking forward to the Bus Rapid Transit for Menchaca Rd. We appreciate the more frequent service and the extension of that service further south that will make transit not only more available but more useful for residents in our area.

I will prioritize regular opportunities for the Austin City Council, the CapMetro Board, and the ATP Board to communicate with each other and the public about progress implementing Project Connect. Board leadership must reinforce, support, and set expectations for collaboration by all staff engaged with Project Connect and ensure that each entity’s staff have the policy guidance and resources needed for effective collaboration. I will actively support and ensure continued partnership and swift resolution of any issues that may arise to avoid conflicts in working relationships.

I would work with ATD and engage TXDoT to make our transportation infrastructure mesh efficiently. For instance, intersections should include safe multi-modal travel to facilitate access to transit as well as alternative means of travel.

Rather than simply focus on housing units, the city should collaborate with CapMetro and ATP to promote living, working, creative and recreation spaces near the transit lines to make usage more desirable and useful.

Also, we will need to make transit more accessible for those who really rely on and benefit from transit. The first thing that must always be done is develop scheduling and access points with the full input and participation of transit users and those who are not yet transit users in order to craft a system that encourages ridership. That includes education about how to access the system in order to break down barriers such as the intimidation new users often feel when adopting a new mode of transportation or an unfamiliar fare payment system. That also includes paying attention to land use near bus stops, including sidewalks, lighting, and shade, so that people feel comfortable and are safe in getting to transit stops.

Greater density along corridors is necessary if we are to accommodate our growing population while maintaining the character of our city. We must have affordable housing options in locations where car travel is not a necessity. Density is not merely clustering homes – any level of density must also enhance livability. Livability includes desirable commercial (grocery, other retail, services, restaurants), parks and green spaces, as well as educational and cultural opportunities. Access to these will encourage people to move to these areas, stay and form new communities, and expand others. These services, opportunities, and green space will appeal to the surrounding neighborhoods as well, drawing those residents to the corridors in a way that reduces their costs to access such benefits of living in a city.

Desirable land use and zoning changes include expanded use of VMU-2, Affordability Unlocked, and other options that allow for increased density in exchange for public benefits such as increased affordability and maintaining parkland dedication. I also propose reinvigorating planning processes, through district level planning coordinated with eTOD planning, to ensure that density and corridor development thoughtfully enhances access to services, opportunities, and green space.

The $300 million in anti-displacement funding for Project Connect is nationally recognized and has the potential to transform how we build transit infrastructure – if implemented as intended. Anti-displacement funds should be allocated according to the needs of communities as determined by that community. That includes intentionally listening to and working with people living in areas along Project Connect transit lines at risk for gentrification and displacement. We must be prepared to adapt and apply multiple targeted strategies as appropriate for the community, including but not limited to home repair, home ownership and rental assistance, right to return, and land acquisition to help people stay in their neighborhoods and avoid displacement.

Equity considerations are central to building and operating Project Connect and the transit system in Austin, and not limited to the use of the anti-displacement funding. Engaging the public through the Community Advisory Committee (as well as other committees) is a necessary and ongoing activity that I will actively support.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

Project Connect is envisioned as a regional system, with future MetroExpress bus access for communities such as Georgetown, Hutto, San Marcos, Bastrop, and Lockhart. The Green Line is envisioned to extend to Elgin. Currently, CapMetro operates the Red Line to Leander and Pickup and MetroExpress service in other surrounding communities. In 20 years, I would envision not only completing the Project Connect initial investment, but being well on the way to implementing the regional vision.

In 20 years, we must make it not only desirable but feasible for people to easily move between cities across the region for work and recreation. The regional transit system must be seen as benefitting and belonging to the region, so that other cities want to link into the system and to collaborate on regional inter-city transit.

I will work with CapMetro, CAMPO, and regional groups such as AARO, to collaborate with other cities and help them address mobility and economic development challenges for their community. For example, surrounding cities are facing financing issues as they try to address rapid growth and the need to build infrastructure with limited tax revenues. More options are needed for funding transit without sacrificing other development needs.

I will also build on existing opportunities. For example, there is already interest in taking Amtrak from Austin to Taylor to spend time there on weekends and vice versa, but limited scheduling limits that usage. In addition, the Austin-San Antonio corridor intercity transit concept should be revived and envisioned in ways that address previous barriers to implementation such as right-of-way, fixed line costs, and scalability. New approaches should also be considered, including expanded commuter bus service.

Aaron Webman

No response.

Bill Welch

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes, I did when the project was originally proposed. However, since cost projections continue to rise I am increasingly suspect of the cost and benefit value (ROI). I want to see a complete review and have a bunch of questions I want answered before moving forward. The key is scaling the project such that it will serve likely user populations (no more Red Line flops that had rail serving unpopulated areas and has failed to achieve significant ridership for decades). Additionally, I want assurance that we are using existing right of way where applicable instead of costly new ROW.

Bottom line: I support public transit using buses, trains, and paratransit modes of transportation. BUT, our transit system must serve a reasonable user population and show projected ridership numbers that make the investment worthwhile.

It’s always going to be an issue of oversight, accountability, and support for appropriate initiatives. CoA, Cap Metro, and ATP are loaded with transit professionals who should have the right answers given appropriate (council) guidance on desired outcomes. As a council member, I intend to provide the kind of oversight, accountability, and support to assure that transit riders relying on buses, trains, and paratransit for their everyday needs get the best possible service.

Transit corridors are the most appropriate place for high density development. I’m totally supportive! I would like to see high density, high rise development with appropriate incentives in zoning and taxation to encourage the development of affordable housing AND affordable commercial opportunities.

I DO NOT favor the city incurring debt or raising taxes to accumulate funds to give back to persons who might want to remain in place but instead are faced with being displaced because of rapidly increasing valuations and associated increases in taxes and utilities. Instead, taxing authorities should freze the rate for homeowners whose dwellings are affected until such time as the property changes hands or is otherwise redeveloped or improved by the homeowner. Taxing authorities should not expect any offset payment from anti-displacement funds for the amount of the frozen tax rate. This was otherwise a windfall and is not deserving of retribution.

I generally distrust big dollar government programs that accumulate funds for use as offsets. The money is never spent efficiently and often ends up being reallocated to purposes other than its intended use.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My greatest vision is the relocation of the Union Pacific rail line away from central Austin and relocated East to serve emerging industries such as Tesla, Space-X, Boring Company and many others to follow. Then repurpose the existing rail to serve as a hub link to communities South and North of town. This rail should be the backbone of any rail system built in Austin. The benefit being the removal of a serious hazard to our neighborhoods and the delivery of a viable rail connecting key communities along the central Texas corridor. I’d also like to see a transition of high density areas from individual vehicles to autonomous electric shared ridership. Start with small areas of downtown and the Domain and work out from there. This does not have to be a municipally operated system, there are plenty of private enterprises who would love a public/private venture of this type. I believe the result is a safer, cleaner, more sustainable city center and would be a wonderful futuristic achievement and a boost to our international high tech reputation.

District 8

Paige Ellis

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I endorsed Project Connect when we put it on the ballot in 2020. Since then, as a member of the Austin City Council, I serve on the tri-party board that helps guide the process of moving forward with the implementation of Project Connect. As Chair of the City Council’s Mobility Committee, I routinely invite
the PC team to present updates so that the general public stays up to date on the project’s environmental processes and implementation phasing.

It is important to make sure that the City Council works with our partners at CapMetro and the ATP. I check in with board members to make sure we are all aware of the decisions needing to be made and to ensure we all know the appropriate timeline for those decisions. For this project to succeed, we need to make sure the funding mechanism (City of Austin), the operators (CapMetro), and the builders (ATP) are all working closely together.

CapMetro is currently working through an equitable Transit Oriented Development (eTOD) federal grant study. CapMetro and the ATP do not have zoning authority. The City Council will need to do its part through zoning recommendations that come out of that study. As the cost of housing and land increase, we need to front-load land acquisitions in particular, and work with community partners to truly realize the opportunities of giving those who have lived in these areas a long time the ability to stay where they are. It will be important to utilize the Racial Equity Anti-Displacement Tool in these decisions. The balance between encouraging density along the corridors that are not at risk of gentrification, and managing the growth along the corridors that are at risk might look very different and need to be calibrated with all of these factors in mind.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?
In the next 20 years, we have goals of achieving a 50/50 mode share split. In 2020 I sponsored the $460M Safe & Active Mobility Bond that focused on Urban Trails, Bike Lanes, and Safe Routes to School.

We are just now seeing the first projects delivered through that bond program. We also have plans to reduce our carbon emissions in order to improve air quality and health. We are at the beginning of a Golden Age of Transit in Austin due to Project Connect and the Safe & Active Mobility Bond both passed overwhelmingly by voters in November 2020. We must see these projects through, and couple those improvements with creating land use policies that allow more people to live/work/play near transit, walkable communities, and parks. We can do this, but only if we have Council Members join the dais who are committed to this vision.

Kimberly Hawkins

No contact information available.

Antonio Ross

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

As a resident of Austin and a father of a disabled child, I fully support Project Connect. I have always wanted to push for sustainability and equality of public transportation.

As a public transportation user, it would be very vital for me to observe and speak with other users to gain information on resident’s needs, and concerns on how to make their transi better and more equal for everyone.

The greater the better. I would like to see East Austin and Southern area of Austin re-zoned to include more carpool parking to promote better transit use.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision is to have an above ground monorail system in Austin in 20 years. This will bring jobs, tourism, and create a better quality of life for all Austinites. I will start partnering with engineers, and land developers, and propose necessary grants from institutions and maybe even individual investors who are capable to help fund and create the project.

Richard Smith

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I do not support Project Connect in its current iteration and at its current bloated cost because I believe there are more cost effective, environmentally friendly, and flexible means of equitably providing transit to all residents of Austin.

By the time Project Connect is completed it will be obsolete. Project Connect contemplates structures that are environmentally destructive to build and “fixed” in a geographic location (e.g., transit stations, tracks).

Please see question 4 below for an alternate plan.

How will you work to further collaboration between the City of Austin and both Capital Metro and the Austin Transit Partnership so that transit riders relying on busses, trains, and paratransit for their everyday needs get the best possible service?

In order to get the best possible service, transit riders must first get service. The “on time” and reliability of vehicles like busses must be substantially improved by increasing bus driver compensation and staffing, and improving driver burn-out scenarios. Busses and other transit vehicles should also be clean and safe for potential riders to utilize.

I will work to further collaborate with the City of Austin, Cap Metro, and the Austin Transit Partnership to achieve the above objectives.

What is your position on enabling greater density along transit corridors? Specifically, which land use and zoning changes would you like to see implemented and what is your position on the $300M in anti-displacement funds managed by the City?

I am generally not opposed to greater density along MAJOR transit corridors like I-35 provided (1) residents have notice and protest rights and neighborhoods are not adversely impacted, and (2) all Austin environmental protections are adhered to.

Land use and zoning changes should be considered on a case-by-case basis with the above requirements (notice and protest, environmental regulations) followed.

The City of Austin does not have a good track record on responsibly handling money, and I would advocate for some independent monitoring of anti-displacement funds.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

As a patent attorney with a technology background, I can say with confidence that the field of transportation is developing at an extraordinary pace. In 20 years, all types of vehicles will transport individuals in an autonomous manner. Such vehicles will be able to transport individuals “privately,” much like Uber or Lyft do today. But the greater impact will be vehicles that will move around the city much like buses or minivans, covering an infinite number of routes based on demand and as the need fluctuates. More disadvantaged areas will have the same access to vehicles/transportation as other areas.

We live in one of the most technologically advanced regions of the country. If elected, I would organize the top thought leaders in the field to focus on this concept of (1) ready transportation for all, (2) having a light environmental impact, and (3) being flexible to accommodate both rapid changes in technology and area population trends.

District 9

Linda Guerrero

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I support Project Connect which I see as a transformative project. However, with the 30% design not yet completed, I have some concerns about the impact of Project Connect on local businesses, the environmental effect of the river crossings, especially the planned tunnel under Lady Bird Lake.

I plan to volunteer for a position on the CapMetro Board. I want to see transit that is accessible and affordable for everybody – especially the disabled, seniors, and people with low income. As a special education teacher, I have spent 20 years teaching disabled students how to use the bus system.

I support the ongoing Cap Metro studies of equitable Transit Oriented Development (eTOD) intended to mitigate the displacement that typically occurs with traditional Transit Oriented Development before any land use changes are made. My position is that the $300M in anti-displacement efforts should be used to help Austinites to purchase housing for example by funding land trusts, building housing for purchase, and backing education programs designed to help low-income residents become home buyers.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

In addition to Project Connect, I will advocate for improvements to the east west connectivity to ensure that as many residents as possible have available connections to the Project Connect lines. I will also advocate to resume planning for the high-speed commuter rail line between Austin and San Antonio.

Ben Leffler

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes! Austin has needed a comprehensive transit system for far too long. Project Connect will reduce car dependence and congestion, incentivize housing development, and help us achieve our environmental goals. Project Connect is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Austin a more accessible, inclusive and sustainable city.

Done right, all riders will be able to easily access transit and move from one mode to the next as they traverse Austin. This will require close collaboration between the City, Cap Metro, and ATP—three related but unique organizations. It will also necessitate a lot more affordable housing with easy access to transit.

If elected to the city council, I will prioritize building significant Transit Oriented Development along Project Connect lines and other transit corridors. This will require updates to the land development code, as well as the right incentives for affordable housing (see more below). Through this process, I will engage with stakeholders and advocacy groups, including Transit Forward, to ensure we are best serving all members of our community.

I strongly support densifying our transit corridors. To do so, we must continue to expand VMU incentives, reduce compatibility constraints, minimize parking requirements, and enhance density bonus programs.

It was great to see $300M of anti-displacement funds included in the project. However, as we’ve seen projected costs rise, we must also consider whether the original amount is sufficient or should be increased. Additionally, I have heard concerns about construction impacting local businesses operations. As for residents, we should take measures to ensure that local businesses are minimally impacted by construction.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

In 2042, the population of the Austin MSA is expected to be over 3.6M (up from ~2.2M today), and our surrounding areas are growing even faster. The community will be served by a fully implemented Project Connect system, with the Green Line extending east to Manor and Elgin, and the Orange Line north to Tech Ridge and south to Slaughter.

Getting to and from the airport will be a breeze on the Blue Line, and intercity transit will be easy by rail and Bus Rapid Transit. A circulator will connect UT campus and the Capitol Complex with the South Shore District, the urban bike and sidewalk network will be comprehensive, and getting around without a car will be painless. The system will be comprehensive, connected, and accessible for everyone.

To achieve this ambitious vision, we need a strategic mobility plan that enhances our region’s transportation efficiency, housing access, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. This will require significant, ongoing planning and collaboration with Capital Metro, the Austin Transit Partnership, Travis County, the Capital Area Mobility Planning Organization (CAMPO), the community, and other regional partners.

If elected to city council, I hope to serve on the CAMPO Board, where I can help prioritize effective and efficient transit planning. I will also work with the community and fight to prioritize equitable, accessible housing and mobility funding at the city level, to ensure that no one is left behind as we grow. Implemented effectively, Project Connect and the associated TOD can make Austin a more equitable, accessible, sustainable city for everyone. I am excited to help make that vision a reality.

Suzanne “Zena” Mitchell

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

Yes, I voted for Project Connect. Public transportation is a vital resource needed to make our city sustainable.

The collaboration between the key players is impressive. I would continue the facilitation of communication between invested partners. I have participated in “Public Input” for route changes and did not think those were very effective. I would work on improving public engagement.

I support increasing density along transit corridors. Guadalupe and Lamar with careful consideration of existing neighborhoods. (I support high density, aka apartments as long as we adopt an apartment rent-to-own program, part of my campaign!

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My goal is to make public transportation more desirable than individual car ownership. It is critical we educate the public about the benefits of public transportation, Education has to be included to develop a public transit mindset.

I would immediately add 3 park and ride shuttles. Currently the CAP METRO 20 is the airport shuttle. I take the 20 to work, it is not a shuttle, it is a commuter bus! Adding 3 airport shuttles would alleviate the traffic congestion the airport has been experiencing.

Kim Olsen

No response.

Zohaib Qadri

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I support Project Connect as a step towards ensuring every Austinite has access to high-quality, frequent public transit services, but it also is just one part of a robust transit plan that works to ensure our city is multi-modal, pedestrian-friendly, walkable, and decongested. Project connect is necessary to connect constituents in all parts of Austin, especially neighborhoods outside of central Austin who lack frequent or reliable transit options to get into the city, or home from it. As we grow as a city, we must meet our growing transportation needs. Project Connect also aids drivers by taking folks off the road, alleviating sources of congestion. We must ensure that Project Connect gets built in a timely and equitable manner, while also ensuring that immediate solutions of extending hours of service for Austin metro & rail lines to allow for our city’s workers or service-industry professionals to get home from work and tackle Austin’s car-dependent culture. Additionally, f we want to meet our goal of net-zero emissions by 2040, we must prioritize equitable transit-oriented development on our Project Connect corridors.

In part, the existing collaboration between the City, Capital Metro, and the Austin Transit Partnership can move forward by working to listen to the impacted voices by our current public transit system and extend hours of service for those who rely on Austin’s public transit & paratransit options to-and-from work, home, and/or school. Moreover, we can elevate and distribute research these partnerships have already created, including Transit Forward’s work highlighting all restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and event venues within a 15-minute walk of the Cap Metro Redline. This is important research and should be expanded and embedded into all information on transit options shared by the City. Finally, we must ensure our collaboration and partnership solicits more public input from impacted voices to ensure our transit options are the most equitable regardless of disability, race, socioeconomic status, or part of the city you reside in. This includes listening when riders ask for more bus covers and ADA-compliant sidewalks by all transit stops, or better cooperation on scheduling is needed between train and bus routes. Open, frequent, and publicly participated in discussions on our transit system is how we work together to ensure everyday Austinites have a safer, more accessible, equitable, and reliable public and paratransit system across our growing city.

Walkable and healthy cities require transit-oriented development beyond just modernizing our transportation systems. Our city can only improve our neighborhood character and walkability by legalizing corner stores on mid-sized neighborhood corridors, such as Duval St in Hyde Park. Additionally, our city must end our outdated and expensive parking mandates, so that homeowners can have the amount of parking they need and small business owners are not taxed on unused land that doesn’t generate revenue. With Project Connect on the horizon, pursuing transit-oriented zoning changes beginning within ½ mile of light rail and rapid bus stops. Some of this can be achieved by simplifying and updating existing zoning categories, such as making it easier to build multifamily density and eliminating many of our needless restrictions on ADU construction that can help alleviate displacement and foster intergenerational households. Some of it can be achieved through reforming elements of the code that aren’t strictly rezonings and therefore are immune from some of the veto threats. Lastly, we must look inward to our city’s resources, supercharging the land that’s already zoned for density by beefing up staffing in permitting and development to expedite approvals, simplifying the site-plan review process on missing middle projects, and building climate-resilient affordable homes on existing city land. Finally, we must also expand city and regional policy to make Austin more bike and pedestrian-friendly, from expanding protected bike lanes and safe-street programs to emulating successful programs like the E-Bike tax credit proposal Denver recently enacted. And as we approach conversations of development, we must ensure equity is prioritized and actualized in the distribution of the city’s anti-displacement funds, while also knowing that this is only a fraction of the funds necessary to prevent public transit development along the project connect corridor from creating harm or echoing discriminatory city plans that hurt vulnerable communities more than they help.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

Austin is facing an affordability crisis, amid an ongoing climate emergency, and we don’t have 20 years to wait for action. Before then, the results of Project Connect should be seen and our antiquated land development code will have outgrown the exclusionary zoning that has held our city back from developing needed missing middle housing. With this in mind, as Austin currently expects the population to double to 4 million by 2040, regional transit in 20 years must account not only for the growth and density inside the City’s urban core but the sprawl across Central Texas writ large. I see this looking like more frequent and reliable transit and paratransit, including light rail and bus rapid transit, for commuters in East Austin going to Manor and Elgin, or connecting Round Rock or Georgetown with San Marcos and San Antonio. The next council must continue meetings with TXDOT, surrounding city governments, and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to see what is needed to see vision plans for regional transit implemented once we get on the dais.

Greg Smith

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I do support Project Connect and voted for it. In November 2020, voters recognized that a transit system provides much more than just a way to move around the region. A robust transit system allows our economy to grow by providing workers greater access to jobs in our economic centers, not to mention the thousands of jobs that will be created during construction and the ongoing operation of the system. Combined with a purposeful land development code, Project Connect will allow us to realize the vision of Imagine Austin and allow for real density along our corridors. And, maybe most importantly, by creating more options for people to move throughout the region without having to get in their cars, we can start to make a real impact on protecting the environment and natural resources that make Austin truly special. As the 11th-largest city in the country that aspires to be one of the greatest cities in the world, Austin deserves and demands a world-class transit system.

At the heart of what was approved in 2020 is an Austin Transit Partnership that collaborates with the City of Austin and Cap Metro. Thoughtful appointees from City Council are critical to building a unified team that is not interested in turf and credit, but executing the will of the voters. If we continue to have more of the same at City Hall, we will strangle the project and have an enormous negative effect on those that rely on buses, trains and transit every day and in the future. These appointees must understand their roles in implementing the will of the voters, finding those solutions that are financially feasible, while creating the greatest immediate impact. They must be willing to partner with other entities through compromise and collaboration to achieve the goals of Project Connect. Execution and accountability must be the priority over the politics of the day. My role will be to make sure that experts, not special interest groups, are at the table.

The current council, and most of my opponents, are over their skies if they are going to be responsible for ensuring that the $300M in anti-displacement funds are spent in the most effective way possible. As a member of City Council, I will ensure that we have clearly defined what “anti-displacement” means. We cannot create measurable outcomes if there is any ambiguity around this. It will be critical that we leverage potential partnerships — local, regional, and federal — to get the most bang for our buck. We are shortchanging our city if we stand alone. These partners must be confident that the City is aligned around the goals and thereby can be confident that their additional, incredibly valuable, investment, won’t be wasted on pet projects and turf wars. However, before we engage others, I will ensure that the bond dollars that have been approved over the past four years are accounted for and being spent for their intended purpose. Density everywhere cannot be the answer, however, density along the transit corridors certainly is. We cannot let the nuances of how this is accomplished get in the way of implementation. The longer we take to accomplish this goal, the harder and more expensive it will become. I promise you that I understand this and that the progress that must be made will come with sacrifices from everyone involved, while remaining mindful of the importance of equity and anti-displacement efforts.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision for the region’s transit system in 20 years is that we have a comprehensive, multi-modal, accessible transit system that is completed and will expand to support the entire region. This regional plan must be clear, and the mechanisms necessary for partnership with the various municipalities will be available. It was encouraging to see Leander overwhelmingly vote to continue its participation in the Cap Metro service area. The Austin Transit Partnership has an obligation to continue to improve these services for our partners, while using every tool at its disposal to deliver on a vision for transit in Central Texas that is bigger than just one that serves the City of Austin. As your council member, I will be accountable to the vision approved by the voters and will ensure that everything from the necessary changes to the land development code to the partnerships necessary to make our tax dollars go further are in place to realize the economic opportunities created by Project Connect.

Joah Spearman

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

In 2000, when a public transit rail bond failed on the ballot by less than a couple thousand votes it wasn’t just a blow to Austin’s congestion but to Austin’s quality of life. Simply put, Austin lost a unique opportunity to make a proactive investment in transit infrastructure that would have added significant long-term value to our community in part by reducing carbon emissions which help in the fight against climate change while also mitigating many of the mobility-related impacts of the gentrification, displacement and housing affordability crisis that have consumed Austin some two decades later.

Thankfully, we’ve been given a second chance. In November 2020, nearly 60% of Austin voters approved a multi-billion dollar public transit investment, Project Connect. This broad support from voters gave the transit project more votes than any mayor in Austin history demonstrating the type of broad, community-wide advocacy and collaboration needed for such a significant capital investment.

If elected to serve on City Council, I intend to steadfastly support the on-time and transparent implementation and development of Project Connect and meeting the stated needs of the Austin community for public transit that reduces congestion and helps us reach our climate equity goals.

My business background coupled with deep experience from serving on boards and commissions gives me a unique perspective of the fiduciary priorities and public benefits associated with Project Connect. I believe it will take a community-wide focus on the climate, on equity and inclusion, on Austin’s maligned history with land use policy, and on public information and transparency to ensure Project Connect reaches its full potential as a public investment and community benefit.

The next City Council’s priority around Project Connect must not be fighting the merits of something Austin voters overwhelmingly supported. Instead, our next City Council must champion the best attributes of this investment around accessibility, climate equity, inclusion and reducing our reliance on cars. Seldom do cities get second chances to set a course for the community with such broad support, and this moment demands a City Council that will meet it with financial prudence and community mindedness.

The collaboration between the City of Austin, ATP and CapMetro is essential, and as the District 9 City Councilmember, I would work closely with these authorities and leaders to gather and share community feedback and offer perspective on behalf of the City’s most dense, trafficked and (arguably) commercially significant section of the Central Texas region. From shows on Red River and runners around Lady Bird Lake to young professionals Downtown and medical patients and professionals at Dell Children’s, the transit needs and use-cases of District 9 are among the most diverse and varied in the entire State of Texas.

If elected, the most essential duties I would have to strengthen these partnerships are: 1) Listening to constituents; as the elected representative for the City and Region’s most densely populated area, this is imperative. 2) Collaborating; as one of 10 Councilmembers, no progress can nor should happen with regards to public transit solely within or for District 9.

I would host (or co-host with other Councilmembers or community organizations) regular public office hours and town halls aimed at gathering residents and constituents to learn more about their transit needs, concerns and ideas and present those to my colleagues on the Council and ATP and CapMetro boards to make certain that our transit infrastructure is responsive to the needs of the community and the realities of our climate.

Support for the $300 million in anti-displacement funds is one of the largest successes of the November 2020 election. This vote and these funds acknowledge Austin voters’ understanding that public transit investments are essential, but often lead to displacement – often times of working class families and typically Black and brown residents – which the City must proactively work to resolve harmoniously. I fully support the deployment of these funds to ensure Project Connect is coupled with a firm understanding of the strong connection and correlation between transit needs and housing realities.

Specifically, with regard to transit corridors, I believe the recent VMU2 update is only the beginning of several needed updates to our land use and zoning policies. There is much talk about density and the need for it, but these updates should not be made solely to accommodate density and some grand vision for a more Eurocentric styled city, but primarily to foster and sustain Austin’s affordability. Without affordability, we could continue to lose public safety professionals, teachers, nurses, and other essential workers who maintain the high quality of life we have all come to expect in Austin.

Reducing parking requirements, streamlining the development planning and review processes for greater transparency and efficiency, and sticking to the City’s Climate Equity Plan and its associated goals are all key parts of what the next Council should focus on. This focus should be, in part, focused specifically on ensuring not only Project Connect’s long-term success as both an investment and community asset, but also our City’s and Region’s affordability for ALL including public safety professionals, teachers and nurses, artists and musicians, baristas and bartenders, seniors and students along with families and professionals seeking to experience life and belonging here in Austin.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

I already mentioned the failed transit vote over 20 years ago in Austin so we have great context as to what 20 years looks like in Austin without significant public transit investment. It’s an Austin that grows in population but matches that growth with increasing congestion. It’s an Austin that fails to fully accept its role in climate change and present the kinds of policies that would have us mitigate the negative impacts of our growth. It’s an Austin that fails communities of color as Black and Hispanic families and professionals and students are often the first to be displaced due to rising housing costs. It’s an Austin that musicians themselves no longer consider the Live Music Capital of the World.

Now, thanks to Project Connect, we have real hope. Real hope for an Austin that doesn’t just consider itself progressive, but acts it. Hope for an Austin that matches its growth with a growing understanding of the intersectionality between transit and housing affordability and climate resiliency. Hope for an Austin that reduces its reliance on cars both at the structural level and at the personal level in our neighborhoods and housing communities.

Nothing I have written here is hyperbole. The failures of our past teach us how to better prepare for our future, and I believe this election is an opportunity for District 9 to have the kind of leader who intends to play a meaningful role in collaborating, listening, ideating and implementing policies that make Austin more affordable and sustainable for years and decades to come.

My vision of Austin involves a regional transit network that connects the airport to Downtown, UT and the main arteries where Austinites reside; bike lanes that are safe enough for women to feel comfortable and children to feel safe; sidewalks made for seniors who are aging in place as much if not more than VC-backed scooters, energy-efficient, clean and safe buses and rail lines that are as reliable here as they are in Europe or Asia, and affordability both with housing and within the transit system that earns enough revenue to fund its own development, improvements and future expansion while not requiring the City to take on massive amounts of debt that hinder our ability to properly pay public safety workers and City employees.

If elected to represent District 9, I will be a willing collaborator and listener and champion of public transit locally, regionally and tirelessly, and work to ensure my colleagues join me at every juncture.

Tom Wald

1. Do you support Project Connect? Why or why not?

I am a strong supporter and fully committed to the implementation of Project Connect to create a high capacity and high frequency transit network that includes dedicated transitways and connecting busses and last-mile connections. As a community leader, I served on multiple nonprofit boards that supported Project Connect in 2020 and helped shape the package.

Project Connect is an overdue investment in Austin that will have various significant benefits, including expanded mobility options, lower transportation costs, a cleaner environment, safer transportation, economic development, and empowering the marginalized, among other benefits. The plan was well thought through and had broad buy-in, and the funding was approved by a strong majority of voters in November 2020.

Ensuring the best possible service and value for existing and new riders requires ongoing effort. If elected, I will use my position to break down silos and help strengthen the partnerships between agencies. In my current role as Executive Director of the nonprofit Red Line Parkway Initiative that stewards the 32-mile walk & bike trail along the Capital Metro Red Line, we’ve strengthened collaborations between Capital Metro, City of Austin, and other local agencies to great success. I would also continue my work of the last 16+ years to create complete sidewalk and bikeway networks that complement our transit service. In addition, I would vastly reduce busses’ time spent waiting in private automobile traffic and at red lights, through cross-agency leadership. I would also be a leading champion for resolution of other long-standing issues for transit users, some of which I am keenly aware of as a transit user myself.

The land use and amenities provided near our transit stations and along transit corridors should reflect the transit investments that we’re making. These areas should allow for the development of much more housing (including income-restricted units) and destinations that provide for everyday needs, such as grocery stores, daycare centers, and pharmacies.

I serve on the board of People United for Mobility Action and participated in coalition meetings to establish the $300MM of funding described. Major public investments, such as light rail, tend to increase property values, which can create displacement pressures. These pressures must be anticipated and addressed, e.g, with supplementary funding. I have followed the highlights of the process to determine how to deploy the $300MM of funding, and I generally agree with the results.

4. What is your vision for Austin’s regional transit in 20 years, and what will you do if you elected to make that vision a reality?

My vision is for an Austin and Austin region that is truly multimodal, where essentially all destinations can be reached via transit, walking, and bicycling. For the last 16+ years, I have led efforts toward this vision at the city, county, and metropolitan agency level, and I have developed working relationships with officials and staff at those agencies across the region. If elected, I would work hand-in-hand with local transit leaders to expand our full-week transit service area and support development patterns and public investments that are conducive to multimodal transportation.