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In This Issue - Monday, October 27, 2014 Dear Friend, Welcome to the October 27 2014 edition of FastTrack. We want to thank everyone who took part
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Dear Friend,
Welcome to the October 27 2014 edition of FastTrack.
We want to thank everyone who took part in the 3rd round of public meetings for Mobility 2040. With almost 200 people in person, and over 1,000 people taking part in our virtual meeting online, we had a strong turn out to help shape the future of our regional transportation system. Check out our article on the next steps for Mobility 2040 to find out how this input is being used in the development of this plan.
Do you walk or ride a bike? Do you have a few minutes to help us work to improve our walking and biking across the region? We have a regional pedestrian and bicycling study underway - and we need your input! With a survey and a crowdsourced map, we are wanting to hear and see where you walk, bike or jog and how we can help, in working with our partner agencies, make this experience better for you. The survey will remain open until November 14, 2014 - so don't delay in letting us know your thoughts!
Finally, on the 31st we are also celebrating the end of the Ozone Season for 2014 - in addition to Halloween. We have articles on safety tips for both in this issue.
We appreciate you taking the time to read FastTrack and as always, please feel free to let us know your thoughts about any of the stories in this issue or any concerns you may have that we can help to address.
Sincerely,
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization |
 Click the link to see the upcoming meetings as our monthly V-News! |
In addition to the Monday, October 27, 2014 meeting of the Transportation Policy Board, we have meetings happening in November and early December.
The Technical Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, November 14, 2014 at 1:30 PM.
The Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 8 A.M.
The Pedestrian Mobility Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 3:30 PM.
These three meetings will be held at the MPO offices located at 825 S. St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX 78205.
The Transportation Policy Board will hold a combined November and December meeting on Monday, December 8, 2014 starting at 1:30 PM at the VIA Metro Center located at 1021 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212.
For meeting notices and packets, please click here to view our calendar.
All meeting packets and agendas are provided on the calendar once posted.
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 Residents at the Seguin Mobility 2040 Meeting |
With approximately 200 people at in-person meetings, and over 1,000 responses to our online virtual meeting, the 3rd round of meetings for Mobility 2040 provided some detailed priorities on the projects our community would like to have developed over the next 25 years.
With a December deadline quickly approaching, the Alamo Area MPO staff is working closely with the Study Oversight Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee and the Transportation Policy Board to finalize Mobility 2040 and include as many projects as possible from the priority list developed with the community.
So what's next for Mobility 2040?
First, a recommended list of projects is to be presented to the Transportation Policy Board on Monday, October 27, 2014 for their consideration. Once this list is finalized, MPO staff and consultants will continue working during November to finalize the Mobility 2040 plan and document chapters.
Then in November, the revised Mobility 2040 plan will be presented to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC will meet again before the plan is presented to the Transportation Policy Board (TPB).
At the December 8, 2014 meeting, the TPB will be asked to vote on the final Mobility 2040 plan, establishing our regional transportation vision for the next 25 years.
However, this doesn't mean the work is done and we can all sit back and relax. Once a project is included in Mobility 2040, sponsoring agencies can get started on planning efforts, including environmental clearance, design schematics and related tasks to make projects shovel-ready.
Just because a project is included in Mobility 2040 does not guarantee a timetable for construction either. Only when a project is included in the Transportation Improvement Program (or TIP) can we be certain it will be constructed.
There is still work to do, after the adoption of Mobility 2040 - but with this plan in hand, we all have a road map for how our region can grow to help accommodate the anticipated 1.5 million new residents who will join us in calling South Central Texas home.
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 Click the image above to take the survey |
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 Click the image above to help us with our crowdsourced map! |
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 The San Antonio Area |
by Nicholas Page, Air Quality and Environmental Planner
The Ozone Season is almost over.
It lasts from April 1st through October 31st every year.
This season we have not had the high level of ozone that we have had in the previous two years.
Although this season’s ozone numbers are not certified yet, we are exceeding the national standard based on three years of data combined. Currently we are sitting at a three-year fourth highest annual average (the federal requirement for measurement) of 79 parts per billion (ppb).
The national standard is set at 75ppb for the three-year fourth highest annual average.
Right now, we continue to be the largest city in the nation to be in attainment for ozone, and we all have a part to play in helping our region stay in attainment.
How can you help? Do the items below throughout the year, and especially on Air Quality Alert Days!
▪ Refuel after 6 p.m.
▪ Avoid drive-thru lanes; park and go inside to conduct your business.
▪ Drive less—walk or bicycle, combine errands, and/or pre-plan to minimize trips.
▪ Share a ride to work or school. For more information, call (210) 362-5213 or visit the Commute Solutions website at www.NuRide.com or www.aacog.com
▪ Ride VIA when you can. For more information, call (210) 362-2020 or visit www.viainfo.net.
▪ Use teleconferencing instead of driving to meetings or bundle meetings together.
▪ Try to avoid morning rush hour; ask your employer about flex-schedules or compressed workweeks.
▪ Take your lunch to work or school and avoid mid-day trips and errands.
▪ Keep your vehicles well-maintained in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
▪ Postpone landscaping work using small gasoline engines until after 6 p.m.
Ground level ozone can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. Children, the elderly and anyone with lung issues are most at risk. Ground-level ozone can also damage trees, plants, and reduce visibility.
This ozone season we have seen lowered levels and we need to continue this trend. Please do your part to help us reach this goal all year round, not just during ozone season.
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 AACOG Air Quality Stewardship Awards |
AACOG’s Air Quality Stewardship Award annually recognizes businesses, agencies, schools, and other organizations that make significant voluntary efforts to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. While AACOG's Air Improvement Resources Committee determines who will be awarded each year, nomination for the Air Quality Stewardship Award is open to the public. Nominations are being accepted through November 7, 2014. For more information and access to the online nomination form, click here.
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 San Antonio GIS Day is coming up! Click on the image for more details and to register! |
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 Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Halloween is a cherished tradition but the excitement of the night can cause children to forget to be careful. There is no real "trick" to making Halloween a real treat for the entire family. The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian / car crashes.
Both children and adults need to think about safety on this annual day of make-believe.
The National Safety Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween.
▪ Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
▪ Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
▪ Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
▪ At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
Parents
Before children start out on their "trick or treat" rounds, parents should:
* Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.
* Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
* Establish a return time.
* Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
Costume Design
* If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.
Accessories
* Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark
* Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.
On The Way
* Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
* Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
* Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, if there are no sidewalks.
* Before crossing the street, stop at the edge to check for traffic. Look left, right, and left again before stepping off the curb.
For more safety tips, please visit the National Safety Council website.
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 Set your clocks back one hour at 2 AM on Sunday November 2, 2014 |
Central Standard Time is right around the corner.
Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014 as we mark the end of Daylight Savings for 2014.
And with the time change, it's also a good time to remember to change out the batteries in your smoke alarms!
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 EPA School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity |
EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) is now accepting applications for the 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity.
This is a rebate program to replace older school buses in both the public and private fleets. The total funding for this opportunity is approximately $3 million. EPA will accept rebate applications until Monday, November 17, 2014, at 4 pm EST. Applicants may submit only one application for up to five buses.
Questions about the rebate program should be sent to CleanDieselRebate@epa.gov.
More Information
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 Get Involved! All Alamo Area MPO Board and Committee Meetings are open to the public. |
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All meetings of the Transportation Policy Board and supporting committees are open to the public!
Click the link above to view the meeting notices and packages for all of our MPO standing boards and committees. All meetings are open to the public. Get involved and help shape the future of our region's transportation network.
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