Page 12 THE BATTALION
THURSDAY, APRIL 3. 1980
Mass transit may be a necessity for B-CS
By JED YOUNG
City Reporter
With gasoline prices expected to
reach $2 per gallon by the end of the
year, mass transit in Bryan-College
Station may soon be a reality.
Saturday’s bond election will give
Bryan voters the chance to tell city
officials how they feel about mass
transit, via a referendum question
included on the ballot.
According to a Texas Transporta
tion Institute (TTI) report, the prop
osed program is a public bus system
that will have a route along Texas
Avenue between 25th Street in
Bryan and FM 2818 in College Sta
tion.
There are three primary transfer
points proposed: Manor East Mall,
Culpepper Plaza and the old Bryan
central business district. Sub-routes
would run through most of the rest of
the two cities.
The buses would operate at 30-
minute intervals during normal
weekdays with fares of 50 cents dur
ing peak hours and 25 cents for the
remaining hours. Peak times would
be during morning and evening rush
hours.
Estimates call for four, 45-
passengers buses and thirteen, 20-
passenger buses. Support facilities
would include an administration
office building and a maintenance
shop.
The proposed system was de
signed after extensive studies by the
TTI and the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) of Bryan-
College Station.
According to MPO figures, Bryan-
College Station taxpayers would
ALTERATIONS
IN THE GRAND TRADITION OF
OLD TEXAS WHERE MOTHER
TAUGHT DAUGHTER THE FINE
ART OF SEWING SO HELEN
MARIE TAUGHT EDITH MARIE
THE SECRETS OF SEWING AND
ALTERATIONS
"DON’T GIVE UP — WTLL
MAKE IT FIT!"
AT WELCH'S CLEANERS WE NOT
ONLY SERVE AS AN EXCaLENT
DRY CLEANERS BUT WE SPE
CIALIZE IN ALTERING HAf\D TO
FIT EVENING DRESSES, TAPERED
SHIRTS, JEAN HEMS, WATCH
POCKETS, ETC.
(WE RE JUST A FEW
BLOCKS NORTH OF FED
MART.)
WELCH’S CLEANERS
3819 E. 29th (TOWN & COUNTRY SHOPPING CENTER)
In the Saturday bond election,
Bryan voters will get the chance
to tell city officials how they feel
about mass transit, with a re
ferendum question that has
been included.
MSC Arts
Committee
PRESENTS
CRAFTS
FAIR
APRIL 9-10
RUDDER FOUNTAIN
9:00-5:00
have to finance 7 percent of the ini
tial cost, totaling $153,000 jointly.
The organization is designed to ex
amine all phases of transportation for
the two cities, from airport improve
ments to street repair.
All mass transit or transportation
programs must go through MPO be
fore they can be pursued by either
city, said D.D. Williamson, super
vising planning engineer for the de
partment of highways and transpor
tation.
To prevent overlapping of federal
funds, MPO approves all applica
tions for federal aid in transportation
for either city, Williamson said.
MPO members include Brazos
County Judge Richard Holmgreen;
Carol Zeigler, department of high
ways and transportation engineer;
Dr. Charles E. McCandless, chief
planning officer at Texas A&M; Lor-
ence Bravanec, College Station
mayor; and Bryan City Councilman
Joe Hanover.
After MPO has decided on a new
program, each member will present
the ideas to the body he represents
for approval, Williamson said. If a
program is approved, MPO will app
ly for federal funds.
In 1975, MPO authorized TTI to
conduct studies, financed by the
Federal Urban Mass Transportation
Administration, on mass transit in
Bryan-College Station, including
studies on a public bus system.
According to the report by TTI
changes have occurred as a result of
the recent rapid growth increasing
the need for public transit.
Changes include urbanization of
retail shops and the disappearance of
the neighborhood grocery store.
“The lack of mobility has become a
major problem facing several seg
ments of the population, especially
the low-income level group, ” the re
port said.
Also, Williamson said, “We’re be
ginning to see two things; a lot of
people walking and hitch-hiking
around town.”
Williamson continued saying,
“One of our big problems is ... if the
differential between (a person’s) in-
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IF IT’S AUTO & TRUCK PARTS — WE HAVE THEM!
LEONARD AUTO SUPPLY
COMPLETE LINE OF
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
| FRONT END ASSEMBLIES — FENDERS — HOODS — DOORS i
i — QUARTER PANELS — DECK LIDS, FOR LATE MODEL CARS §
S & TRUCKS & ALL FOREIGN CARS
USED
GENERATORS • STARTERS
• FUEL PUMPS ETC.
OPEN MON.-FRI. 8 A.M. TILL 6 P.M.
SAT. 8 A.M. TO 12 P.M.
WE BUY WRECKED & RETIRED AUTOS
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LOCATED BY
2L. UNDERPASS ON HWY. 21
& HWY. 6 INTERSECTION
^UJ 1501 N. SIMS - BRYAN
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllimilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllr
Kent Caperton believes in Texas A&M
He has worked hard for this university. As student body president.
Assistant to the president. Visiting lecturer in the College of
Business.
Kent Caperton knows Texas A&M. He understands its changing
character.
Kent Caperton wants to work for Texas A&M in the State Senate. He
favors:
• Expanding A&M’s share of the Permanent University Fund.
• Increasing salaries for the faculty and staff.
• Retaining present tuition rates.
• Expanding classroom space.
Times are changing. To protect A&M in the 1980’s requires new
energies, new ideas and new solutions. Kent Caperton will be a new
kind of senator for a new decade.
Vote Saturday, May 3rd in the Democratic Primary.
perton
for Texas Senator.
Pd. Pol. Adv. by Kent Caperton Campaign Committee, Tony Jones, Treasurer, 3508 E. 29th, Bryan, Texas 77801.
come and paying to get to work drops
off, then he might go back on wel
fare. ”
According to MPO and TTI esti
mates, the initial capital investment
totals $2,180,000. Federal and state
funds would cover 93 percent of this
figure, leaving Bryan-College Sta
tion with a tab of $153,000.
“On one hand it is expensive but
when compared to other city ser
vices, it is minimal,” said Tom Urba-
nick, TTI assistant engineer.
In comparison, Bryan and College
Station annually spend $454,000 and
$545,00 respectively on city parks
alone, while $876,000 and $342,000
are spent by the two on city streets.
The annual operating investment
would total $425,000 after farebox
revenue (money from the actual bus
fares) and the federal government
would cover half of this deficit, leav
ing $212,500 in operating costs.
“Operating costs for the two cities
would be determined by the number
“On one hand it (mass transit) is
expensive, but when compared
to other city services, it is
minimal,” said Tom Urbanick,
assistant engineer for TTI.
of vehicle miles of service logged
within that city,” said Williamson.
Williamson said an increase in the
property tax is an example of how
money could be acquired locally,
although that proposal has not been
passed.
Urbanick said other alternatives
for local finances were studied, in
cluding a sales tax, but the property
tax was proposed by MPO.
The proposed increase for proper
ty owners is five cents per $100. For
example, the owner of a $30,000
home now paying $216 in property
tax would see an increase of $15 or a
new tax total of $231 to finance a mass
transit system.
Bryan-College Station leaders
must now decide whether to go
ahead with the transit program and
start applying for federal grants.
Since it is not possible to obtain a
U.S. Department of Transportation
grant unless the local source of
matching funds is identified, city
officials must also decide on the
means of financing the program.
The only essential deadline would
be before all the funds are allocated
to other cities, said Hanover.
According to Al Mayo, College Sta
tion city planner, the actual process,
from the time of application to im
plementation of the bus system
could take up to three years.
Three years from now, the situa
tion may be severe as far as gas prices
and availability, said Mayo. If the
process was started then, it would
take three more years for a bus sys
tem, if the funds were available at
that time.
College Station recently sent
questionnaires to the public as part
of the city’s community develop
ment study. Four questions on mass
transit were included.
One of the questions read,
“Should mass transit be made avail
able in College Station?” Sixty-nine
percent of those interviewed said yes
and 30.3 percent said no. But when
asked, “If a system was put into oper
ation, would you favor supporting
the system through increased
taxes?” 49.8 percent said yes and
50.2 percent said no.
According to Mayo, a lot of people
may not consider using the system or
paying for it now, but attitudes may
change if the gas situation gets out of
hand.
As far as approval by the College
Station City Council, Mayo said the
system is still in the early stages of
planning and the councilmen do not
have enough information to make a
decision.
The Bryan City Council is putting
the transit question on the bond
election ballot and it will reaJ,|
or against establishment (
and financing of a public trai
tion system in cooperation v
city of College Station, 1
mated initial capital cost totleal
Bryan of $165,000, with esfejj
capital cost of $227,000.”
Hanover says he is not nerd
optimistic about the coundlit
proval as he is about voter ap;t.
of the referendum. 1 u
Even though there is pesscfjj LON E
among the Bryan council metjUother I
Hanover said, “I’m convinced:^, n ickr
three years, we’ll need a syitejsland k
According to Williamson, ueen
members do not have to abide!foved wo
voters’ opinion. RCyril S
“The council has the choice a ^nhn in
matter, ”he said. "They couldji^ently, in
it right now without evergoingi^f ( omm
people or if they get a refereEjfctig. 4, si
that passes, they still do notkojThe ic
implement the program.’ spouse, tl
One question arises: If Igan t Tha
A&M students are expectedlithi sym
the public transit buses, would per haps i
terfere with Transportation [with the i
prises shuttle buses? Been m<
“I don’t think there woukbtjions inst
complications,” said Willarns«ft;()ne th
Austin, Austin city transit s he the m
and Transportation Transit [occasion
prises work together.” BThe Br
According to Brady
branch manager for Transport
Enterprises, the proposed systB
a linear route up and down IT
Bryan and College Sf:r_ •
annually spend $454,(1
$545,000 respectively on f*
alone, while $876,0001*
$342,000 are spent onwfer.,
streets. |[ b det
Jestroyed
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But Burnett said the translahmy claii
tern “could possibly slow do* ttac k, wh
(overall) growth as a companjif a bomb
The final decision is up bilk'd a Bi
councilmen of each city, altT'Police s
the citizens’ opinion poll mayl bandone
determining the outcome. Hssmagl
Since federal loans takesolhe Irelan
be processed and since the fawote coni
limited, Williamson said thisi teed,
a “do-or-die” proposition. li'The driv
don’t get things going right a*#
may be too late, he said.
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BELGRADE, Yugoslavia-|a'Smoder
ident Josip Broz Tito’s doctonMding int
Wednesday his condition hasBdnesda
stable over the past few day. 1 ‘ The righ
steadily abating pneumonia fWall post
high fever that has resisted ate, callet
ment. fe not a j
“Over the past few days theftruetion
al health condition of Presidwlfcs,” saic
has not shown essential changeling Ribac
bulletin said. “Pneumoniaisaky’s drive I
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result of a septic condition - l ‘The big
lasts despite the application cMve func
responding therapy. k’s demo
“Intensive medical treatmenWer said
tinues,” the bulletin said. >e Chinesi
It was the first time that Titoilln in Fe
tor’s have mentioned a specific^ even I
of the high fever.
Oops
'to the coi
pfhe big
|ring the
?htism an
e Cultura
‘per said,
ore mista
The Battalion incorrectltf
Wednesday that Earth Day’SOrtj
She dail
a donation of $750 from the archil
honor society, Sigma Lambda (
The money was actually a loanfi
student bookstore fund that i
repaid. The Battalion regrets thtl
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