The ballot measure, called Capital Metro, may lead to a multi-modal transportation system in Central Texas.
The Capital Metro commuter-rail referendum "final 62% victory freed Austin's transit authority from seven years of political purgatory and opened the door (at least a crack) to an actual multi-modal transportation system in Central Texas...After 2000's defeat of a much more extensive light-rail proposal by less than 1% of the vote, Cap Metro proceeded with the utmost care in retooling a smaller-scale, minimum-cost system using track owned by the agency to run commuter service..." Supporters are optimistic about the system, but acknowledge that it will take time to implement.
Thanks to David Gest
FULL STORY: The Little Engine That Did

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research