Live Blogging Tracks to the Future, Part 4 – Afternoon Session

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And we’re done! Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa has closed us out. Thanks for following along!
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Costa: Each of us can do our part by carrying the transit message into the community at large.
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Costa: footage from today will be on city’s cable channel and on DVD.
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Costa: All presentations from today will be available on fortworthgov.org
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Costa: Transit is not just about commuting. It’s about creating livable, walkable communities.
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Costa: We are ahead in some ways, but we are behind on transit. We must do better now, and not wait for the pain to become unbearable.
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Costa: I did not expect the degree of consensus and momentum we have seen at Tracks to the Future.
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Costa: Fort Worth must choose to be better than “business as usual.”
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McCrory gets standing ovation. Now, Fernando Costa is at the podium.
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McCrory: Now, Fort Worth has to take its upper hand and aggressively move forward.
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McCrory: Fort Worth has something special. You can do something unique. We have some advantages that many cities would envy.
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McCrory: Fort Worth must settle on a financial plan and aggressively go after it. Other cities are getting closer all the time.
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McCrory: Fort Worth must clarify its vision. At least 25 years of vision. That sells – that you’re preparing your region for the next gen
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McCrory: Those that have clarity of plan and consensus on action will take the lead in bringing transit to their city.
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McCrory: You have passion, a coalition, and public/private leadership. Puts Ft. Worth at distinct advantage, but competition is increasing
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Brooks: Transit is real to me, because I can see and touch its results – jobs, economic and neighborhood vitality.
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Brooks: New economy is looking for the opportunity to catch transit to new jobs, and bring those rewards back to their community.
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Berry: If we don’t invest in transportation, the State of Texas will not continue to thrive as it has.
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Shetter: Another problem is lack of clear leadership on transit from TX governor’s office. Thinly-veiled shot at Perry.
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Audience: thanking TxDOT for actually having a Rail Director now.
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McCrory: Do opposition research, and do research on yourself and your own positions. Avoid “deer in headlights” look.
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Shook: Develop your position, get it into the blogosphere, get it into Twitter and Facebook. You can help transit in ways old media can’t.
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Q: What do 20somethings do? How do we get involved? A: Act up. In media-sensitive world, you can put together your own sort of cause.
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Glavin: TxDOT is now working on a State Rail Plan, everything from high-speed rail on down.
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Bill Glavin talking, new TxDOT Railroad Director. Been on the job for nine days.
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McCrory: Joking about the group CAVE, Citizens Against Virtually Everything
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Shetter: talking about efforts to get the Local Option bill going again, about importance of grassroots/netroots support.
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Have to add, Mayor McCrory is crushing it. He is an outstanding public speaker and motivator.
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Brooks: Every neighborhood has a vision – public officials have to be careful not to try not to come across as destroying that.
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Brooks: Negative grassroots comes from the grassroots feeling the need to defend against you. Positive grassroots comes from buy-in.
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Panel: Start at grassroots, train people to get message out, start with the facts, education education education.
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Panel: Roy Brooks, Tarrant Co. Commissioner-Ken Shetter, Past Chair of Tarrant Regional Transpo Coalition-Mike Berry of Hillwood Properties-Rick Cain, Admin for Central Oklahoma Transportation- Bill Glavin, Rail Division Direct, TxDOT
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Shook: You have to get out of your chair, get out, and get people charged up.
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Shook: Old restored trolley running on a small stretch of track captured imagination of Charlotte citizens.
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Shook: Transit activism perspective. “It’s not about the pipes, it’s about the water.” Showing first Charlotte trolley pre-restoration.
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Afternoon session – Terry Shook, Charlotte architect, talking about next steps.