Stage Eight: Comment on a colleague’s work #2

I agree with Echo Noelani in how Austin should expand the Metrorail System. The City is growing in an alarming rate! We need the Metrorail System to reduce traffic congestion. Nobody wants to spend hours in traffic and we won't have to if we were to come up with more sophisticated methods for travel. If the problem is in how to finance such a colossal project, we can come up with some creative ways. The Metrorail will not only provide jobs it will also provide transportation to people with low income. Metrorail will help save money that would be spend on making more freeways that won't really fix our traffic problem. I believe Echo should add information that would help make his point. Such as, statistics on how many people have been arrested for violating laws related to driving. For example, how many people have died in car crashes due to drinking, texting, or just being reckless behind the wheel. Also, include some information how the environment is being affected for having so many cars in the road.   

Blog Stage Seven: Original editorial or commentary #2

Imagine riding a train underneath Austin! That right I will be talking about how Austin should have a Subway System. I think, I remembered how this idea was proposed and was rejected when I was in high school. Which to me was crazy because it sounded like a great idea at that time and even now! The Subway System will not only get rid of traffic congestion in a eco-friendly way but it might even improve our health. I mean think about it as the population in Austin grows so does the traffic. Also, think about the acres of land that would be spared from becoming more freeways; that wouldn't even fix the traffic problem in Austin.

The Subway System would provide transportation for everyone no matter of their financial situation. Try to remember as you were driving today, how many cars you saw with only one person inside them? By putting a huge amount of people in a subway train, it will get rid of unnecessary traffic. Think about how many lives can be saved if we are to have the Subway System. For example, how the respond time of the Police, Fire Department, and EMS will improve without having to deal with so many cars slowing them down. Also, the Subway system will provide emergency evacuation out of the city due to natural disasters or terrorist attacks. I remember watching the news about how a reckless driver was running people over in Down town Austin, with a Subway System we could prevent similar situations from happening in the future. The subway would provide a safe mode of transportation by not having to deal with drivers who might be drunk, texting, or just simply being reckless.

By building underground we would preserve the acres of land that would be used to make more freeways that wouldn't even fix the traffic congestion. Those acres could be used in a better way. For, example turn those acres into a beautiful park that will encourage people to go out more and enjoy nature. I believed by getting rid of some roads and replacing them with a walkable, tree-lined streets for pedestrians only, will make our city stand out even more. Austin is already know for it's live music festivals, and for having the only formula 1 race track in the United States. So why not also be known for a state of the art Subway System!

Blog Stage 5

  Imagine riding in a bullet train going at 320 km/hr! I believe that having a high-speed rail network that connects all of Texas's major cities, would not only be awesome but beneficial as well. Therefore, Austin should extend the Metrorail transit system. The Metrorail will not only get rid of traffic congestion in a eco-friendly way but it might even improve our health.
 
The Metrorail will provide transport to those who can't afford to buy a car. As we know, Austin is an awesome place to live in but we are not the only ones who thinks so. People from other states are coming in droves to Austin, which means not only an increase in population growth but traffic too. Right now the traffic in Austin is a nightmare and building more freeways is not the answer.The Metrorail will be able to move large numbers of people in a quick and safe way. Not only would it be useful to get rid of traffic congestion but to provide emergency evacuation out of the city due to natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

 The Metrorail is eco-friendly; it causes no air pollution and runs on electricity. Therefore, breaking us away from our dependence on oil. Using electricity to power the trains is a lot cheaper than using gasoline; it is also a lot easier to produce trough wind, solar, and hydro-electric methods. Open spaces can be preserved and pedestrian-only zones can be created. Keeping Austin beautiful while reducing the chances of pedestrians getting run over by reckless drivers either accidentally or on purpose. Also you wouldn't have to worry about finding a parking space, which means the city won't have to look where to put a parking garage and destroy the environment.

  The Metrorail can help improve our health by reducing our stress levels. For example, you can ride the metro train and be able to do work on your computer, or just have the time to plan out your day. Also you are most likely to be more active by walking to your destination after getting out of the metro train compare to just driving your car there.

  Having Austin expand its Metrorail transit system, will benefit thousands of people. Because it will be a cheap and quick method of transportation, that is eco-friendly to the environment. We simply have to vote for it.
 

Blog Stage Four: Substantial commentary or criticism #2

Hello everyone! The news article that got my attention was from KXAN titled "Low-level marijuana possession penalties could be reduced with new bill" written by Brittany Glas.

 

The article talks about a new bill that might be passed called House Bill 81. This bill is meant to reduce penalties for low-level marijuana possession, not legalize marijuana for recreational use in Texas. Instead of jail time and a criminal record, a simple ticket will be given as punishment. According to the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, " in 2015, there were more than 60,000 arrests for marijuana possession in Texas, which made up more than 13 percent of all arrests in the state that year. It’s estimated those arrests and the subsequent prosecution cost taxpayers $1.5 billion" ( KXAN). That kind of money should be used to process those accused of murder, and other acts of violence. The opposing side believe that marijuana is a gate way drug, and by legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana it will promote consumption at alarming rates. Stoners shouldn't be put in the same jail cell that holds murderers and rapists. I believe people shouldn't face any jail time just because they had a small amount of marijuana on their possession, and have their lives ruined because they have a criminal record because of it. The author isn't being biased throughout the article, and provides information from Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics as evidence.


Blog Stage 2

Hello everyone! The news article that got my attention was from KXAN titled "Highway safety secrets exposed" written by Brian Collister and Joe Ellis.

The article talks about how TXDOT keeps safety information about the roads it maintains a secret. Neither federal or state law is aimed at keeping highway safety records from the public. It only states it can’t be used in court. Which means there is no law that prevents TXDOT from releasing that information to the public; the only thing that does is their fear of lawsuits. There has been lawsuits held against TXDOT in the past, because of fatal crashes due to roads that were in poor conditions. People should know whether or not the roads they are driving on are in poor conditions, in order for them to take precautions while driving and prevent more fatal crashes in the future.

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