Making Brownsville Better or Making Brownsville Austin?

Hip Austin, Texas

Reading through the Professional Consultants Services Agreement between the City of Brownsville and BikeTexas, Austin is the role model.  Those pushing this program for our city would like nothing better than for Brownsville to become the Austin of extreme south Texas; hip, weird with an entertainment district and a fully implemented bike trails master plan.  So enamored are some elected officials with the state's capital, they see nothing wrong with expanding the city's currently underused bike trails before Southmost has sidewalks and Brownsville's houses are up to code.  Priorities are ass-backwards, ego-driven to build a legacy, not simply to improve our city.

Purchasing Director Roberto C. Luna

Since the city's Purchasing Department, headed by Roberto C. Luna, doesn't know the difference between a lease agreement and a consulting agreement, we have the opportunity to see what the city is getting for their $66,227 contract with BikeTexas, while we wait to see if the city is also giving BikeTexas and bcWorkshops free rent while they work on bike trails and interview citizens about their cycling and transportation habits and needs.

Brownsville Metro Director
Norma Zamora

Incredibly, Brownsville Metro Director Norma Zamora, not even a city employee, is designated to "administer the contract on behalf of the city," clearly a conflict of interest.  Zamora is employed by First Transit, a company that also enjoys two contracts with the city, one a $225,000 management contract, the other a $1,400,000 maintenance contract.  

Below is a document detailing the work BikeTexas will be doing for the city to earn $66,227.  

Cutting through the fancy language, the non-profit will see how well the city is promoting alternative forms of transportation, making sure all city departments are on board.  They will hand out printed materials showing citizens their transportation options, work with the city to agree on a timeline for implementing the Bike & Trails Master Plan and emphasize safety.

BikeTexas transferred Fernando Martinez down from Austin to be Project Manager.  

There is nothing wrong with the project if its done honestly.  Hopefully, BikeTexas will not repeat the lie that "over 1,000 riders daily use the Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail," an untruth the city included in their Transportation Enhancement Grant Application resulting in a $786,000 grant for a connecting bike trail through downtown.

Daily Brownsville Cyclist

Perhaps, BikeTexas will notice what drivers on FM 802 and Boca Chica already know:  the bike lanes are a joke on those busy streets.  99% of those traveling east on International Blvd, turning onto Highway 4(Boca Chica) use the bike lane as a right turning lane. Those who try to turn from the adjacent lane risk an accident from the 4 or 5 cars quickly going around to the right to turn.  No responsible parent or grandparent would send their 10 year old to school using the FM 802 or Boca Chica bike lane.

The contract with BikeTexas expires September 30, 2014.  Don't be surprised if it's extended as BikeTexas hasn't even moved into their new office at 619 E. 11th. City workers are working hard to remodel the property to suit their new tenant.  

We've emailed City Secretary Estela Von Hatten, letting her know that we still haven't received our Public Information Request about the lease or rental agreements between the city and BikeTexas and bcWorkshops.  The city has already spent over a quarter of a million dollars purchasing and remodeling the property.  It will be interesting to see if the two entities are allowed free rent.