MY REPLY LETTER TODAY TO CHRISTOPHER BISHOP OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE AGENCY HERE IN AUSTIN:

 

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: John McMillan <mcmillanj@att.net>

To: Christopher Bishop <christopher.bishop@txdot.gov>; Austin 311 <austin311@austintexas.gov>; District 4 <district4@austintexas.gov>; Austin Mayor Steve Adler <steve.adler@austintexas.gov>; Customer Service <customer.service@capmetro.org>; Austin Police Dept. Asst. Chief Troy Gay <troy.gay@austintexas.gov>; ruben.espinoza@austintexas.gov <ruben.espinoza@austintexas.gov>; andy.brown@traviscountytx.gov <andy.brown@traviscountytx.gov>; Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion (2017) <jeffrey.travillion@traviscountytx.gov>; Rey Arellano <rey.arellano@austintexas.gov>; Capmetro Customerservice <customerservice@capmetro.org>; Senator Sarah Eckhardt Constituent Assistance <district14.eckhardt@senate.texas.gov>; State Senator Kirk Watson Constituent Services Rep. Walcott (2016) <keysha.walcott@senate.texas.gov>; State Senator Sarah Eckhardt 2020 <sarah.eckhardt@senate.texas.gov>; Rep. Sheryl Cole (2019 CentralTX) <sheryl.cole@house.texas.gov>; james.lieu@dot.gov <james.lieu@dot.gov>; City of Austin City Attorney Anne Morgan <anne.morgan@austintexas.gov>; delia.garza@traviscountytx.gov <delia.garza@traviscountytx.gov>; Spencer Cronk <spencer.cronk@austintexas.gov>; Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea <brigid.shea@traviscountytx.gov>; Cap Metro Board of Directors <boardofdirectors@capmetro.org>; ed.easton@capmetro.org <ed.easton@capmetro.org>; U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (2015) <lloyd.doggett@mail.house.gov>; publicrecords@gov.texas.gov <publicrecords@gov.texas.gov>; Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick <dan.patrick@ltgov.texas.gov>; public.information@texasattorneygeneral.gov <public.information@texasattorneygeneral.gov>; American Public Transportation Assn 2021 <ptads@apta.com>

Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 09:57:03 PM CDT

Subject: Re: Photos from 6-23-21 re poor visibility

June 23, 2021

Dear Public Information Officer Christopher Bishop of the Texas Department of Transportation state agency's Austin District,

Thank you for your reply note to me on this:

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 03:53:35 PM CDT, Christopher Bishop <christopher.bishop@txdot.gov> wrote:

Mr. McMillan:

 TxDOT received your message.  The location is completely on a city street, and our staff is unauthorized to work there.

 The same goes for a similar message you sent regarding a Capital Metro sign. It is also out of our jurisdiction.

 

 

 

Christopher Bishop

Public Information Officer

TxDOT Austin District

7901 North I-35

Austin, TX 78753

Office: 512-832-7110

 

Follow us: www.twitter.com/txdotaustin

Talk to us: www.facebook.com/txdot  

Watch us: www.youtube.com/txdotpio

 _________________________

Mr. Bishop, I am  very hopeful that the City of Austin will help to promptly remove the botanical plants' overgrowth onto the cited public sidewalk along East Rundberg Lane, one-half block west of the intersection with North Plaza Drive, in northeast Austin. 

This will protect the safety of pedestrians walking on that sidewalk. It will also help Cap Metro passengers seated at the Cap Metro bus stop number 6418, who currently are not able to see an approaching northbound Route 325 Cap Metro bus until that bus is very close to and a matter of feet from the cited bus stop. This poor visibility problem undermines the ability of Cap Metro passengers seated on that bus stop's bench to respond immediately as the bus approaches by themselves getting off the bench and walking to the spot near the bus stop's post in order to get the Cap Metro bus driver's attention. 

At present, it seems to me that many of the seated passengers may possibly be getting overlooked by Cap Metro bus drivers if those passengers are unaware of the approaching Cap Metro 325-route northbound bus near that bus stop. Those passengers may be distracted by their cell phone, for instance, and their inability to see the Cap Metro bus as it approaches or drives past that stop can add to the problem.

Please note, below, the very encouraging prompt reply note about this problem that I also received today from the City Government of Austin. I would like to thank Austin 311 staff member Niah for her helpful reply letter to me today:

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Austin 311 <austin311@austintexas.gov>

To: John McMillan <mcmillanj@att.net>

Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 03:50:01 PM CDT

Subject: RE: Photos from 6-23-21 re poor visibility

Good Afternoon,

 

Thank you for contacting the City of Austin. We appreciate you taking the time to email us about vegetation overgrown along East Rundberg Lane near stop 6418, and we will be glad to assist. A service request has been submitted to the Austin Code to address. Your service request number is 21-00297842. Once the request is assigned to a Code officer, the service request will be closed and a new case number will be assigned. Please call 311 after 5 business days to obtain the new case number and name of the Code officer.

 

If you should have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to email us back or contact us at 311 or 974-2000. We are available 24 hours a day by phone for your convenience. Any email or ‘Other’ SR mobile app submissions will be reviewed within 24 hours. 

 

Thanks again for contacting the City of Austin,

 

Niah

Austin 3-1-1

21-00297779

Download the Austin 3-1-1 Mobile App on Android  Or  ITunes.  For other operating devices, visit http://311.austintexas.gov

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  This message and any attachments are intended solely for the original recipient named and may contain material deemed sensitive, proprietary or confidential in nature.  Any unauthorized transmission, duplication, use, disclosure or other manipulation is expressly forbidden without written consent of the original sender.  You are hereby notified that not adhering to this notice may constitute a violation of federal and/or state law.  If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message and any attachments and notify the sender immediately via phone, fax or e-mail.  Austin 3-1-1 is a department of the City of Austin.

 

From: John McMillan <mcmillanj@att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 3:11 PM
To: District 4 <District4@austintexas.gov>; Austin 311 <Austin311@austintexas.gov>; Capmetro Customerservice <customerservice@capmetro.org>; Sherri Fleming <Sherri.Fleming@traviscountytx.gov>; andy.brown@traviscountytx.gov; Adler, Steve <Steve.Adler@austintexas.gov>; KXAN TV News Investigations <reportit@kxan.com>; Debbie Hiott <dhiott@kut.org>; Health, Webacct <Health@austintexas.gov>; American Public Transportation Assn 2021 <ptads@apta.com>; Gay, Troy <Troy.Gay@austintexas.gov>; Espinoza, Ruben <Ruben.Espinoza@austintexas.gov>
Cc: DFPS Office Of Consumer Relations <ocr@dfps.state.tx.us>; mediarelations@txdot.gov; james.lieu@dot.gov; Saundra Ragona <ssragona@gmail.com>; p139@traviscountydemocrats.org
Subject: Photos from 6-23-21 re poor visibility

 

*** External Email - Exercise Caution ***

It is virtually impossible for a Cap Metro passenger seated on the stop 6418 (?) bench along the northern side of East Rundberg Ln., a half-block west of North Plaza Drive, to see an approaching northbound 325 bus. Also a safety hazard for pedestrians from the botanical plant overhang and intrusion onto this public sidewalk. Pls remove the plant overgrowth onto sidewalk here as soon as possible.

 

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

 

 

 

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CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov.

John Kevin McMillan

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 03:53:35 PM CDT, Christopher Bishop <christopher.bishop@txdot.gov> wrote:

Mr. McMillan:

 

TxDOT received your message.  The location is completely on a city street, and our staff is unauthorized to work there.

 

The same goes for a similar message you sent regarding a Capital Metro sign. It is also out of our jurisdiction.

 

 

 

Christopher Bishop

Public Information Officer

TxDOT Austin District

7901 North I-35

Austin, TX 78753

Office: 512-832-7110

 

Follow us: www.twitter.com/txdotaustin

Talk to us: www.facebook.com/txdot  

Watch us: www.youtube.com/txdotpio

 

 

 

From: John McMillan [mailto:mcmillanj@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 3:11 PM
To: District 4 <district4@austintexas.gov>; Austin 311 <austin311@austintexas.gov>; Capmetro Customerservice <customerservice@capmetro.org>; sherri.fleming@traviscountytx.gov; andy.brown@traviscountytx.gov; Austin Mayor Steve Adler <steve.adler@austintexas.gov>; KXAN TV News Investigations <reportit@kxan.com>; Debbie Hiott <dhiott@kut.org>; Austin Public Health Dept. 2021 <health@austintexas.gov>; American Public Transportation Assn 2021 <ptads@apta.com>; Austin Police Dept. Asst. Chief Troy Gay <troy.gay@austintexas.gov>; ruben.espinoza@austintexas.gov
Cc: DFPS Office Of Consumer Relations <ocr@dfps.state.tx.us>; MediaRelations <MediaRelations@txdot.gov>; james.lieu@dot.gov; Saundra Ragona <ssragona@gmail.com>; p139@traviscountydemocrats.org
Subject: Photos from 6-23-21 re poor visibility

 

This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

It is virtually impossible for a Cap Metro passenger seated on the stop 6418 (?) bench along the northern side of East Rundberg Ln., a half-block west of North Plaza Drive, to see an approaching northbound 325 bus. Also a safety hazard for pedestrians from the botanical plant overhang and intrusion onto this public sidewalk. Pls remove the plant overgrowth onto sidewalk here as soon as possible.

 

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android