It’s a runoff and your vote counts. Even if you didn’t vote in the general election, you can vote Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but you have to do it in your precinct polling location (see below for help).

The DANA board endorses Randi Shade. Randi is  committed to making sure the city grows sustainably. She’s a critical thinker and a strong advocate, and she cares deeply about doing what’s right for our city.

Randi is also endorsed by the Austin Police Association, Austin Progressive Association, Austin Firefighters Association, Building Owners and Managers Association, Austin Board of Realtors, and so many others, including most Democratic clubs that endorsed in this race.

If you live downtown, you are most likely voting in one of the following locations:

• Precinct 445: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St.
• Precinct 444: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St.
• Precinct 438: Sanchez Elem. School, 73 San Marcos St.
• Precinct 266: Senior Activity Center, 2874 Shoal Crest Ave.
• Precinct 250: Mathews Elem. School, 906 West Lynn St.

To find your specific polling place, click here.

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by Josh Allen

Traffic congestion led the Downtown Austin Transportation Management Association (DATMA) to form with the goal to help more people come downtown in fewer vehicles.

No doubt downtown is an attractive place to work with a growing residential population, thriving retail sector, and a strong, educated workforce that wants to work near the concentration of restaurants, cultural events and entertainment venues. But, with 90,000 people working downtown, many commuters face stop-and-go traffic on crowded roads.

Research shows that a transportation management association (TMA) could reduce the number of single occupant vehicles traveling to downtown by 2 to 10 percent, which correlates to 2,800 to 9,800 vehicles daily in Austin’s core.

TMAs, which exist in over 150 cities, typically educate about transportation alternatives and help find ways to make those alternatives feasible choices for downtown employees as well as residents and visitors.  In Portland’s Lloyd District, the TMA advocated for changes in bus routes and discounted commuter passes. Over 10 years, commuters using transit increased from 21% to 41%, trips on bicycles increased from 1% to 5%, and many people began carpooling.

DATMA formed in March with an initial 9-member board, including DANA member Roger Cauvin. In the coming months, DATMA will hire an executive director who will focus on program development and membership recruitment.

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Be sure to vote in the upcoming Place 3 run-off election!

Early voting for this election is Monday, June 6 through Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Election day is Saturday, June 18.

Click here for Early and Mobile Voting Locations and info.

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Have you always wanted to sponsor one of DANA’s popular monthly Urban Core Happy Hour events but didn’t know how? Well, now you do! Click the link below for a printable PDF with all the info you need to sign up for one of these coveted sponsorship spots. Our 2011 Happy Hour Sponsorships are filling up fast so get yours booked now!

Contact Amber Gugino at amber.gugino@gmail.com for more info or to sign up.

Urban Core Happy Hour Sponsor Info Sheet

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Meet one of America’s most promising young authors. The Four Seasons Residences invites DANA members to a new author confab with author Dinaw Mengestu, tomorrow, Tuesday, at 1pm. Held in the FSR Library, 32nd Floor, it requires your RSVP to:  Jeanette Auerbach 914-645-2209 (cell), or cambridge-manor@me.com.

Experience a taste of the proposed DANA Arts & Culture Group.   This event is co-sponsored by the Austin Public Library Friends and Foundation.
Click here for more info.

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