Transit sessions look at light-rail plans and impact on traffic safety

Austin Transit Partnership will hold three community meetings this month to gather input on the area’s light-rail plan. A virtual open house will take place at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 with in-person meetings scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Twin Oaks Library on South Fifth Street and 7:30 a.m. Feb. 29 at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Eighth Street. A related transit group, Transit Forward, has also scheduled a quarterly lunch for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 28, also at St. David’s Episcopal Church, with panelists discussing how public transit impacts traffic safety. The lunch is part of the Yimbytown 2024 conference organized by AURA-ATX and will feature panelists Selena Xie, president of Austin Emergency Medical Services Association; Lewis Leff, acting assistant director of the Transportation and Public Works Department; Roberto Gonzalez Jr., senior director of planning services for Capital Metro; and Heyden Black Walker, board member of Safe Streets Austin.