Having lived in Austin for 15 years (albeit almost 30 years ago, now), my sympathies are with the school district. Central Texas is prone to ice storms, and only downtown Austin (rising gently toward the Capitol from Town Lake, and rising to the same degree along South Congress) is flat enough for the ice to be a manageable problem. In the Hill Country to the west, ice can be downright dangerous.🟩🟩🟩🟥🟥 https://t.co/CRBMLkXwaG
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) February 2, 2022
I remember one day in winter, when we were living just off Mo-Pac, the north-south expressway built along the old Missouri Pacific right of way (hence, "Mo-Pac," although technically "Loop 1"). Ice shut down the town overnight. We awoke to an eerie silence, and finally realized it was because the expressway was silent, having been closed for safety. It felt like the whole world had vanished, leaving us behind. That was a good day.
On another occasion a cold front came down bringing ice and snow with it. I was on the 13th (yes, that's the right number) floor of a bank building downtown watching people jump in their cars and create the worst gridlock I ever saw in Austin (well, until recently. Austin is so overgrown now it's like jamming Houston's traffic into the space of Austin. I know that doesn't make sense to everyone, but it's the best I can do). People were trying to get home, especially to west Austin, Westlake Hills, and out into the Hill Country, before the roads became impassable. Needless to say it took hours for the traffic knot to untangle, and the weather struck the hills and made the drive home treacherous. Except for me and my co-workers. By the time the work day had ended, the streets were clear of cars and ice/snow. The traffic had melted the streets clear, and I was home safely in the usual amount of time it took me to travel without traffic.
But the mess ice and snow play with school transport is not worth the candle, especially since, by Monday, it will probably be in the '50's.
You get used to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment