Leading Off (06/26/08)
1. DISD will today consider a desperate makeover of Spruce High School, a last-ditch attempt to keep Texas Education Agency commissioner Robert Scott from completely shutting down the school. Whatever they decide to do, it doesn’t sound like there’s a magic bullet out there. Unless, of course, they hire Joe Clark.
2. Mayor Leppert will appear in public service announcements for Univision television and radio, encouraging more Latinos to register to vote. My idea for the TV spots–Leppert as a luche libre wrestler known as El Hombre con Manos Grandes–was unfortunately rejected. (Thanks, Dave.)
3. Still avoiding massive layoffs, American is dropping 42 flights from DFW Airport. You would think that would make a place like Waco kind of ticked since it’s losing two of its six daily flights. Nope. They’re getting jets! (Top story on wacotrib.com when I posted this: Chipotle gave away free burritos!)
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Not a facetious comment, I swear: people fly from DFW to Waco? Given the time and cost to park, go through security, wait for your flight, then disembark at the other end, wait for luggage…. wouldn’t it make more sense to drive?
¡Ya es Hora!
Now, where are our cabras, El Gato Grande?
Emilio
It would except for People that are coming thru from Tampa, Orlando, NYC etc. it would be a lot better and faster than getting luggage, getting a rental car then trying to find Waco from DFW. FLYING is so much easier on thru paxs.
yvonne: you’re right, I didn’t think of DFW as a transfer point to Waco, I was just thinking of it as an origin point.
I wonder if they allow dancing on those flights?
Waco was one of the reasons that the proposed high-speed train between Dallas and Austin was stymied. Southwest Air lobbied hard against the train, of course, but Waco insisted on a stop there (”Hey! We’re somebody!”) That was despite the fact that a high-speed train that has to stop halfway is not able to crank up to the 100MPH+ that would have made economic and marketing sense.
What’s the best thing to come out of Waco?
I-35.
Towski, wanna find out?
My parents live in Waco and I would still lobby against a stop there for a high-speed train.
Come on, guys. Waco is “a swell place to stop and pee on your way to Austin.” And the Circle Grill, now that’s food. I mean, it really is. Food. By any other name.
Wow, they sure are excited about those jets. jets jets jets.
Health Camp!
When you’re a jet, you’re a jet all the way…
Sorry, I can’t top Zac’s luche libre name for Leppert. You get a ‘well done sir’ for that one.
I just looked it up, it’s an hour and a half drive from Waco to Dallas. What is the point of putting a jet between Dallas and Waco, you’re going to spend as much time checking in, security, boarding, deplaning and getting your luggage as it takes to drive.
They need regular bus service, not jet service.
that’s like jet service from Amarillo to Lubbock. Its not needed and therefore, doesn’t exist.
Bethany, I’d be afraid that I’d have to face a committee of church elders led by John Lithgow, and ever since Harry & the Hendersons i’ve held a secret fear of him.
“They need regular bus service, not jet service.”
Nobody rides buses. Buses are scary.
I agree, Dallasite. Just driving past the Greyhound station is enough to deter me from riding a bus.
I wonder what the beverage service is like on the DFW-to-Waco flight, assuming AA hasn’t charged a fee for IT yet. Do they even have time to roll the cart down and back before they seats and tray tables must be in their full, upright and locked positions? How long is the fasten seat belt light turned off? Two minutes?
If you fly to Waco you are going to miss the Turkey Shop. That did re-open, didn’t it?
Passenger rail service between San Antonio (Laredo?)and Dallas (OKC?)with stops in Waco, (Temple?) & Austin, please!
Remember the Katy!
It seems like a no-brainer means of reducing traffic congestion on I-35, reducing CO2 emissions, boosting economies, etc. So what if the train doesn’t travel at Mach 3. Anyone travelled the Brit Rail and/or EuroRail to get from say… London to Brighton? Tell me why this is simple-minded Waco-native thinking on my part.
The Turkey Shop, last I checked, was re-opened, yes.
TELL ME, ZACH! TELL ME! Don’t you love your parents!?!
Sorry, Zac…
They wouldn’t see the point of a Waco stop either.
Wouldn’t it be easier just to adopt more of a paratrooper-style service, and kick out the people that want to be in Waco as you fly over?
Nonstop to El Paso, with jumps at Waco, San Antonio….Austin….
Tom, I’m sure the beverage service would be similar to that of the Hawaiian flights from Hono to Kaui…pushing the carts uphill on takeoff…and drink very fast.
Zac, good thing about the Turkey Shop is that it takes the sewage pressure away from the Shell station/Kolache stop in West.
Kolaches are those giant globs of pork fat wrapped in giant globs of cholesterol-laden carbs, right?
Can we assume this means Leppert will be speak Spanish on TV again?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3MFVsb-D0M
Am I too late for free Chiptole burritos?
amanda – ROAD TRIP!
Bethany – I’ll go get our Boarding Passes. Remember, we can only take 3 oz. of liquid. I wonder if that includes the extra salsa and guac I’m gonna get on mine?
Let’s ask Tim W.
I’d settle for jumping off a high speed train if it meant I didn’t have to make that beating of a drive.
Oh, and most people I know who fly into/out of Waco are making connections in Dallas to other locations. It beats driving to DFW and paying to park or taking the Waco Streak (a van that shuttles between the two airports).
ALL ABOARD!?!
Amanda, if your guacamole is a liquid, you’re doing it wrong.
This post is months past, but living here I can tell you why. Driving to DFW is a pain. Then there is the $15/day to park your car. Then there is driving back home when you return.
Waco Airport has free parking. No need really for long waits as it’s a small plane so an hour ahead is more than enough. With a max of 50 people a flight, security check-in is much faster and friendlier to deal with. Great TSA folks here. Then when I land I’m already in a secure area and don’t have to deal with that on my connections.
All of that for 20 or so minutes in the air. When traveling with children, that’s a real lifesaver. For business connections, that’s less wear and tear on my vehicle, plus the expenses of parking. For 10 days travel, that’s $150, plus gas. If it’s just me on business, that’s pretty much included in my ticket cost, without the inconvenience.
Even better, I can have a friend drop me to the airport, and pick me up when I return. Or drop off my vehicle for me.