Infomaniacs: May 16, 2013 (6:00am)

Bryan’s New Police Chief on WTAW

Dean Swartzlander, Bryan’s new police chief, visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia about his background, his career with the Bryan Police Department, training changes he has made, department statistics, his future plans for the department, non-violent crime, home security systems, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Listen to “Bryan Police Chief Dean Swartzlander on The Infomaniacs” on Spreaker.

Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck On The Freeway In North Bryan

A pedestrian on the freeway in north Bryan was struck and killed early this morning (September 4). Bryan police reports this happened around five a.m. in the northbound lanes just north of the Highway 21 overpass. A BPD news release says investigators are still attempting to learn why the victim, 63 year old Phil Phillips of Bryan, was there. There is no evidence that the person was just walking down the side of the highway. And they are not associated with a vehicle on the scene that might have had car trouble or had a flat tire. Northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for about five hours while BPD’s traffic and crime scene units and members of the criminal investigations division were on the scene. The BPD news release also stated that the driver of the vehicle remained on scene and has been cooperative with the investigation.

Brazos Transit District’s General Manager And The Bryan City Council Discusses Multiple Topics

The general manager of the Brazos Transit District (BTD) and the Bryan city council discusses multiple topics during the council’s August workshop meeting. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the Brazos Transit District during the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. BTD general manager Wendy Weedon’s presentation included an explanation of asking for the first time, local funding to continue the present level of bus service in Bryan and College Station. As of today (September 4), the Bryan council and Brazos County commission have not adopted fiscal year 2025 budgets. The College Station council included BTD’s funding request as part of their FY 25 budget. BTD’s request from all three local governments is $334,000 dollars each. Weedon says that helps make up a loss of over $2 million in federal and state funding because BTD is now considered a large urban operation and is competing with the nation’s largest cities for federal and state money. Weedon told the Bryan council that BTD has unspent money from prior years to make up the remainder of the shortfall for FY 25. The Bryan council did not give an indication during the workshop discussion of its support of BTD’s funding request. Council questions of Weedon included getting more bus stop signs, benches, and shelters. Weedon said they have federal money for signs, benches, and shelters. But BTD does not have the money to acquire the right of way. Weedon also said BTD has received federal money to buy electric-powered trolleys. But there is no money to operate the trolleys, which she estimated is a cost of between $180,000 and $200,000 dollars per trolley per year. Click below to hear comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting. Listen to “Brazos Transit District's general manager and the Bryan city council discusses multiple topics” on Spreaker.