TV hack

Sneaky hack to watch WFAA in Dallas during AT&T-Tegna blackout

Who will Tayshia pick?

Photo courtesy of CBS

For three weeks in a row, Bachelorette fans in Dallas-Fort Worth have missed Tayshia's dramatic rose ceremonies due to a blackout of TV stations across the U.S., including WFAA-Channel 8. But in time for her all-important hometown dates, we have a hack to get it back in real time on your SmartTV.

Some background on the situation: The blackout began at 7 pm December 1, following a dispute between between AT&T/DirecTV and Tegna, a media company that owns 64 stations in 51 markets across the U.S.

While they continue to battle over fees, viewers continue to get no programming. (Some customers report that a call to AT&T has resulted in a $20 refund.)

Many of WFAA's shows are available on Hulu the next day, and news broadcasts can be streamed through their website.

But for U-verse subscribers who want to watch the station's programming live, for free, on their SmartTV, there is a way to do it: using Locast, a not-for-profit service that gives access to broadcast TV stations over the internet.

Here are the steps:

Gather materials: You'll need your computer (or other device with internet), your U-verse remote, and your SmartTV.
On your computer (or internet device), visit www.locast.org. Click "register" and fill in your email address and create a password to create an account. Don't close this window yet.
Turn on your SmartTV, and, using your U-verse remote, click Menu, then scroll down the options and click "Interactive."
On the "TV Interactive" screen, scroll right to the blue "Locast" box and click it. You should see a message that says "Activate Locast" with a six-digit code in orange. Time to go back to your computer.
On the Locast site, click "Activate" from the top left menu. Enter the six-digit code showing on your TV screen. You should see a message that says, "Your device was successfully activated."
On your TV screen, you should see a list of channels in a TV Guide format. Scroll down until you get to the WFAA-Channel 8 option. Click on the current program.

Voila! You're now watching it live.

Locast is free to use, but they ask for support through donations.

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Bicycling News

TxDOT funds $285 million for pedestrian and bicycle trails in Texas

TxDOT

Bike trail

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved more than $284.8 million for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that will help improve safety, mobility, access and quality of life for people across the state.

According to a release, these federal Transportation Alternative funds will go toward 73 projects statewide — four of which are in the Dallas area — that will build sidewalks, shared use paths, dedicated bicycle lanes, and pedestrian bridges.

They will also be used for the development of active transportation plans that will help communities plan for non-motorized connected networks.

“This significant investment will make it safer and more enjoyable for people to walk and bike in their communities while improving access across the state,” says Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert “Robie” Vaughn in a statement. “By expanding transportation options, we can build more connected communities and a more connected Texas, while enhancing the quality of life for everyone.”

Examples of statewide projects include upgraded sidewalks, shared-use paths for biking and walking, on-street bicycle lanes, and safety enhancements like school zone upgrades, pedestrian crossings and lighting.

Examples of local projects include improving a shared-use path between Seagoville Road and McKinzie Road in Balch Springs; and building a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over an active Union Pacific railroad line between White Rock Lake and the Great Trinity Forest.

The four Dallas projects include:

Midtown Dallas Inc.: Midtown Dallas Shared Use Trail / Shared Use Path — $10,463,200
DART: Cotton Belt Silver Line Rail Trail, Phase 3a / Shared Use Path — $25,000,000
City of Balch Springs: Southeast Trail, Phase 1A / Shared Use Path, Sidewalks — $6,443,000
City of Dallas: Trinity Forest Spine Trail, Bike/Pedestrian Bridge — $10,903,200

While collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists make up a small percentage of traffic crashes in Texas, they account for 1 in 5 traffic fatalities. All of these projects will provide safer conditions for people who walk or use bicycles or wheelchairs.

More specifically, 27 projects will improve pedestrian safety in areas identified as potential risks in the Texas Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. And 29 projects are intended to provide safer routes for children walking and biking to schools.

Funding comes the federal Transportation Alternatives program, and are awarded after a competitive call for projects from cities and counties across the state.

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