If you’ve never ridden an electric bicycle before (and really, what are you waiting for?), you’ll get your chance this weekend at the E-Bike Rodeo at the state Capitol. Along with a variety of e-bikes available for test rides, experts will be on hand to explain everything you need to know about electricity-powered bikes. You’ll […]
2022
Posted inZoning
ZAP supports zoning for 33 townhomes in South Austin
The Zoning and Platting Commission recommended a rezoning Tuesday for 33 homes in South Austin over the objections of two neighbors. The case concerns a 2.7-acre property at 7901 Peaceful Hill Lane. The property owner, represented by Victoria Haase with Thrower Design, plans to rezone the site to Townhouse and Condominium Residence (SF-6) in order […]
Posted inWhispers
AUS buckles seatbelt for a bumpy ride
Visitors are flooding into Austin to attend ACL Fest and the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix race later this month. What this means, among other things, is that the airport is very, very busy right now. AUS is expecting a lot of what officials call “high passenger days,” which are days with more than 30,000 […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Crash deaths, injuries on the rise despite Vision Zero interventions
Traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries in the city of Austin have increased in 2022 compared with the five-year average, highlighting the barriers that stand in the way of the city’s Vision Zero goals. The Vision Zero program, which originated in Sweden in the 1990s, aims to end traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. City Council adopted […]
Posted inRoads
City seeks federal transit funds to improve east-west connections along I-35
The city has hopes of securing federal transportation funds intended to reconnect communities severed from economic and other opportunities by transit infrastructure, specifically Interstate 35. Last week City Council approved a resolution to submit the Our Future 35: Connecting Equitably Study to the U.S. Department of Transportation for funding consideration as part of the new […]
Posted inFire
Travis County preps for centennial fire prevention week
According to a proclamation unanimously approved by the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, the week of Oct. 9-15 is the 100th annual fire prevention week in Travis County. The theme of the centennial? “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” “I’ve responded to way too many fatality fires in my career, and I have not […]
Posted inHousing
Capital A working to finalize two affordable housing projects
Just a little over two years ago, Conor Kenny and Fayez Kazi, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the city’s Planning Commission, stepped down from their posts and began working on an ambitious plan to help the city out of what Kazi calls a “looming generational housing crisis.” Kazi is the founder and CEO of […]
Posted inElections
District 5 Council candidates chat with the ‘Monitor’: Part I
Read Part II of the series here. District 5 will choose a new City Council member this November. Ann Kitchen was elected to a first term in 2015 and ran a second time unopposed in 2019. The environmentalist and attorney was known for her pragmatic approach and tireless commitment to public engagement. Term limits prohibit […]
Posted inCourts
Toll road agency, tech firm square off in court
At the end of a lengthy hearing Tuesday, Judge Eric Shepperd of Travis County Court at Law No. 2 told lawyers for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the technology company suing the agency he would be back with a decision as soon as possible on whether the toll road authority must repair drainage […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin Public Health expands eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine
Austinites at risk of contracting monkeypox are now eligible for the vaccine, health officials said Monday. Previously, the vaccine was limited to people directly exposed to the virus or diagnosed with the disease. “We are really just classifying anyone at risk,” said Dr. Christina Madison with Wellness Equity Alliance, one of the health care organizations […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Initial music census findings show changing landscape for Austin creatives
Early findings from a recent census of the Austin music community show some improvements in the state of local creatives, though there are still areas of concern for music stakeholders. At Monday’s meeting of the Music Commission, a presentation from Sound Music Cities founder Don Pitts offered a glimpse of some noteworthy details from the […]
Posted inWhispers
Your stress-free guide for getting to ACL Fest
Getting to and from Austin City Limits – at Zilker Park the weekends of Oct. 7-9 and Oct. 14-16 – is always an adventure. We do not recommend driving to the festival. In fact, you really can’t: Barton Springs Road near the park is closed to vehicle traffic throughout the weekend and there’s no parking at […]