City Council Member Pio Renteria says he will oppose the awarding of a city road maintenance contract to a firm whose president used a racial slur at a Travis County-sponsored meeting last month. According to a memorandum Capital Contracting Officer Rolando Fernandez Jr. wrote on Monday, Aaron Concrete submitted the lowest bid to replace two […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inRoads
Despite moratorium, CTRMA advances two toll projects
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is moving forward with two toll projects despite a significant roadblock put up by the Texas Transportation Commission last year. On Wednesday, the CTRMA’s board of directors voted 6-0 to start the bidding process for three new flyovers at U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 130 in East Austin. […]
Posted inTransit
Commissioners Court goes for Green Line
The Travis County Commissioners Court gave the green light last week to advance a study of a potential commuter rail line extending from downtown Austin out to Manor and possibly Elgin. The court voted 3-2 to approve the financial consulting firm PFM an estimated $39,000 to take a closer look at the viability of Capital […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 5.29.18
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 1. Receive comments regarding and hear any objections to the proposed assessments for Improvement Area #1 of the WildHorse Ranch Public […]
Posted inTransit
Anxieties abound on the eve of Cap Remap
In its final meeting before a historic overhaul of Austin’s bus network, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors heard another blast of concerns from riders and stakeholders over potential service disruptions. A handful of speakers complained about the loss of bus service in their neighborhoods, while Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder suggested the […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners Court approves better Better Builder Program
The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday gave unanimous support to a set of staff recommendations aimed at improving conditions for construction workers on county projects. The proposals, brought forward by the Purchasing Office’s Contract Compliance Program, augment the county’s Better Builder Program and will require contractors to certify commitments to safety and payroll practices. […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court tackles Tax Office troubles as disturbing audit is released
Travis County will have to face “some honest and possibly difficult conversations” during the upcoming budget process if it wants to avoid a repeat of the alleged crimes that have rocked the Tax Office, according to Tax Assessor-Collector Bruce Elfant. Elfant delivered that assessment during his briefing of the Commissioners Court Tuesday morning about how […]
Posted inTravis County
Elfant to address Tax Office fraud investigation
Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Bruce Elfant will brief the Commissioners Court on Tuesday morning about the fraud investigation that landed seven people in jail on Friday, four of them Tax Office employees. “There I will be able to provide details on the contingency plans that we have put in place and what the next steps […]
Posted inWhispers
Group opposes Oak Hill Parkway plans ahead of public hearing
A group of residents in Southwest Austin is demanding changes to plans to overhaul the infamous “Y” at Oak Hill. Known as Fix 290, the group issued a press release on Monday calling for the Texas Department of Transportation to scale back plans for the so-called Oak Hill Parkway. Long part of the Central Texas […]
Posted inWhispers
Capital Metro moves forward with Westgate Transit Center
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority will spend close to $3.5 million to build a new park-and-ride beneath Ben White Boulevard. On Monday, the agency’s board of directors unanimously approved a resolution directing CEO and President Randy Clarke to finalize a contract with G. Hyatt Construction Inc. to build the Westgate Transit Center beneath the elevated […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 5.22.18
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s Office hosts a copy at its website. 10. Consider and take appropriate action on the use of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funding to conduct financial analysis and […]
Posted inPlanning
City planners picture fewer cars on Congress
Imagine if the main street of Texas had wider sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes and no pull-in parking spaces. That’s one potential outcome of the city of Austin’s Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative. Last week, the Public Works and Planning and Zoning departments debuted renderings of what they have dubbed as “alternatives” for the stretch of […]