On Wednesday, City Council will formally hear the results of a monthslong assessment of public opinion on transportation priorities, which is aimed at providing guidance for crafting a bond proposal this November. However, Mayor Steve Adler jumped the gun last week by offering his own vision for a referendum he wants to put before voters. […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 5.31.16
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. 2. Consider and take appropriate action on an order concerning outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County. (Judge Eckhardt) […]
Posted inTransportation
Adler drops surprise $720M mobility bond proposal
Mayor Steve Adler has blasted into the middle of the ongoing conversation about a November mobility bond election by proposing an estimated $720 million package of projects along Austin’s most vital arterials. In a closed-door speech before the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Adler called for the city to “focus on our major streets.” He […]
Posted inWhispers
Watson takes his I-35 plan for a spin
A huge crowd packed into the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency on Lady Bird Lake on Thursday afternoon to hear state Senator Kirk Watson deliver his plan to fund billions of dollars’ worth of projects on Interstate 35 from Williamson County down south to Hays County. The vision includes significant changes to the roadway in […]
Posted inTransportation
Watson’s I-35 plan: No need for a bond election
State Sen. Kirk Watson will reveal several ambitious proposals for infrastructure investments in Interstate 35 on Thursday, and none of them involve asking Austin voters for permission this November. Watson, former mayor of Austin, is set to deliver his suite of ideas at a Downtown Austin Alliance-sponsored luncheon at a hotel on the south shore […]
Posted inWhispers
County to go fishing for ideas on downtown tract
Travis County is turning to the free market for ideas on what to do with one of its most controversial properties. The Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to instruct staff to prepare a formal request for proposals for 300 Guadalupe St. That, of course, is the site the county had proposed for its failed $287 […]
Posted inElections
Travis County’s Precinct 1 runoff goes to Travillion
Jeff Travillion won the Democratic nomination for Travis County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on Tuesday night, handily beating Arthur Sampson in the low-turnout matchup. Only 9,584 voters — or 1.4 percent of the county’s registered population — participated in the Democratic runoff, significantly less than the 145,195 who cast their ballots in the original March […]
Posted inTravis County
County moves to add new courthouse to its collection
In its quest to relieve overcrowding at the 85-year-old Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, Travis County is turning its eyes to a younger building: the 81-year-old U.S. Courthouse at 200 W. Eighth St. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court voted 4-0 to move forward in the process to try to take the building off the […]
Posted inWhispers
Renteria boards Capital Metro board
City Council will soon have three of its members sitting on the Capital Metro Board of Directors. With little fanfare last week, Council voted to appoint Council Member Pio Renteria to fill the seat being vacated by Ann Stafford. Stafford is stepping down after serving two consecutive three-year terms. She attended her last board meeting […]
Posted inWhispers
Cap Metro to embiggen Lakeline Park and Ride
Capital Metro’s Board of Directors on Monday approved the expansion of a parking lot in far northwest Austin. The $1.79 million contract with Muniz Concrete and Contracting, Inc., will add 460 spaces to the Lakeline Park and Ride, which already has enough room to hold 485 vehicles. Capital Metro officials explained that the facility is […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt teases slight tax hike
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt warned on Monday that this year’s budget planning effort could result in a slightly higher tax rate. Eckhardt made the revelation during a special press conference in downtown Austin. The quarterly update on county business was the second of its kind this year. “We anticipate that there will be some […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 5.24.16
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. 3. Receive update on the proposed sobriety center for Travis County. (Commissioner Daugherty & Commissioner Gómez) Monitor’s Take: The long but […]