The early morning lines at Austin’s airport are gaining notoriety even among NPR game show hosts. “I fly a lot, and I often take early flights. I have never anywhere been in an airport that crowded that early in the morning,” Peter Sagal, host of the weekly news quiz Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, said after […]
Nathan Bernier, KUT
Posted inTransportation
Don’t expect traffic problems around Circuit of the Americas to be fixed anytime soon
For the last 10 years, Circuit of the Americas has drawn thousands of people to major events, from races like the U.S. Grand Prix and MotoGP to concerts by megastars like Elton John and Kendrick Lamar, helping to pump millions of tourist dollars into the local economy while thrilling fans with A-list entertainment. The 1,500-acre […]
Posted inAustin
Abandoned rental cars and TSA lines out the door. What’s going on at Austin’s airport?
When Carmen Ortiz arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) on Monday morning, two hours before departure as recommended, the line to get through security stretched down the Barbara Jordan terminal, outside the building and back down the entire length of the terminal. “I’ve never had to wait in a security line outside the airport,” Ortiz […]
Posted inTransit
Transit riders could pay less under new fare proposal by Cap Metro
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to roll out a new fare system this fall that would limit how much people pay to ride the bus or train. Riders using a new smartphone app or fare card – branded as Amp – would stop being charged after paying the equivalent of a day pass in […]
Posted inRoads
I-35 expansion could destroy a 70-unit affordable housing complex. TxDOT didn’t notice at first.
The Texas Department of Transportation overlooked a 70-unit affordable housing complex when tallying how many homes could be destroyed by a move to widen Interstate 35 through Central Austin. Aria Grand, an apartment community in the Travis Heights neighborhood that opened in 2019, was omitted from the initial count of residential displacements in TxDOT’s early analysis of the expansion […]
Posted inTransit
Transit planners study allowing buses on light-rail bridge over Lady Bird Lake
Facing pushback over plans to allow only light rail and pedestrians on a new bridge over Lady Bird Lake, officials overseeing Project Connect, Austin’s $7.1 billion transit expansion, are taking a closer look at whether to design the bridge so Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses could cross into downtown. The Lady Bird Lake Bridge is […]
Posted inAustin
Austin’s legal bill to oust operator of airport’s South Terminal approaches $1 million
The cost of Austin’s legal fight to reclaim and demolish the airport’s South Terminal — where people catch Allegiant and Frontier flights — just grew to $847,000. The Austin City Council today approved paying corporate law firm Winstead PC another $600,000 on top of $247,000 it already committed. Lonestar Airport Holdings signed a lease in 2016 to run the South Terminal […]
Posted inRoads
Why doesn’t Austin pre-treat its roads for ice?
State highways are being sprayed with magnesium chloride to lower the temperature at which ice can form. The Texas Department of Transportation has finished pre-treating major roadways and is now focusing on stretches of secondary roads where ice could form, like bridges or overpasses. Meanwhile, in Austin, the city has not pre-treated any roads. The […]
Posted inHousing
Austin to spend $65 million this year to reduce displacement near future transit lines
The city of Austin is preparing to spend $65 million this year on efforts to prevent people who live near future public transit lines from being priced out of their homes. The single largest transit expansion in Austin’s history is expected to increase demand for property near frequent transit routes, potentially making affordability problems worse […]
Posted inRoads
I-35 frontage roads would be on the same side of the interstate under TxDOT’s new plans
The Texas Department of Transportation’s latest proposal to expand Interstate 35 includes a plan to run the northbound and southbound frontage roads directly next to each other on the same side of the highway between Cesar Chavez and Dean Keeton streets. The frontage roads would be at ground level with the interstate lowered and possibly covered if […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro tries to keep Leander in transit system by offering infrastructure funding
In an attempt to keep Leander from holding an election on whether to cut ties with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the regional transit agency’s board of directors voted unanimously Monday to sweeten its deal with the suburban community. Under the new proposal, Leander would get access to almost $2 million in infrastructure funding this year and […]
Posted inTransit
Leander City Council will decide tonight whether to hold an election on leaving Capital Metro
The Leander City Council is scheduled to vote tonight on whether to hold an election on severing ties with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority – a move that could end commuter rail service to the suburban community and allow Leander to keep millions of dollars each year in sales tax revenue. The looming decision has prompted […]