Stories by Ryan Thornton
Oakwood Cemetery chapel report soon to be released
After years of anticipation, the Parks and Recreation Department has finalized its report on the East Austin Oakwood Cemetery chapel restoration project. The two-volume report will soon be delivered to the Texas Historical Commission for review. The city received the…
Parks • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 31, 2020
Real Estate Council warns of potential land use code pitfalls
Members of the Real Estate Council of Austin believe their input was largely ignored when the city made its last major attempt at a Land Development Code revision under CodeNEXT. At a Land Development Code luncheon Wednesday, Geoffrey Tahuahua, the…
Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 30, 2020
Commission recommends ban on cashless retail
Human Rights Commissioner Garry Brown noticed recently that more and more businesses across the nation are going cashless in order to make doing business safer, cleaner and more efficient. But for millions of people without bank accounts or with limited…
Austin • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 29, 2020
Advisory council urges city not to give up on safety at intersections
The Austin Transportation Department is combining 2016 mobility bond dollars with other funding sources to build out a citywide bike network, while the city’s Bicycle Advisory Council wants the department to rethink its approach to bicycle safety at intersections. Last…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 28, 2020
Rendon house denied historic preservation zoning
The East Austin home of the late Edward Rendon Sr. will not be getting the historic zoning designation desired by some members of the Rendon family. If granted, the designation would have halted the plans of Rose Rubio, a majority…
Preservation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 24, 2020
Ellis attempts to get scooters and other contaminants out of city waterways
When Council Member Paige Ellis was crafting the concept for a clean creeks initiative, she and her staff saw an opportunity to address one of the city’s more visible sources of creek and river pollution. When electric scooters end up…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 23, 2020
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Austin Transportation updates enforcement to keep bike lanes clear of cars
At least in theory, the Austin Transportation Department has long been able to ticket drivers for illegally parking in bike lanes. In practice, however, such enforcement has been inconsistent. The Austin Transportation Department started making hires this week in an…
Bicycles • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 22, 2020
Downtown to grow in a new direction
Generally speaking, residents used to take in the downtown skyline from the east or west. Today, the skyline has shifted 90 degrees so that the volume of development is better viewed from the north or the south shore of Lady…
Development • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 21, 2020
City studies higher fines and fees for parking
Around 30 percent of Austin’s downtown traffic congestion can be attributed to drivers circling in search of a parking space. In order to solve that problem, Austin Transportation Department’s Parking Enterprise division has launched an effort to address the specific…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 17, 2020
City considers new funding sources for light rail transit investment
On Tuesday, in the fifth of seven planned joint work sessions, City Council and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority discussed the need for innovative funding sources to operate and maintain a regional transit system that may involve the city’s first…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 15, 2020
Transportation Department releases Rainey Mobility Study
The Austin Transportation Department published a report this week analyzing the traffic impacts of future mobility scenarios for downtown’s Rainey neighborhood. “The popularity of the Rainey Street entertainment district has led to mobility challenges and concerns over interactions between pedestrians,…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 14, 2020
Austin Transportation makes strides for transparent project data
The Pedestrian Advisory Council is asking the city for more public updates on mobility projects as the Austin Transportation Department continues developing its online interactive database. Last Monday evening, the advisory board unanimously passed a recommendation drafted by chair Adam…
