The city’s Art in Public Places guidelines are being revised this year for improved legibility, formatting and a stronger focus on equity. They have not been updated since 2004 and most of the changes are uncontroversial, but the Arts Commission was unwilling to approve the edits Monday after noticing some flaws in the proposed language. […]
Ryan Thornton
Posted inCity Council
Council requests emergency economic development corporation
As part of the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors program, City Council is seeking to expedite formation of the Austin Economic Development Corporation, an entity that may be able to help refine and administer the long-term sustainability component of SAVES. The fully composed corporation will include a board of directors with 20 appointees that are […]
Posted inCity Hall
City identifies Downtown Community Court east side location
After considering the available options, the city is ready to make the first move to relocate the Downtown Austin Community Court across Interstate 35 into a planned three-story building at 1719 E. Second St. The city intends to bring a 10-year lease agreement for City Council’s consideration on Nov. 12. The Downtown Community Court is […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves partial start for SAVES
After directing the city to create the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES) fund last month, City Council approved initial program guidelines Thursday that will provide some immediate financial relief for local music venues, restaurants, bars and child care centers. Over the coming weeks, the city will work to develop “enhanced guidelines” intended to provide […]
Posted inCity Council
Council refines SAVES proposal
The city has not yet found the right balance in regards to distributing $15 million in financial assistance under Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES). As City Council prepares to consider allocating $8.5 million in sales tax revenue to the program on Thursday, there is still no consensus on an administrative plan to best help […]
Posted inRoads
TxDOT to reconsider U.S. 183 South route
After a series of stakeholder meetings beginning last November, the Texas Department of Transportation is considering rerouting its planned U.S. Highway 183 South expansion to avoid impacting a historic African American family farm and cemetery in southeastern Travis County. According to Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik, the farm is the county’s oldest Black-owned farm, founded by her great-great-grandfather, […]
Posted inTransportation
City revises street impact fee plan
After years in the making, the city has proposed a modification to the street impact fee program out of a desire to simplify the process and maximize benefits in the city’s eastern crescent. Instead of calculating impact fees individually based on the needs within 17 service zones, the city would now prefer to set different […]
Posted inTransportation
Bike Austin fights for Healthy Streets
The Austin Transportation Department removed two segments of Healthy Streets last week, and barring another wave of cases of Covid-19, will continue winding down the initiative by removing one or two street projects every couple of weeks until all eight are gone. With social distancing still a necessity, however, Bike Austin is calling on the […]
Posted inTransportation
City advances speed management projects
On the heels of an ongoing citywide speed limit reduction program, the Austin Transportation Department has launched a new traffic calming program to help retrofit Austin’s streets for an increasingly urban environment. The speed mitigation program is intended to complement speed limit reductions with street design modifications and address the fact that, while total crashes […]
Posted inPolice
Assistant chief talks APD headquarters
The movement for racial justice combined with the Covid-19 pandemic may be reshaping the future of the Austin Police Department and the use of the department’s headquarters at 715 E. Eighth St. While the conversation about reimagining the headquarters grew out of City Council’s work to reform the department budget, Chief of Staff Troy Gay […]
Posted inAustin
Council approves $15M for vital businesses
City Council unanimously approved a revised version of the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES) relief effort on Thursday to provide financial assistance to some of the city’s most vulnerable music and arts venues, child care providers, and restaurants and bars. The modified plan will draw a total of $15 million from city sales taxes, […]
Posted inTransportation
Healthy Streets inspires slow streets pilot
With cases of Covid-19 on the decline in Austin, the Transportation Department is preparing to wind down the Healthy Streets initiative, a safe mobility and social distancing program that’s been in effect since May 22. The department will start by removing the Whispering Oaks Drive and part of the Comal Street segments at the end […]