The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan is already causing a stir in the community since being released Feb. 22. After a two-year process that allowed residents to comment on potential corridor projects, a handful of community members feel ignored by the final draft. As the Transportation Department invited them to do, several city residents brought their […]
Ryan Thornton
Posted inWhispers
Funds could be running out for public defender office
Time is running out for the Indigent Legal Services work group to obtain a Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant this year. In order to take full advantage of the available funding to be used for a public defender office, the group would need to submit its letter of intent to apply for the grant by […]
Posted inPublic Health
Sendero misses enrollment target but breaks even
After Central Health’s board of managers gave up on Sendero Health Plans with a vote to disband the health maintenance organization on Sept. 12, 2018, a final effort to leverage more federal dollars has managed to save the nonprofit from financial collapse. Central Health launched the Central Health Assistance Program late last year to bring […]
Posted inWhispers
Cap Metro names Rosa Parks Boardroom in honor of relationship between civil rights and transit
In response to a suggestion by Travis County Commissioner and Capital Metro Board of Directors member Jeff Travillion during the board’s last meeting on Jan. 25, the agency voted Monday to rename its boardroom after civil rights activist Rosa Parks. CEO Randy Clarke suggested the name dedication as a way to follow Travillion’s lead in […]
Posted inTransit
New downtown rail station to break ground early April
After carving away the excess from Downtown Station plans in January, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded a construction contract of $36,865,160 to Austin-based firm Jay-Reese Contractors Inc. at its Feb. 25 meeting. Jay-Reese was one of three firms to respond to Capital Metro’s request for proposal in August 2018. The firm has completed a number […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.26.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The full agenda can be found on the Travis County website. 8. Consider and take appropriate action on legislative matters, including: a. Update on […]
Posted inTransportation
ASMP is here to guide the multimodal path to 2039
The city of Austin is inviting public comment as the final draft of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan makes its way to various city boards and commissions beginning this week and continuing through March. The full document was made available on the city’s website on Friday, Feb. 22. ASMP is the city’s transportation appendix to […]
Posted inBicycles
Bicycle Advisory Council says UT plan should not preclude safety now
In light of a preventable tragedy resulting in 39-year-old Anthony John Diaz losing his life from being run over by a Capital Metro bus while riding a bicycle on Monday, Jan. 28, the Bicycle Advisory Council is recommending that the University of Texas at Austin assume immediate action to make sure that it will not […]
Posted inCourts
In search of the best ‘yes’ for indigent defense
In the search of a best path forward, Travis County is at risk of losing momentum toward better indigent defense if the various interested parties can’t find a middle ground. The county’s Indigent Legal Services work group has composed a draft letter indicating their intent to apply for a Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant in […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Legislature traditions keeping revenue caps at bay, for now
Travis County has a lot to lose if the Texas Legislature decides to discard tradition for the sake of passing the four property tax relief bills that have been filed this session. After Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s Senate Bill 2 was sent out to the Senate on Feb. 11, Deece Eckstein, Travis County’s intergovernmental relations coordinator, […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.19.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The full agenda can be found on the Travis County website. 9. Consider and take appropriate action on the 2019 Transit Empowerment Fund, Capital […]
Posted inResources
Affordability may mean dealing honestly with trash
Austin’s growth is putting a strain on the city’s waste collection service provider, Austin Resource Recovery, as it struggles to keep costs down for customers. Results of the Residential Solid Waste Affordability Study, presented to the Zero Waste Advisory Committee at its November 2018 meeting, indicate that Austin residents are receiving more disposal and recycling […]