Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board caught a glimpse of a potentially bleak future in Texas transportation during a routine procedure at the board’s Monday evening meeting. In line with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, the 2012 transportation reauthorization bill otherwise known as MAP-21, state transportation departments are […]
Ryan Thornton
Posted inTravis County
County delays decision on criminal district attorney’s office
The Travis County Commissioners Court is considering a merger of the County and District Attorney’s offices into a criminal district attorney office that may considerably lower the number of jail bookings for misdemeanor offenses. County Attorney David Escamilla and District Attorney Margaret Moore defended the proposal against various concerns from the dais Tuesday morning, but […]
Posted inWhispers
County to stop ignoring needs of female inmates
Travis County is considering using Certificates of Obligation to fund construction of a women’s facility at the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle. County Sheriff Sally Hernandez has cited numerous structural and design flaws with the complex that prevent the county from meeting the specific needs of female inmates. Apart from the physical deterioration […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 12.11.18
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. 6. Receive update and report from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and […]
Posted inTransportation
Scooters: Committee calls for clear rules
The number of dockless scooter operators wanting a share of the Austin market continues to rise. This week, Austin welcomed the latest entrant, Lyft, with permits for 1,500 authorized units, pushing the total number of authorized scooters (not the number of actual scooters) in the city to 10,521. The figure is drawing a number of […]
Posted inWhispers
Where’s the bus?
Planning a trip on a Capital Metro bus is expected to get easier as early as mid-January, thanks to a contract with San Francisco-based mobility solutions company Swiftly Inc. The contract was approved by the Capital Metro board Nov. 14 with the goal of improving the customer experience by providing precise information about when a […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro votes kids ride free, forever
Looking at the 120,000 annual service hours added with Cap Remap this summer or at the major upcoming investments between Project Connect and a fully electric bus fleet, we might expect Capital Metro to be squeezing every possible penny out of its riders in order to pay for it all. Instead, the transportation agency appears […]
Posted inTravis County
Between storms and traffic, Travis County tries to stay afloat
A growing influx of vehicles to Travis County paired with the effects of the climate crisis has the county struggling to provide the infrastructure needed to simultaneously absorb the effects of both. At the same time, the recent Atlas 14 rainfall standards have piled extra time and expenses on top of an unprecedented number of […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 12.4.18
To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the Travis County Commissioners Court voting session agenda. The full list of items can be accessed at Travis County’s website. 1. Receive comments regarding the Program Year 2017 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block […]
Posted inTransportation
City cracks down on Lime scooters
In the same week that Parks and Recreation announced a controversial pilot program allowing electric bikes and scooters on several of the city’s most popular trails, the Austin Transportation Department has temporarily subtracted 1,000 scooters from the number of Lime’s authorized units due to violation of the city’s dockless mobility rules. In a memo sent […]
Posted inTransit
Weeks before Project Connect vote, city talks community engagement
The Dec. 17 Capital Metro Board of Directors vote on the Project Connect vision plan is quickly approaching. Austin residents are being asked by the transportation agency and City Council representatives to take the time this holiday season to attend and participate in community conversations regarding their specific transportation needs. As new public discussion dates […]
Posted inTravis County
County finalizes Indigent Legal Services work group
On Oct. 16, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission presented a report to the Commissioners Court in which it recommended the creation of a public defender office in Travis County along with numerous specific suggestions concerning the ideal composition of the office and the process of its creation. The Commissioners Court enthusiastically received the recommendations from […]