Stories by Ryan Thornton
Covid-19 informs Pickup service model
The on-demand, app-based transportation service Pickup has become an increasingly central piece of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s service network in recent years, beginning with a pilot in 2017 and expanding into seven neighborhoods today. As the program expands into new…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 29, 2020
Austin B-cycle rebranded as MetroBike
Transportation contributes more to local air pollution than any other economic sector and will soon be the largest source of local greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet. Yet three-quarters of all work commutes in Austin are still made by private…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 25, 2020
Federal judge orders mediation over TxDOT’s Oak Hill Parkway project
On Aug. 30, United States District Judge Robert Pitman signed an order granting the wish of Save Barton Creek Association, Save Oak Hill and affiliated groups to enter supervised mediation with the Texas Department of Transportation over its plans for…
Courts • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 24, 2020
Demolition permitting process redesign delayed again
City Council was scheduled to vote on two separate items Thursday as part of a multi-year effort to update the city’s demolition permitting process, but a number of potential flaws surfaced during Council’s discussions over the resolution and ordinance last…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 23, 2020
City finds fault with potential Downtown Community Court locations, sticks with east side alternative
In the continued search for a new home for the Downtown Austin Community Court, the Office of Real Estate Services has encountered serious constraints against moving the court into the first floor of the John H. Faulk Library or the…
City Hall • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 22, 2020
Council approves SAVES resolution to rescue vital businesses
City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday night directing the city manager to bring back viable funding options by Oct. 1 to help sustain the city’s service sector through the ongoing economic pressures of Covid-19. All the Council members, Mayor…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 18, 2020
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Capital Metro committee recommends pedestrian and transit connections agreement
At about $130,000 each, pedestrian hybrid beacons have been shown to reduce crashes by 29 percent, car-pedestrian crashes by 69 percent and serious injuries and fatal crashes by 15 percent. The city has 84 of these crossings around the city…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 17, 2020
Council members consider funding to save local service economy
Without significant intervention, economists are predicting a “K-shaped” Covid-19 recovery trajectory, a scenario where “high-skill” professionals thrive while the service sector continues in a rapid decline. City Council hopes to prevent the further demise of our local music and arts…
Austin • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 16, 2020
Commissioners identify reliance on electric vehicles as weakness in revised Climate Equity Plan
Transportation is the main driver of local air pollution and is on its way to becoming the single greatest source of greenhouse gases in Austin. Though the city and Capital Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority are taking steps to electrify their…
Environment • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 15, 2020
ULI proposes affordability-centered upgrade to transit-oriented development
Housing costs in Austin are skyrocketing, bringing the average home sale price from $179,250 in 2010 up to nearly $385,000 this year. Factor in the transportation costs of car ownership, and median income isn’t even close to keeping up with…
Planning • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 14, 2020
Coalition publishes draft amendments for modified local democracy
In a city where an appointed city manager administers policy, midterm mayoral elections are decided by a wealthier and whiter electorate, costly runoff elections draw a fraction of eligible voters, and nearly 70 percent of all City Council campaign contributions…
City Charter • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 10, 2020
City unveils affordable housing and transit dashboard ahead of Project Connect
With a historic investment in public transit and affordable housing on the Nov. 3 ballot, the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department has launched an interactive map to track proximity of income-restricted housing stock to potential stations along the city’s…
