A legal issue got in the way of an attempt by Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty to take an official stance against Project Connect and Proposition A on Tuesday afternoon. Daugherty, an adamant opponent of public transit spending, sought to gather opposition from the Commissioners Court on the grounds that Project Connect “could have a […]
Ryan Thornton
Posted inCity Council
City offers $15M funding plan for SAVES
In the absence of sufficient state and federal economic relief for Covid-19, the city has identified four potential local funding sources totaling $15 million for the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES) effort. If approved by City Council this week, the financial assistance would be split among local child care providers, music and arts venues, […]
Posted inTransit
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 areas over the coming years, Capital Metro plans to prioritize the service for low-income and […]
Posted inTransportation
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 car. In one small effort to resist this trajectory, the city has teamed up with Capital […]
Posted inWhispers
Environmental groups unite in favor of Project Connect
More than a dozen environmental advocacy groups have voiced their support for Proposition A and Project Connect, citing reductions in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as top reasons to support the mass transit plan. “We’re literally at a crossroads in so many different ways in our nation and our community, and this is one big […]
Posted inCourts
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 the Oak Hill Parkway. Despite TxDOT’s objection that the groups “lack new ideas for discussion,” […]
Posted inCity Council
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 week. Among the concerns, Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said the resolution, which directs the city […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 Austin Municipal Building. Without another alternative for a downtown site, the office now plans to […]
Posted inCity Council
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 Pro Tem Delia Garza and Mayor Steve Adler joined as co-sponsors of the Save Austin’s […]
Posted inTransit
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 and a new federal grant program could help install 10 more near local transit stops. […]
Posted inAustin
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 venues, restaurants, bars and child care centers with a new concept called SAVES, or Save […]
Posted inEnvironment
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 fleets, the city’s revised draft Climate Equity Plan has identified the roughly 600,000 fossil-fuel-burning private […]