Ongoing concerns over the safety of electric scooters and the issues they pose to Austin’s disabled community were front and center at a recent meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities. The meeting saw a presentation from e-scooter company Lime, which gave an update on its initiatives to ensure compliance with Americans With […]
Transportation
Posted inTransit
Environmental Commission weighs Project Connect’s environmental impact and federal funding
In light of Donald Trump’s recent effort to freeze federal spending authorized by Congress – swiftly blocked by two federal judges – the question on every local policymaker’s mind is: What’s going to happen to all the local projects that rely on federal funding? There are concerns about the future of Austin’s proposed light rail […]
Posted inTransportation
South Austin’s newest trail is under construction. Will the Trump administration help pay for it?
An abandoned railroad line in South Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists, with the first section set to open next year. But uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants has cast doubt on how much of the bill the feds will cover and whether the city will have […]
Posted inRoads
Living Streets Program updates include new funding and street closure modifications
Dirty Sixth may be reopening to car traffic, but a growing number of neighborhoods across Austin are moving in the opposite direction thanks to the city’s Living Streets Program. Back from its holiday break, City Council’s Mobility Committee took to the dais last week for an update on the program, which closes roads to through […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City moving ahead with adjusted scope, schedule for mobility projects funded in 2016
The city expects to move forward with $146 million in construction projects on major vehicle corridors in 2025, with improvements to Burnet Road and Slaughter Lane expected to go to bid as the next steps using funding from the 2016 mobility bond package. Other efforts planned to move forward include bike and pedestrian improvements along […]
Posted inTransit
Objections arise over Project Connect’s plan to use parkland
Now that the Austin Transit Partnership has released its huge draft environmental impact statement for Project Connect, parks advocates are raising concerns about the proposed expropriation of city parkland by the rail system without the permission of Austin voters. Larry Akers, president of Friends of the Parks of Austin, along with parks advocates Steve Gerson […]
Posted inTransportation
Future of Georgian Acres Mobility Hub still up in the air, with final updates to come this spring
Georgian Acres, a neighborhood in far Northeast Austin, is what is known as a “transit desert.” First coined in 2013 as an extension of the concept of a food desert – an area where there is a dearth of grocery stores and healthy food options – a transit desert refers to the exact conditions Georgian […]
Posted inTransportation
Downtown Commissioners weigh in on Sixth Street plan
Hours after the announcement that Austin will be opening Sixth Street to vehicular traffic on weekend nights, the Downtown Commission had a chance to weigh in. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and APD Lieutenant Christopher Juusola, who is the downtown operations director for the city, filled commissioners in on the current and planned state of […]
Posted inTransportation
Dirty no more? City opts to keep Sixth Street open to traffic at all times
Beginning this weekend, the city will keep Sixth Street open to vehicular traffic on weekends, a substantial departure from decades of street closures designed to accommodate nightlife culture that saw thousands of pedestrians gather in the roadway while moving among the entertainment district’s many bars and nightclubs. City leaders announced the change at a press […]
Posted inTransit
Austin unveils how light-rail could change the city in new report with detailed maps
The curtain is finally lifting on Austin’s long-planned light-rail system, as a newly released report from the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) reveals a more detailed vision for the 9.8-mile route. For the first time, Austinites can view block-by-block maps, see specific station locations and learn more about both the benefits and costs of the largest transit project […]
Posted inTransit
CapMetro bringing tap-to-pay to Austin’s buses and trains by March
Hopping on a Capital Metro bus or train should soon be as easy as tapping a credit or debit card. In March, the regional transit agency will part ways with its unreliable QR code-based fare system and switch to tap-to-pay technology. The new system will let riders pay with their phones using Apple Pay or Google […]
Posted inTransportation
Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here’s where the rules have changed.
Mandatory vehicle safety inspections have been eliminated for many Texas drivers. But in 17 counties – including Travis and Williamson – an emissions test is still required to renew your vehicle registration every year. The changes, which took effect Jan. 1, makes Texas the largest state not to require annual checks on noncommercial vehicles for things […]