While City Council mulls over ways to renew the city’s contracts with its three existing taxicab franchises, the drivers who contract with those companies appear to be inching closer to their dream of a fourth, a worker-owned cooperative. The Council Mobility Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the full Council direct city staff to bring […]
Transportation
Posted inTransportation
CapMetro seeks new Pine Street Station owner
Members of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted Monday to speed up the search for a new owner for Pine Street Station. The board waived the two mandatory 30-day periods during which the agency has to make the item it is trying to sell — be it a bus, a computer or, in this case, […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature, Transportation
Austin representative takes on transportation
As the only member of the Texas House Transportation Committee hailing from Austin, freshman Democratic Rep. Celia Israel has vowed to bring the region’s gridlock woes to the Capitol. She recently told the Austin Monitor about a few of the bills she filed this session with the goal of providing mobility improvement tools to Central […]
Posted inTransportation
Council considers taxicab agreements
On Thursday, the parking garage at City Hall was filled with taxicabs. The reason was clear: For the first time, City Council members were considering the fate of the city’s three taxicab franchise agreements as a body. Ultimately, they voted unanimously to “pass a placeholder” and extend the current contract, with the understanding that the […]
Posted inMonitor News & Media, Radio, Roads, Transportation
More lanes are coming to Austin’s highways, but they won’t be free: Audio from KUT
Travis County and the City of Austin take part in a regular fiscal dance with the State of Texas over who pays the costs of government. Over the next three days, KUT News and the Austin Monitor will look at key examples of that interaction in our series, “The Buck Starts Here.” Today, we take […]
Posted inTransportation
How you’re paying (and maybe paying again) for Austin’s roads
Travis County and the City of Austin take part in a regular fiscal dance with the State of Texas over who pays the costs of government. Over the next three days, KUT News and the Austin Monitor will look at key examples of that interaction in our series, “The Buck Starts Here.” Today, we take […]
Posted inRoads, Transportation
CTRMA approves MoPac/Cesar Chavez study
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is taking a closer look at potential trouble spots on the proposed MoPac South Improvement Project, but not at the level some residents had hoped. At its regular meeting Wednesday, CTRMA’s board unanimously authorized the University of Texas’ Center for Transportation Research to begin a traffic impact study that will closely examine […]
Posted inCity Council, Transit, Transportation
Taxicab drivers rally for worker-owned co-op
As Austin’s ground transportation service industry faces upheaval due to new competition, taxi drivers are using a looming expiration of the city’s taxicab franchises as an opportunity to push for, among other requests, a cooperative, driver-owned franchise. Dave Passmore, president of the taxicab union Taxi Drivers Association of Austin, garnered attention Tuesday morning when he […]
Posted inEnvironment, Transportation, Travis County
County asks for ‘loop’ road project studies
Travis County is asking the area’s transportation authorities to step back and take a look at the big picture. In a controversial 2-1 vote, the Travis County Commissioners Court is asking the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to institute broader studies. The studies would look at the effects of proposed State Highway 45 Southwest and its […]
Posted inDevelopment, Transportation, Water
Shoal Creek Conservancy partners with city
The Shoal Creek Conservancy announced Tuesday that it has signed a collaborative agreement with the city. The agreement comes out of a May 2014 City Council resolution that directed the city manager to explore a public-private partnership in order to create a plan for the area. Under the agreement, the conservancy will be working with […]
Posted inRoads, Transportation
CTRMA hopes variable tolls change driving habits
An official with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority hopes that variable tolls on proposed express lanes on MoPac Boulevard will serve as an incentive to commuters to change their driving habits. CTRMA’s Rick L’Amie says Capital Metro buses and registered van pools will drive the express lanes for free — a sight, he said, […]
Posted inRoads, Transportation
Land Committee concerned over Zilker Park lanes
In response to pushback from members of the Land, Facilities and Program Committee last week, engineers said they are open to reconsidering the placement of elevated express toll lanes proposed as part of a MoPac South expansion plan. As the proposed plan stands, two elevated express lanes would start their rise north of Bee Caves […]