As a parting gesture, City Council members finally found a way to keep some of the city’s hike-and-bike trails open a little longer. At their final meeting, Council members unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow the Parks and Recreation Department director to set operating hours to something other than the standard hours, which are […]
Transportation
Posted inAustin, Transportation
City moves to make meters count for businesses
At their last meeting, City Council members endorsed a change that could allow metered parking spaces to be counted toward off-street parking requirements for businesses outside of downtown. However, it will be up to the new Council to decide whether the idea becomes a reality. In a unique voting bloc, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Council OKs changes to Lone Star Rail agreement
Austin City Council members Thursday approved a set of amendments to an interlocal agreement with the Lone Star Rail District. The action clears the way for rail district officials to count the city — and funding derived from special taxing districts around eight potential Austin stops — among its support as it moves forward with […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Council scales back Riley’s quarter-cent proposal
Austin City Council members Thursday declined to solely commit $20.4 million derived from Capital Metro quarter-cent funds to projects along the Airport Boulevard corridor. Instead, they opted to commit $2 million for various short-term improvements in the region. The $20.4 million in question is the last of $139.4 million raised as part of an agreement […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Transit, Transportation
City may consider Lone Star funding commitment
Austin’s role in funding a proposed commuter rail line that would run through Austin and San Antonio is up in the air ahead of consideration at today’s City Council meeting, with staff and some Council members disagreeing on whether it is time to commit property tax money to the project. Council members may amend an […]
Posted inAustin, Hays County, Local Government, Transit, Transportation, Travis County, Williamson County
CAMPO board OKs list of future transit projects
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board approved a recommended list of regional transit projects Monday, including a commuter rail line from Elgin to Austin and multiple new MetroRapid Bus routes, to prioritize for potential funding under its draft long-range plan. The board also approved a recommended list of roadway projects in Travis, […]
Posted inAustin, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Riley plan for quarter-cent funds raises concerns
City Council Member Chris Riley ran into concerns from both Austin city management and his Council colleagues over a plan to use $20.4 million in funds raised through a Capital Metro one-quarter-cent tax agreement for transportation infrastructure improvements along Airport Boulevard. If approved, Riley’s proposal would use the money — the remainder of $139.4 million […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Transit, Transportation
Panel dusts off plans for Green Line rail
With the rail bond defeat in the rearview mirror, this week the City Council Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee took a look at a long-planned but almost forgotten rail line that could connect Austin will communities to the east. The proposed Green Line would connect Elgin, Manor, Decker Lake and downtown Austin. The route, which […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Elections, Local Politics, Transportation
Candidates debate development in District 7
Two North Austin City Council candidates, who will face off in a Dec. 16 runoff election, say the city is growing rapidly and that the District 7 Council member must make sure the area stays affordable. District 7 candidate Leslie Pool, 59, is an executive assistant for Travis County Constable Carlos Lopez. She sailed ahead […]
Posted inDevelopment, Resources, Transportation, Travis County
County OKs Land Water and Transportation Plan
Despite the fact that Texas counties have very little real control over how unincorporated land is developed, Travis County is giving it its best effort, as Commissioners approved a comprehensive Land Water and Transportation Plan on Tuesday. The plan, the result of 10 years of work and planning by the county’s Transportation and Natural Resources […]
Posted inAustin, Roads, Transportation
City switches downtown streets to slow traffic
Plans to convert downtown’s Seventh, Eighth, Brazos and Colorado streets from one-way to two-way streets are underway. On Monday, City Council’s Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee heard a presentation on a timeline for the change from acting Transportation Department Assistant Director Jim Dale. “A lot of cities have gone through this process, of being two-way […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics, Transportation
Under scrutiny, District 4 candidates debate
On first day of early voting, the two remaining candidates in District 4 sat down to debate. Even though both focused on their plans for keeping North Austin affordable, their differences were apparent. Greg Casar, 25, a community organizer, led the election on Nov. 4 with 39 percent of the vote. His opponent, Laura Pressley, […]