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Most Popular Stories
- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
- APD won’t enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care
- After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services
- Council approves call for better coordination, planning among downtown projects
- Austin ISD announces hiring freeze as budget deficit grows to $110 million
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- Council Member Mike Siegel will speak out against cuts to federal services
- City manager hosts community meetings on next year’s budget
- DAA offers a look at future of Sixth Street entertainment district
- RRCD names Klepadlo as executive director
- Zero Waste Advisory Commission adds own ‘no’ rec on merge with RMC
Transit
On-street light rail route selected as best option for city's mass transit plan
Local transit leaders have selected an entirely on-street light rail line that runs through downtown and stretches mostly north and east with a spur that reaches somewhat into southern Austin as the route that will most likely be approved for…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • May 23, 2023
Paxton opinion notes likely missteps, possible way forward for Project Connect
Many questions remain about the path forward for Austin’s Project Connect transit plan following an advisory opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that noted some likely legal hurdles related to the funding model created to pay for the system.…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • May 22, 2023
ATP reports offer community insights ahead of selecting light rail option next week
A trio of reports from Austin Transit Partnership offer some insights into the shape of Project Connect as the local government corporation in charge of the transit initiative prepares to announce its selection next week of the preferred light rail…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • May 19, 2023
Housing and Planning Committee weighs in on light rail design plans, preparing for challenging decisions
With the June deadline for a final proposal fast approaching, Austin’s long-awaited light rail system is beginning to take shape. Austin Transit Partnership, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and city staff all joined City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee last week…
Transit • By Kali Bramble • May 2, 2023
Project Connect could be on the ballot again this November
Austin’s mayor is adopting a new strategy against a Texas bill that threatens to derail the city’s voter-approved transit expansion: Get the legislation passed as quickly as possible with overwhelming support in the Texas House and Senate. The approach seemed…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 25, 2023
Council allocates next three years of Project Connect anti-displacement funds
The city continued allocation of Project Connect’s $300 million anti-displacement budget last week. At its regular meeting on April 13, City Council voted to approve a resolution allocating the funds for the next three fiscal years. The first round of…
Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 19, 2023
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Mobility Committee weighs feedback on new Project Connect options
Following the release of scaled-back plans for Austin’s future in light rail, representatives from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) and the city provided an updated briefing on Project Connect light rail at the City Council Mobility…
Transit • By Ava Garderet • Apr 12, 2023
Project Connect scenarios balance budgets against potential size and ridership
Cost constraints facing Austin’s planned light rail line through downtown have resulted in five options that feature shorter routes and place tracks at street level with traffic, in a substantial departure from the initial plans approved by voters in 2020.…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 21, 2023
Texas Legislature could derail Austin's transit expansion
Austin’s slowly shrinking vision for a fast-moving urban rail system by the end of the decade is about to face a new challenge, one that could upend the voter-approved transit expansion: property tax warriors in the Texas Legislature. New bills…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Mar 15, 2023
Transit leaders preparing new Project Connect scenarios for March open house
With a budget that no longer meets the vision approved by voters in 2020 for an ambitious mass transit system, leaders with the agency charged with carrying out the Project Connect plan say that work continues to decide what the…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 10, 2023
Behind a 'messed up' process to pick Austin's next light-rail leader
Lee esta historia en español The Austin Transit Partnership – a voter-created organization collecting almost $160 million a year in property tax to build a light-rail system – has chosen a permanent leader to oversee the single largest expansion of…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Mar 6, 2023
Canally named sole finalist for ATP amidst confusion
Members of the Austin Transit Partnership Board of Directors have unanimously recommended that ATP interim Executive Director Greg Canally be presented to the community as the sole candidate for the permanent executive director job. Canally has served as interim director…
