Austin City Council has approved a rule making it illegal to park in a bike lane. Thursday’s unanimous vote means violators will be ticketed and fined. Fines could range from $50 to $300. Council Member Paige Ellis said several people in the community had expressed concerns about bicycle safety on busy downtown roads. If a […]
Public Works Department
This city department oversees major capital improvement projects; maintains the city’s trails, roadways, and bridges; and promotes safe travel on city thoroughfares.
Posted inPlanning
Panelists discuss size, shape of downtown caps proposed for I-35 expansion
Planners expect the series of multi-acre caps that will eventually cover portions of a reconstructed Interstate 35 to feature compact two- and three-story buildings that could support retail, arts spaces or limited amounts of housing to serve the downtown area. Those lower profiles could make the projects less attractive for potential developers who prefer height […]
Posted inTransportation
Vision Zero analysis reveals drugs or alcohol involved in higher percentage of traffic fatalities than state data shows
An analysis by Austin’s Vision Zero initiative found that the presence of drugs or alcohol among Travis County traffic fatalities is higher than previously thought. Vision Zero Analytics is a series of white papers by the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department as part of the overall effort to significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries […]
Posted inRoads
Extreme heat bakes Austin’s streets, making them warp and crack
Austin roads are taking a beating this summer. An extended heat wave that could be the most severe on record is warping highways and cracking streets. But the pavement is shriveling so slowly, it can be hard to notice. One of the most catastrophic – and fortunately, most rare – road failures blamed on heat […]
Posted inCity Hall
Garza makes major changes to city organization
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced a series of major organizational changes in a press release late Friday, saying his “highest priority is to organize our people and our work so that we are operating cohesively and focused on problem-solving.” The new structure “will be conducive to reducing process redundancies and to operating at the […]
Posted inTransportation
City works to prioritize non-vehicular transit
ATX Walk Bike Roll, a collaborative effort to improve the city’s sidewalks, urban trails and bicycle paths, is rolling right along. Representatives from the project met with the Environmental Commission last week to discuss how things are coming along as the second phase of the planning process begins to wrap up. With an equity focus […]
Posted inEducation
Crossing guard shortage persists as school start date nears
“Let’s go crossing now, everybody’s learning how, looking left and right with me,” crossing guard Jimmy McCord sang to the tune of the Beach Boys hit “Surfin’ Safari.” “I’m a bit of an entertainer,” he noted. This is just one of the songs Boone Elementary students may hear while safely crossing the street to school […]
Posted inParks
Trail project moves to complete Oltorf-Riverside connection
The city’s Public Works Department is gearing up to finally complete a 3.5-mile urban trail that would connect Mabel Davis and Roy G. Guerrero Park in Southeast Austin. The new trail segment would bridge the existing gap between trails ending on East Riverside and Oltorf streets. With site plans submitted earlier this month and a […]
Posted inRoads
Some Austin bridges need major repairs yet lack project funding
Before you drive or walk across a bridge, it’s safe to assume that the structure is in good shape and will support your weight as you cross it. Austinites have the Public Works Department and the Texas Department of Transportation to thank for that sense of security. Every two years, TxDOT inspects all major Austin […]
Posted inRoads
Street cut follow-up audit shows progress on repairs
When a team from the Office of the City Auditor examined street cuts in 2017, they found a significant backlog in repairing the damaged areas left behind on streets when utility work is done by the city. Those damaged streets have been a concern both for city management and the general public. Last week, a new report […]
Posted inEMS
Fire/EMS station construction on pace despite pandemic
In 2017, a service needs analysis of the Austin Fire Department led to the City Council-sanctioned creation of a six-year plan to construct and staff five fire/EMS stations in the areas of most need: Del Valle/Moore’s Crossing, Travis Country, Loop 360/Davenport, Goodnight Ranch and Canyon Creek/620. Last week, Richard Mendoza, the director of Public Works, […]
Posted inRoads
Commissioners approve Road and Bridge Division’s 2021 work plan
Following a brief presentation from Assistant Public Works Director David P. Hunter, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously passed the request to approve the Road and Bridge Division’s work plan for the 2021 fiscal year. Hunter’s presentation detailed the wide assortment of responsibilities and systems overseen by Road and Bridge, in addition to spotlighting the […]