Austin’s airport expansion plan just got an influx of $400 million, thanks to the sale of an Airport System Revenue Bond to investors. According to a press release from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the funds will support “near-term Airport Expansion and Development Program (AEDP) projects,” an extended $4 billion program to accommodate more flights and passengers that is underway. The bond funding will help finance increased gate capacity, a new baggage handling system, security enhancements and other infrastructure. “We are grateful for the strong interest from investors,” said Jacqueline Yaft, AUS chief executive officer, in a statement to the press. “Through our pandemic recovery efforts, we prioritized financial stability and through those efforts, our financial outlook is not only stable but strong. This bond sale allows us to leverage our strong financial health into delivering an improved airport experience for all.” Earlier in the year, the airport’s credit rating was upgraded from A to A+, which helped attract interest from investors, allowing the airport “to lower its borrowing yields up to nine basis points, which in return creates approximately $5 million of debt service savings for AUS over the lifetime of the bonds.”

At a recent meeting, Project Connect staff presented two design options for the Blue Line bridge that will cross Lady Bird Lake near Riverside Drive, taking light-rail passengers from South Austin to downtown. Community members wanted to know whether the bridge will carry buses in addition to light rail, pedestrians and cyclists. According to a newsletter from Austin Transportation Department, the April 26 meeting showed what each option could look like and described its potential benefits and drawbacks. (Watch the video of that meeting.) The next Project Connect virtual meeting will cover the Combined Maintenance Facility, where the electric trains for the Blue and Orange lines will be serviced. “While the location of the facility is still to be determined, this meeting will focus on the facility’s function.” Tuesday, May 10, 5:30 p.m. Register here.

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Asian American Resource Center are throwing a festival celebrating all things Asian and Pacific. The family-friendly CelebrASIA event features a diverse lineup of musical and dance performances, delectable food, hands-on cultural activities, and a chance to learn more about the next phase of the AARC expansion project. Asian Family Support Services of Austin, Austin Asian Community Health Initiative, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Dougherty Arts Center, George Washington Carver Museum, and Oakwood Cemetery will also be on hand to celebrate and inform the community about their various community initiatives. This is a mostly outdoor festival with a few indoor activities, and AARC asks community members “not to attend if you or your family have been exposed to Covid, have a recent positive Covid diagnosis, or have been ill.” RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Rd.

Viviana Ricardez, courtesy of Texas Turtles.

Of all the fascinating creatures who call the state of Texas home, turtles have got to be near the top of the list. Texas turtles are a diverse and abundant group; there are 36 species in the state and four of them are endemic to Central Texas. Viviana Ricardez, who is vice president of the nonprofit conservation and advocacy group Texas Turtles, will be heading up the next installment of the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series with a talk about the amazing diversity of our state’s turtles. Ricardez has studied the ecology and natural history of Texas turtles for years. If there’s anything she doesn’t know about turtles, it’s probably not worth knowing. Friday, May 20, noon to 1 p.m. Register for the webinar here.

Despite a City Council name change, Volma Overton Sr. Shores is currently on hold while the city straightens out a bit of bureaucracy. In January, Council approved a resolution renaming the 65-acre Lamar Beach after the civil rights activist. However, according to an April 29 memo from parks department director Kimberly McNeeley, naming standards stipulate that properties on the north territory of Town Lake Metro Park are named “beach” and those to the south are named “shores.” Because of this, staff members will be bringing an item before Council to “correct the word” and move forward with the new name: Volma Overton Sr. Beach.

Teams from two divisions of the Development Services Department – Community Tree Preservation and Environmental Inspection – are hosting four in-person community engagement sessions “to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the team, Austin’s tree protection ordinance, sediment and erosion control measures, and address questions about reporting suspected violations and enforcement options.” The next session is coming up fast and attendance is limited, so register here. The meeting, on Thursday, May 5, from 6:30-8 p.m., will be held at the Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., in rooms 1406 and 1407.

After 14 years with the city, Austin transportation director Robert Spillar has announced that he’s taking a new job in the private sector. In a memo to department staff, Spillar noted that since he came on board, the Transportation Department has expanded from one person to 425 employees. Among his many accomplishments cited, the first was creating a “mobility first-focused department that operates without tax-funded support,” and the second was leading successful bond elections for local and regional mobility investments in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, totaling $1.5 billion. Spillar’s last day in the office will be June 4. He said he intends to take a vacation for the next month and officially leave city employment on July 8. Although Spillar did not name the firm he’s going to work for, he said in the memo, “I will be helping to lead a national practice in smart cities, joining a private advisory firm that allows me to stay in the Austin area.” ATD has four assistant directors: Anthony Segura, Jim Dale, Jason JonMichael, and Anna Martin.

Big Stacy Pool is getting ready for its close-up – its maintenance close-up, that is. The pool will be closing on Tuesday, May 10 so Aquatics Division staff can give it a good deep-cleaning. Big Stacy will return to its regular schedule the following day. Swimmers who can’t go a day without being immersed in water may get their fix at one of the city’s other year-round pools, such as Bartholomew, Barton Springs or Deep Eddy. Check out the city’s full list of swimming pools and their hours of operation here.

The airport, like the universe and most Austin things, continues to expand. As part of the airport’s expansion plan, there are new renderings of a three-gate expansion that will take place on the west side of the terminal. Currently, the expansion is in its design process, with construction expected to begin by early 2024. A press release notes that AUS will also be renovating Gate 13 and putting it back into service and (eventually) adding a new, midfield concourse that will have at least 10 new gates. At any rate, here are the renderings of the three future gates:

João Paulo Connolly bid farewell to the Planning Commission Tuesday after a year and a half of service. Connolly, an organizer with Austin Justice Coalition, signed off with a speech reflecting on the Planning Commission’s role in housing and land use debates. “All too often this commission becomes a proxy space for the city’s unresolved political tensions, battles and contradictions,” Connolly said. “And this commission’s endless attempts to design, micromanage and control the built environment often reflect this untenable position.” Connolly urged commissioners to think of people who don’t often show up to hearings: working-class people of color, renters, young people, LGBTQ people, and people experiencing homelessness. “If all we can succeed in doing is defending the status quo, then these populations I have listed will not stand a chance in Austin,” he said. Greg Anderson, who works for Habitat for Humanity, will take Connolly’s place on the commission.

It’s true that the pandemic is slowly receding into the background, for the most part. Yet people who are unvaccinated are still at risk of contracting the coronavirus, getting seriously ill and spreading the disease to others. That’s why Travis County, Austin Public Health and their community partners continue to urge community members to protect themselves – and others – by getting vaccinated at one of the free, convenient Covid vaccine distribution events that are scheduled throughout the week. No appointments are required. Simply visit the online calendar or map to find the date, time and location of a nearby vaccine event. Austin Public Health sites offer the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, including third doses for the immunocompromised and booster shots. Those who are receiving second or third doses or boosters should remember to bring their vaccination cards so they can be updated.

After two years of cancellations due to the obvious (a global pandemic), Eeyore’s Birthday will return to Pease Park this weekend, on April 30. The 57th annual celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. and goes until dusk. Notably, there’s no parking at Pease Park, so organizers encourage everyone to take the free shuttle bus that runs every 10 minutes from 17th and Colorado, bicycle, walk, take another bus, or use a ride-share option. The fest’s website has more information on transportation options. The website also has general information on the event, but trust us, it’s not that complicated.