Capital Metro merges working group with city planning effort

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city of Austin have joined together to expand the scope of work for the group of residents and stakeholders deputized to weigh in on the latest iteration of Project Connect.

The Project Connect Community Advisory Committee, which held its first, and so far only, meeting on Oct. 21, is being rebranded as the Mobility Community Advisory Committee, according to an email sent to members by Capital Metro Long Range Planning Director Javier Argüello.

The merger reflects the collaboration sought by both the transit agency and the Austin Transportation Department on both Project Connect and the city’s effort to produce the Strategic Mobility Plan.

“The MCAC’s role will be to provide input and feedback to both project teams, as well as to provide feedback on our public engagement efforts to ensure that we are efficient and effective in reaching stakeholders and the public,” Argüello wrote in the email, which was sent on Friday.

The original version of the committee had 30 members representing groups such as the Austin Neighborhoods Council, AURA, Central Health and the Central Austin Community Development Corporation.

Former Planning Commission Chair and current member of the Land Development Code Advisory Group Dave Sullivan confirmed to the Austin Monitor on Friday that City Council Member Ann Kitchen asked him to serve on the new MCAC, an indication that the group’s roster will increase to meet its new charge.

In his email, Argüello said that the reformed committee will hold its next meeting in January, though no specific date has yet been set. He also said that the group will meet once a quarter over a two-year period.

Photo by Ebyabe – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

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