The city of Austin’s Bond Election Advisory Task Force has begun laying the groundwork for public engagement efforts for the proposed 2026 bond package. The engagement plan, presented during a recent task force meeting, emphasizes inclusive, multilingual outreach and a variety of strategies to connect with Austin’s diverse communities. Led by the Communications and Public Information Office (CPIO), the engagement process will include event tabling at community gatherings, neighborhood association meetings, church events and other accessible locations. Additionally, four town hall meetings are required under a City Council resolution to solicit input on proposed projects and to collect ideas for additional bond priorities. CPIO Chief Jessica King underscored the importance of meeting residents “where they are” and tailoring outreach strategies to overcome barriers such as language, transportation and time constraints. Digital engagement will play a major role, with tools like online surveys, interactive content through the Speak Up Austin platform and social media campaigns. The engagement schedule calls for a road map and decision on outreach tools to be decided in February and March. In April and May the process will begin, with data analysis taking place in June. The four town hall events will take place in August, with a comprehensive report scheduled for release next spring.

The Movability nonprofit group has announced the call for session proposals for the 2025 Movability Summit, which will take place Sept. 19 at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. The event coincides with National Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Week and is expected to attract 250 professionals and practitioners from across North America. The summit aims to promote collaboration and innovations in TDM and mobility, with representatives from public and private sector employers, transportation providers, universities and nonprofit organizations in attendance. Movability is seeking proposals related to building TDM-friendly cities, shared and active mobility in the private sector, equitable access to multimodal transportation, marketing’s role in shifting travel behaviors and emerging innovations in TDM. Submissions for individual presentations, panels, group discussions and deep dives are open until April 15. Full details on the submission process are available online.

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to enter the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department’s 2025 flood safety video contest. Participants will create a 30-second public service announcement on the message “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads. Flood safety education is critical for protecting lives during heavy rains because Austin is in Flash Flood Alley. Entries will be judged on creativity, clarity and overall impact. Submissions are due by March 31 and are welcome in any language. Students may work individually or in teams. Winners will be announced at the start of Austin’s Flood Safety Awareness Week, April 21-26. Creators of the top 10 submissions will be awarded a $100 gift card, and their videos will premiere during a community event in April. For more information and submission guidelines, visit AustinTexas.gov/Flood-Safety-Contest.

Public comment on a proposed MoPac South expansion between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane ends on Tuesday, Jan. 28, as an extension granted at the end of December runs out. The plan by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority would widen the critical roadway by eight lanes in places. It has been criticized by environmentalists, transit advocates, county commissioners and Austin City Council’s Mobility Committee. The final decision on whether or not to approve the plan rests with the Texas Department of Transportation, not the city, per Federal Highway Administration rules. If approved, construction will likely begin sometime after 2029, KUT reported. Comments can be submitted online at www.voh.mopacsouth.com or by emailing mopacsouth@ctrma.org.

The Julia C. Butridge Gallery, within the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, has put out a call for artists for its 2026 gallery season. Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply for a chance to showcase their work in a city-owned space known for its vibrant and diverse exhibitions. “This is your chance to have your work featured in one of the city’s premier cultural spaces—with no submission fee,” a press release from the city reads. “The gallery welcomes proposals from all artistic disciplines, and selected exhibitions will be presented to the public free of charge.” Submissions will be accepted through March 16. To submit an exhibit proposal, visit doughertyartscenter.submittable.com/submit.

Opportunity Austin, in collaboration with Con Mi Madre and Dress for Success Austin, will host the HER Power Summit from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd. The event aims to provide 100 women from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to connect with employers and explore career development options. The agenda includes networking sessions with employers and breakout sessions featuring presentations from Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Infrastructure Academy and career spotlights by Capital Metro and Austin Energy. Participants will rotate between employer networking and breakout sessions. Complimentary food will be available for all attendees. The HER Power Summit is intended to support women seeking career opportunities and professional development. Registration is available online.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce’s next Area Business Connections event will focus on the expansion program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Galaxy Theatres Austin on Middle Fiskville Road. Ghizlane Badawi, CEO of AUS, will provide updates on upcoming projects, timelines and business opportunities associated with the airport’s development. The airport’s multiyear expansion is seen as essential to accommodating the region’s rapid growth. Key projects include the construction of a new Concourse B with at least 20 gates, connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal via an underground pedestrian tunnel. The design phase is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and completion anticipated by 2030. City Council has authorized $72 million for engineering and architectural services and $1.031 billion for pre-construction and construction services for this project. A new Arrivals and Departures Hall is planned to enhance passenger processing capabilities. The design contract, valued at $45 million, has been awarded to Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP, with construction costs estimated at $820 million. The project aims to consolidate ticketing, security and baggage claim areas, with construction slated to begin in late 2025 and completion targeted for 2030. Tickets for the event are available online.

The city’s Capital Delivery Services will hold another quarterly “Building Austin” event to address ongoing city projects. This quarter, the department will look at transportation, water and park projects in Northeast Austin from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Attendees, whether virtual or in-person, will be able to learn about the various projects and ask questions. The event is free and open to the public, with RVSPs available here.

Applications are almost open for the 2025 Nexus Grant, which promises to award up to 100 $5,000 grants to support new and emerging artists. According to a press release from the city, “Eligible applicants must have a minimum one-year history of cultural or arts programming in Austin, and be headquartered in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.” More information about eligibility, how funds can be spent and applications can be found here. After some community feedback, the application process has been streamlined and will take place only once a year. Anyone needing help with their application can reach out via in-person or virtual information sessions, during virtual office hours from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays or check out the resources here. Applications open on Jan. 28 and are due by 7 p.m. March 6.

Travis County is asking the public to weigh in on a new comprehensive parks plan that is currently in the works. The county has 27 public parks totaling 13,000-odd acres, and the plan will cover all of them, guiding investments over the next 10 years. In order to accurately reflect what residents want and need out of county parks, there is an online survey that will be open through Feb. 13, and two virtual community meetings that will take place on Jan. 29 and 30 (more information here). “Community input is crucial in shaping the future of Travis County Parks,” Joanna Wolaver, executive director of Travis County Parks Foundation, said in a statement to the press. “By sharing ideas and priorities, we can help guide decisions that will impact our parks and green spaces for years to come. Together, they can ensure these spaces meet the needs of a growing community – now and in the future.” Questions can be emailed to TCParksCompPlan.2025@traviscountytx.gov.

CapMetro is bringing tap-to-pay to Austin’s buses and trains in March and is seeking community feedback on these upgrades at an in-person meeting at 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Jan. 14, at Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2910 E. Fifth St., in the Rosa Parks Boardroom. The proposed changes with new machines will allow riders to tap-to-pay with debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay on buses and trains. The CapMetro app will be retired and riders will be able to use the new Umo app to pay for fares and the Transit app to plan their trips. Selected cards and passes must be swapped for new CapMetro Reloadable Fare Cards starting February 2025. More information is available on CapMetro’s website. “These proposed changes are going through a Title VI Analysis to determine if there would be disparate impacts to the community,” a news release from CapMetro says. “The results of the analysis will be shared with the CapMetro board before they decide to approve the proposed fare payment system changes.” The CapMetro Public Hearing is scheduled for noon Wednesday, Jan. 15. The live stream link and more information on the Public Hearing are available online. The public is encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Attendees can take bus Routes 4 and 300 to get to the meeting. Register to attend at publicinput.com/fare-updates.

The Downtown Austin Alliance will host an Issues Over Lunch event titled “Our Future 35: Vision to Reality” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Austin Marriott Downtown on East Cesar Chavez Street. The event will focus on the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to lower Interstate 35, and the city’s plan to cap the lowered highway with parks and public spaces. Speakers at the event include representatives from the city of Austin, TxDOT and the Downtown Austin Alliance, who will provide updates on the progress of the project and address these pressing concerns. The event is free, but registration is required. The discussion comes as City Council recently debated significant budgetary allocations and policy priorities for the I-35 expansion project including questions over how much city funding should go toward realizing elements of the vision for the cap-and-stitch projects that aim to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the highway. Council members have raised concerns about state support, cost-sharing mechanisms and the potential displacement of residents and businesses during the project. More information and registration are available online.