Builders talk pros/cons of city's push for environmentally friendly construction

As Austin moves closer toward its net-zero energy goals, the city’s building and development community will play a major role in making new buildings environmentally sound and gradually retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient. How to manage those…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 18, 2022

Light-rail tunnel under downtown Austin might not happen after all

Some or all of Austin’s light-rail system could be at street level downtown instead of underground, which was the vision sold to voters when they authorized Project Connect in November 2020. The Austin Transit Partnership, a local government corporation created to build the Orange and Blue…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 17, 2022

Legislation restricting open records requests likely to meet opposition

Legislation aimed at redacting personal information from city records subject to the state’s open record law faces an uphill battle at the Texas Capitol.  This was the message in a Nov. 8 memo to Austin City Council from city staff.…

City Hall • By Emma Freer • Nov 17, 2022

Replacement could be in the cards for historic Barton Springs Road bridge

Barton Springs Road bridge could get upgrades that include a widened bridge deck, two new bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths.   “It needs to be rehabilitated or replaced to ensure the safety and longevity as well as improved circulation in this…

Roads • By Andrea Guzman • Nov 17, 2022

New PUD proposed for S. Congress has full roster of environmentally friendly features

City Council members got their first look at a proposed planned unit development to be built at 311-315 S. Congress Ave., next to the Statesman PUD. Developers of the project, called the Firestone PUD after its current major occupant, are proposing…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 17, 2022

City staffers push back on proposed changes to compatibility

A proposal by City Council to reduce compatibility along major streets would make the city’s Land Development Code more complicated while doing little to increase housing supply, city staffers told the Planning Commission last Tuesday. “We’re very supportive of the direction…

Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Nov 16, 2022

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Double-decker highway coming to South Austin

Amid howls of protest and a legal challenge in federal court, the Texas Department of Transportation is plowing ahead with the first of three projects to widen Interstate 35 through Travis County. The I-35 Capital Express South project stretches from Ben…

Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 16, 2022

City still faces gap in first responder pay, benefits

After a presentation comparing first responder salaries and benefits, and a direct plea from an Austin-Travis County EMS medic, the city’s Public Safety Commission is recommending the city take another look at closing the compensation gap between paramedics and the…

EMS • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 16, 2022

E-bike rebates to double under proposed pilot program

The city will likely dramatically increase its incentives for electric bike purchases beginning next year with a new program that will double the rebates given for individual and fleet-level purchases. In a memo released this week from Jackie A. Sargent,…

Bicycles • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 16, 2022

APD has improved response to sexual assault cases but there's more work to do, report finds

While the Austin Police Department has improved its handling of sexual assault cases in some areas – like sending sexual assault kits for DNA analysis faster and correctly classifying more cases – there’s still room for improvement, a new report finds. Researchers…

Police • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Nov 15, 2022

Which candidates will receive the city’s Fair Campaign money?

Runoff candidates who followed the rules for receiving disbursements from Austin’s Fair Campaign Finance Fund are expecting to receive thousands of dollars to help them in the Dec. 13 runoff election. Those candidates include Daniela Silva and Linda Guerrero and…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Nov 15, 2022

Austin Energy rate case participants band together behind alternative proposal

The race for City Council’s blessing on 2023 electric rates is heating up, as parties in the Austin Energy base rate review case announced their own counter-settlement to the utility’s proposed rate design. The independent consumer advocate, John Coffman, along with…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Nov 15, 2022

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