Austin Water outlines actions for dealing with the next crisis

Since last February’s winter storm, Austin Water has taken numerous steps, both big and small, to prepare for the impact of another such emergency. Director Greg Meszaros told City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee last week that, with the help…

Water • By Jo Clifton • Jan 24, 2022

Capital Metro updates city on federally funded transit study

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority shared how it plans to spend the first $900,000 in federal money granted to Project Connect this past Thursday in a briefing with the city’s Environmental Commission. The grant, awarded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital…

Transit • By Kali Bramble • Jan 24, 2022

Six months in, Safer Sixth Street initiative continues

At this week’s meeting, the Downtown Commission established a working group to help think through and execute the Safer Sixth Street initiative, which has been in the works for about six months. The project, which came about after a mass shooter…

Planning • By Willow Higgins • Jan 24, 2022

First phase of South Lamar bike lanes delayed nearly two years

Work on a major face-lift to South Lamar Boulevard between Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road was supposed to have been well underway by now, but as those who frequent the stretch know, not much has changed. That’s because the…

Bicycles • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 21, 2022

County puts millions toward increasing wages for election workers

The Travis County Commissioners Court is investing big in election infrastructure, putting $1.3 million toward a voting system upgrade, including $700,000 to raise wages for all election workers in the county. “The agenda includes significant investments in our electoral system…

Elections • By Seth Smalley • Jan 21, 2022

Southwest HEB location promises environmental stewardship of Hill Country

A new HEB is on the horizon for Southwest Austin. The store will open its doors sometime this year to the stretch of Hill Country bordered by Oak Hill to the east and Dripping Springs to the west – but…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • Jan 21, 2022

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Leander City Council will decide tonight whether to hold an election on leaving Capital Metro

The Leander City Council is scheduled to vote tonight on whether to hold an election on severing ties with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority – a move that could end commuter rail service to the suburban community and allow Leander to…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 20, 2022

City races to prepare for the next emergency

City Council’s Audit & Finance Committee received an updated report Wednesday on the city’s efforts to prepare for what Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano has described as “complex, cascading disasters,” like the city faced last February during Winter Storm Uri.…

Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Jan 20, 2022

EMS contract talks center on salary and staffing needs

With the city’s rejection of the Austin EMS Association’s proposed wage increase, the two sides now move to the interest-based bargaining phase of negotiations in an effort to achieve common ground on quality-of-life issues such as work-life balance and mandatory…

EMS • By Amy Smith • Jan 20, 2022

New job for Briseño as city announces promotions

City Manager Spencer Cronk has announced the appointment of Veronica Briseño as assistant city manager for the “Government That Works for All” strategic area, starting this week. Briseño has worked for the city for more than 20 years, including an…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 20, 2022

Clerk calls out voter suppression under new law

While the authors of Texas Senate Bill 1 call it “an act relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state,” Texas Democrats call it voter suppression. At a press conference…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 19, 2022

Austin voters to decide on decriminalizing small amounts of weed and banning no-knock warrants in May

Austin voters will be asked in May if they want to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and do away with no-knock warrants. The former practice is already police policy. In July 2020, the Austin Police Department said it would no longer…

Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 19, 2022

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