Stories by Nathan Bernier, KUT
Austin's 'dire' air traffic controller shortage raises risk of flight delays
A shortage of air traffic controllers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has increasingly forced federal officials to slow the pace of arriving flights, at times holding planes on the ground in other cities to avoid overwhelming the tower. The delays…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jun 10, 2025
Austin moves forward with plan for parks over I-35
Austin City Council has approved paying for infrastructure that would allow for parks over I-35, a plan made possible by a state project to widen and lower the freeway. Council members voted Thursday to pay $104 million for support columns that…
Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 23, 2025
CapMetro's Red Line Station near the Domain is back on track, but now double the price
Three years after a groundbreaking ceremony that led to no actual construction, Capital Metro is putting plans back on track to build a new commuter rail station near the Domain. But the project’s price tag has ballooned, and the transit agency will…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 16, 2025
Plans for parks over I-35 collide with Austin's cash crunch
Facing a deepening budget deficit as the state legislature tightens the reins on city spending, Austin’s City Council was warned Tuesday that an ambitious plan to build parks and public spaces over I-35 will require tough choices to avoid straining the city’s finances for…
Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 7, 2025
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Austin has only weeks to decide where to put parks over I-35
Austin must decide within just a few weeks whether to commit hundreds of millions of dollars to installing support structures on Interstate 35, or give up the chance to build parks over the highway. City Council has until May 31…
Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 10, 2025
East Austin's 'wishbone' bridge takes shape as concrete beams almost span Lady Bird Lake
Massive concrete beams now extend over the water at the east end of Lady Bird Lake as a new three-pronged pedestrian bridge – the first of its kind in Austin – comes together next to the Longhorn Dam. Only one…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 1, 2025
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CapMetro's secret fight to fix a broken fare system
For months, Capital Metro passengers knew something wasn’t right. The QR code scanners they used to pay fares with phones were unreliable, sometimes not working at all. Riders would often board without paying, flagged on by the driver to keep…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 28, 2025
Austin's new CapMetro Rapid lines debut with buses every 20 minutes
Capital Metro rolled out its long-awaited Rapid lines this weekend, but “rapid” for now will mean a 20- to 30-minute wait for the next bus. Originally slated for 2023 with ambitious plans for an all-electric fleet, 10-minute frequency and end-of-line park and rides,…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 24, 2025
South Austin's newest trail is under construction. Will the Trump administration help pay for it?
An abandoned railroad line in South Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists, with the first section set to open next year. But uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants has cast doubt on…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 5, 2025
Austin unveils how light-rail could change the city in new report with detailed maps
The curtain is finally lifting on Austin’s long-planned light-rail system, as a newly released report from the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) reveals a more detailed vision for the 9.8-mile route. For the first time, Austinites can view block-by-block maps, see specific station…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 13, 2025
CapMetro bringing tap-to-pay to Austin’s buses and trains by March
Hopping on a Capital Metro bus or train should soon be as easy as tapping a credit or debit card. In March, the regional transit agency will part ways with its unreliable QR code-based fare system and switch to tap-to-pay technology.…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 10, 2025
Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here's where the rules have changed.
Mandatory vehicle safety inspections have been eliminated for many Texas drivers. But in 17 counties – including Travis and Williamson – an emissions test is still required to renew your vehicle registration every year. The changes, which took effect Jan. 1,…
