Stories by Nina Hernandez
CAMPO board OKs amendments to I-35 expansion project without votes from 3 Council members
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board voted last week to approve amendments to its highway improvement plans, which will pave the way for the latest version of the Interstate 35 Capital Express project. It did so without…
Roads • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 23, 2023
Capital Metro updates financial forecast, returns $130 million to contingency fund
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Finance, Audit and Administration Committee heard an update on the agency’s financial status at its meeting on Aug. 14. Catherine Walker, chief financial and risk officer, presented a financial report as of the third quarter of…
Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 18, 2023
Capital Metro to launch free fare program to serve riders experiencing homelessness
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is preparing to launch its new fare program for individuals experiencing homelessness in Austin. The HMIS Pass program will distribute passes to unhoused Austin and Travis County residents who are receiving services through the Ending Community…
Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 16, 2023
Residents concerned proposed private dam on South Llano River could affect Austin's drinking water supply
Residents of Llano and Edwards counties are fighting a pending Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit that could have implications on Austin’s drinking water supply. An application filed by Waterstone Creek LLC seeks authorization to “construct and maintain a dam…
Water • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 14, 2023
Austin's Blackland Prairie reforestation project underway
The work to restore Austin’s heavily degraded Blackland Prairie floodplain has begun with the help of local urban forestry nonprofit TreeFolks. The Environmental Commission heard an update on the results of the city’s Blackland Prairie ecoregion study at its regular…
Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 10, 2023
Equity Action slams budget proposal as ‘throwback to the ’90s’
Some community advocates are decrying interim City Manager Jesús Garza’s budget proposal as a “throwback to the ’90s.” Garza released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 in July. The $5.5 billion budget represents what Garza calls a “Back to…
Budget • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 7, 2023
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Environmental Commission can't agree on Polo Fields parking solution
After a lengthy discussion, the Environmental Commission this week tabled an item that would recommend the Parks and Recreation Department end vehicle parking on the Zilker Park Polo Fields. The discussion happened at the commission’s Aug. 2 regular meeting, and…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 4, 2023
Disability advocates raise safety, accessibility concerns with Cap Metro board
A member of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Access Advisory Committee is calling for monthly safety briefings from the board after the organization failed to address multiple instances of sexual harassment on the part of a MetroAccess driver. Audrea Diaz was…
Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 2, 2023
City manager delays controversial new telework policy
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza is delaying implementation of a controversial new telework policy that will require most city employees to work in the office at least three days per week. In a July 19 email, interim Human Resources Director…
City Hall • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 31, 2023
Cap Metro board approves agreement with ATP for reimbursement of McKalla Station capital costs
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors last week approved a resolution authorizing an interlocal agreement with the Austin Transit Partnership for the reimbursement of capital costs for the McKalla Station MetroRail project. The board approved the resolution at…
Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 28, 2023
Langmore appointed to Austin Transit Partnership board of directors
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors last week voted to appoint John Langmore to serve as the community expert director of finance on the Austin Transit Partnership’s board of directors. The Austin Transit Partnership is the entity tasked…
Transportation • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 26, 2023
Austin launches education and outreach initiative targeting hate crimes
The city of Austin last week launched the We All Belong Anti-Hate Initiative, an education and outreach campaign intended as a response to a string of hate crime incidents reported across the city. A group of leaders from the city,…
