Stories by Ryan Thornton
Capital Metro to bring fleet electrification experts on board
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority has purchased 12 electric buses this fiscal year, half of which have been delivered to the electric bus yard under construction at the North Operations facility. With the other six scheduled to arrive in the…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 20, 2020
Capital Metro committee favors contract outfitting transit vehicles with modern surveillance systems
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Operations, Planning and Safety Committee voted Wednesday in favor of a nearly $3 million contract with Luminator Technology Group to install real-time video recording systems on the 272 vehicles not yet using the surveillance system.…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 16, 2020
Austin Transportation announces plans for three new Healthy Streets for safe active mobility
Over the next two weeks, the Austin Transportation Department will set up sawhorses and signage for three new Healthy Streets corridors for the second batch of the program, adding to the city’s five existing street segments for socially distanced active…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 14, 2020
City prepares ordinances to tap brakes on reopening and slow virus spread
City Council approved two ordinances Thursday intended to bring local businesses into compliance with regulations near to Phase 1 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening plan. “We can’t take the foot off the gas – we are not clear of this…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 10, 2020
TxDOT anticipates ‘meaningful alternatives’ to I-35 expansion in upcoming public input process
Despite the sharp drop in local traffic, renewed interest in teleworking policies, and major upsets to transportation revenue streams, the Texas Department of Transportation has no intention of rethinking the need for a $6.6 billion expansion of Interstate 35 through…
Roads • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 8, 2020
Austin Public Health addresses testing equity with walk-up friendly mobile testing sites
Around 11,000 Covid-19 tests were conducted by Austin Public Health, Austin Regional Clinic and CommUnityCare last week, but demand is rising fast and drive-thru testing sites are being overwhelmed. To manage the situation, Austin Public Health is now directing testing…
Public Health • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 2, 2020
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City offered free DNA analysis of remains exhumed in Oakwood Cemetery chapel project
Years of analysis have revealed little information about the human remains of 36 bodies discovered buried beneath the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel in November 2016. Now a potential academic partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department and a biological anthropologist at the…
Austin • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 1, 2020
Without rapid behavior change, city heads for stage 5 shutdown
After a record number of Covid-19 cases reported over the weekend, the city is urging residents to comply with requirements for social distancing, personal hygiene and wearing masks over the July 4 weekend in an effort to avoid pushing the…
Public Health • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 30, 2020
Austin Transportation promises more community engagement with new Healthy Streets
The Austin Transportation Department is reviewing six new Healthy Streets candidates for the program’s second batch of streets open for safe, socially distanced bicycling, walking and rolling. Since the program’s rollout, the department’s Director Robert Spillar said the Healthy Streets…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 26, 2020
Capital Metro prepares a budget for recession, another for quick recovery
With the economy in recession and regional unemployment high, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is preparing to keep spending flat next fiscal year, equal to this fiscal year’s $403.7 million budget, in the event that revenue sources don’t see a…
Budget • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 24, 2020
City departments propose centralized trash cleanup effort to keep creeks clean
The city has taken a first look at trash in creeks and identified illegal dumping, littering, large public events and homeless encampments as the four primary sources of trash ending up in city waterways. In a cross-departmental background report posted…
Environment • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 23, 2020
Downtown Commission to keep closer watch on downtown policing
Whatever actions City Council takes to address the Austin Police Department’s response to racial justice protests, the Downtown Commission has voted to keep closer tabs on downtown policing efforts going forward. The commission approved two proposals from Commissioner Meghan Skornia.…
