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 University of Connecticut could use minimally destructive methods of DNA testing to offer insights well […]
Ryan Thornton
Posted inPublic Health
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 region into stage 5 (red) of virus spread and requiring a prolonged citywide shutdown. “The […]
Posted inWhispers
Parked scooters find a place to belong
Austin Transportation is kicking off the first phase of a six-month shared scooter parking and charging station pilot this week with 10 scooter docking stations set up mostly around downtown and other high scooter traffic areas. The docking stations belong to Swiftmile Inc., a company that considers itself “a gas station of the future” and […]
Posted inTransportation
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 team has learned the value of a broader notification process that engages residents and business […]
Posted inBudget
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 quick recovery. While the economy appears to be on the upswing right now, Reinet Marneweck, […]
Posted inEnvironment
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 last week, the city found commercial locations and illegal dumping to be the most consistent […]
Posted inPolice
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. The first requests monthly race-specific reports from APD on use of force, police-involved shootings and […]
Posted inBicycles
Bicycle Advisory Council examines race and active transportation
In response to the confluence of Covid-19 mobility projects and renewed efforts for racial justice, the Bicycle Advisory Council has opened a conversation over its role as an advocacy group in city-led efforts that impact communities of color. “A lot of the discussions we tend to have are dictated by the public processes of the […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro audit finds fault in on-time performance system
A recent review by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Internal Audit Department has discovered a number of inconsistencies in the agency’s process for reporting service delays and recording on-time performance. The review found that dispatchers at MV Transportation almost always send prompt service delay notices when a bus or train is running behind schedule, but […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves 25 mph speed program
Austin Transportation will begin phasing in speed limit reductions over the next few months as part of the comprehensive speed management program approved by City Council Thursday. The effort cuts speeds on residential and downtown streets to 25 mph, with exceptions for some wider, high-traffic corridors, and drops most arterials inside the urban core down […]
Posted inCity Council
Temporary protected bike lanes coming to a section of Congress Avenue this month
In another effort to meet demand for social distancing and safe activity as local businesses reopen, City Council voted Thursday to set up temporary protected bicycle lanes on Congress Avenue north of Riverside Drive by June 30. Mobility advocates said the protected lanes will be a benefit to all downtown visitors, including business owners along […]
Posted inTransit
City, Capital Metro adopt Project Connect with justice, sustainability in mind
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and City Council adopted the final vision for an all-electric comprehensive transit system on Wednesday. Board members and city leaders said the $9.8 billion plan, featuring three light rail lines, a new commuter rail line through Northeast Austin and seven much-improved bus routes, would be transformative for […]