Stories by Ryan Thornton
Ultimate vision for Burnet loses center-running dedicated transitways, gains two traffic lanes
The Austin Transportation Department’s 2013 Corridor Development Program for Burnet Road envisions a future of cycle tracks, bus stop pullouts, shade trees, and for the roadway section between U.S. Highway 183 and MoPac Expressway, “two exclusive (bus rapid transit) lanes…
Roads • By Ryan Thornton • May 21, 2020
City outlines $270M coronavirus response
The city’s budget office has landed on a provisional Covid-19 spending plan to manage the ongoing public health crisis and provide vulnerable residents, professionals and businesses with the financial support to survive. The $270.1 million framework features $37.9 million for…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 20, 2020
City to rebury remains of those exhumed during Oakwood Cemetery chapel project
The final two-volume report on the Oakwood Cemetery chapel restoration project was released to the public Thursday, marking the beginning of the next step in the project’s long, complicated history: the reburial of the remains of 36 people whose graves…
Austin • By Ryan Thornton • May 19, 2020
Austin Transportation proposes slowing some city streets to 25 mph limit
Despite a 50 percent decrease in driving as a result of the city’s Stay Home, Work Safe order, traffic fatalities are up nearly 26 percent this year compared to last year – which also saw a sharp increase (about 19…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • May 18, 2020
Affordable housing bond to help create cooperative housing mobile home park
After five years of protesting increased housing costs and poor property management, City Council has approved a $2.5 million loan agreement so that residents of North Lamar Mobile Home Park in District 4 may purchase the land under their homes…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 15, 2020
Housing committee talks scaling rental assistance program
The city’s Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants, or RENT program, which was announced last month, will be distributing $1.26 million in direct payments to landlords by Friday, May 15. The one-time relief will cover rent payments for at least…
Housing • By Ryan Thornton • May 13, 2020
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Council approves Healthy Streets program to ease crowding on sidewalks, trails
The coronavirus pandemic has alleviated Austin’s chronic traffic congestion and brought another issue into the foreground: the immediate need for space to walk, bicycle, use a wheelchair or push a stroller at a safe distance from others and from car…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • May 8, 2020
Capital Metro adds new light rail line to Project Connect recommendation
An update to regional population estimates has prompted the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make a major change to its proposal for Project Connect. In a memo posted Wednesday, CEO Randy Clarke and Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said the…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • May 7, 2020
Idled restaurants may serve as low-income neighborhood groceries during pandemic
Austin Public Health is proposing a “micro food-distribution” program to bring fresh produce and select packaged foods into low-income neighborhoods that have limited access to groceries. The two-month program aims to prevent crowding in grocery stores while lowering the burden…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 6, 2020
CAMPO adopts a plan without a plan
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board adopted a planning document Monday afternoon that falls far short of the expectations of community members and many regional leaders alike. The 2045 Regional Transportation Plan is intended to supersede the…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • May 5, 2020
Safe Routes to School infrastructure reports posted for each Council district
Austin Public Works has released its final Safe Routes to School reports and project recommendations totaling over $825 million in improvements to make it safe and easy for children and families to walk or bicycle to and from school. Austin’s…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 4, 2020
Texas Transportation Commission ties billions of dollars to I-35 central project
The Texas Transportation Commission amended its 2020 Unified Transportation Program on Thursday morning, throwing in $3.4 billion for the $6.6 billion central piece of the Interstate 35 Capital Express project that would expand the interstate between U.S. Highway 290 East…
