Stories by Ryan Thornton
Thursday, June 20, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
City to consider Rainey Street closure pilot
City Council directed the city manager Wednesday to immediately initiate a shared streets pilot to improve mobility and safety in the Rainey Street District.The pilot is to consider restricting vehicle access in some areas to reduce conflicts between cars, pedestrians,…
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Council wants justice for state’s actions
Caught in the wake of the 86th Texas Legislative session, City Council members are directing attention to the state leaders they say have intentionally pitted city governments against their constituents.In a briefing with Council on Tuesday, Brie Franco, intergovernmental relations…
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Parks
Visions of Zilker Park split over parking
After months of meetings beginning in September of last year, the Zilker Park Working Group was not able to reach a consensus on recommendations for the Polo Fields and Butler Landfill, two areas currently used for overflow parking.According to an…
Monday, June 17, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transit
Capital Metro sets out to better define Project Connect
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is moving into the second of six phases leading up to a possible 2020 referendum on Project Connect.With preliminary engineering contracts already awarded for the two high-capacity routes and the board set to award contracts…
Friday, June 14, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transportation
Street impact fees making their way back to Council
Austin Transportation is proposing a one-time street impact fee for new developments to help the city pay for its growth in an equitable and transparent way.After releasing a draft study earlier this week explaining how fees would be calculated and…
Friday, June 14, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Uncategorized
City leverages development review for transit goals
The Austin Transportation Department says years of efforts to institutionalize Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan visions of a compact and connected city are finally panning out.Since signing a memorandum of understanding in December involving ATD, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and…
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transportation
CAMPO commits to study for Bergstrom Spur urban trail, transit corridor
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Austin Monday for a transportation planning study of the Bergstrom Spur corridor in Southeast Austin.The agency’s Transportation Policy Board approved $280,000 for the study in May…
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Council sets tow fee to track with consumer price index change
City Council responded Thursday to a request from local towing companies and the Austin Police Department to raise the fee for non-consent tows taking place in the city.The vote sets the fee at $185 for tows initiated by the police…
Monday, June 10, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Uncategorized
Council zones McKalla Place for end-of-summer groundbreaking
City Council unanimously approved a rezoning of the city-owned McKalla Place property on Thursday, granting Precourt Sports Ventures the entitlements needed to move forward with its proposed site plan.The vote redesignates the property at 10414 McKalla Place and 10617½ Burnet…
Friday, June 7, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
No decision on Butler Pitch & Putt contract
With Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison both absent for a vote at Thursday’s meeting, City Council has postponed approving a contract of up to 20 years for Pecan Grove Golf Partners for managing Austin’s nearly 70-year-old Butler…
Friday, June 7, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transportation
County Transportation Blueprint: So many projects, so few dollars
Between the city’s ambitious new mobility plan and the region’s transportation vision into 2040, Travis County is now working on prioritizing its own transportation goals for the next 30 years.The Commissioners Court approved a draft of the Transportation Blueprint in…
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Council to postpone vote on camping, panhandling ordinance
As the city puts more resources into shelters and programs to assist those without a place to live, City Council is also considering modifying three often-counterproductive city policies that target homeless people. The policies prohibit camping in public areas, sitting…
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Public Safety
Public Safety Commission backs adoption of international wildfire code
The Public Safety Commission is again recommending tighter wildfire protection standards for structures built between the city’s wildlands and urban center.On Monday the commission endorsed adoption of a Wildland-Urban Interface Code that would expand ember protection and structure hardening regulations…
Monday, June 3, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transportation
Austin Transportation releases yearly report
The Austin Transportation Department released its annual report for 2018 on Friday, featuring a month-by-month breakdown of its major accomplishments from last year as well as an overview of its $52 million in operating budget spending.The report highlights five major…
Friday, May 31, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Bicycles
UT meets with advocates, talks bike safety on San Jacinto
Representatives of the University of Texas are promising ongoing discussions of safety and mobility improvements to its section of San Jacinto Boulevard, where 39-year-old Tony Diaz was recently killed while riding a bicycle.Director of Sustainability Jim Walker and President Gregory…
Thursday, May 30, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Parks
Parks board critiques Butler Pitch & Putt solicitation, recommends change of hands
The Parks and Recreation Board yielded to the authority of city procedure Tuesday when it passed a recommendation for Council to approve an agreement with Pecan Grove Golf Partners to take over the management of Butler Park Pitch & Putt…
Friday, May 24, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Transportation
City no longer the ‘wild, wild west’ of scooters
Imprudent scooter users could now face fines of up to $40 for breaking the city’s new rules of conduct for micro-mobility devices (scooters, skateboards, etc.).Though they decided to postpone two of the Austin Transportation Department’s three proposed micro-mobility ordinances, City…
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Neighborhood health center in race against displacement
Austin Public Health wants to build a new neighborhood public health center adjacent to Dove Springs District Park in District 2, but some City Council members are concerned the $12.4 million neighborhood center won’t be ready in time to have…
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Bicycles
B-cycle prepares for shift in leadership
In the wake of steady ridership losses and multiplying competitors, Elliott McFadden, executive director of the public bike-share system Austin B-cycle, has decided to step away from the bike rental program.McFadden notified B-cycle’s board of directors in mid-April that he…
Friday, May 17, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Energy
Austin Energy says Decker employees will be prepared for transition
Belated plans to decommission two aging steam turbines at Decker Creek Power Station have brought into question the futures of the estimated 39 employees who will be out of work when the last steam unit shuts down in late 2021.In…
