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Stories by Seth Smalley
Project Connect agreement sees third and final approval
On Nov. 17, the Austin Transit Partnership board approved the Joint Powers Agreement, which was created to delineate the roles of each of the agencies involved in administering the multibillion-dollar transit project, Project Connect. ATP was the last of the…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Nov 30, 2021
What would remote work mean for Travis County?
In September, Travis County announced its goal to transition 75 percent of its employees to work from home permanently, tasking Deloitte Consulting to smooth the process. On Nov. 18, commissioners convened a special session to examine the findings of Deloitte’s 14-week…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Nov 29, 2021
Cap Metro to create 1,000 jobs over coming decade
On Monday, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors discussed its workforce retention plan, building on the discussion of labor shortages across the country, as well as the announcement last week that Capital Metro bus driver starting wages will…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Nov 23, 2021
County updated on historically underutilized business program
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court fielded discussion and informational updates in regard to the Historically Underutilized Businesses program performance in 2021. The project is aimed specifically at making the process of government contracting and procurement with local businesses…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Nov 18, 2021
Two down, one to go: Cap Metro passes joint powers agreement
At the Nov. 10 meeting of the Capital Metro Board of Directors, members emerged from a closed-door executive session to pass the joint powers agreement. The purpose of the joint agreement between the city, Capital Metro and the Austin-Transit Partnership…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Nov 16, 2021
County acts to prepare for next big storm
The question of disaster relief preparedness was central at Tuesday’s Commissioners Court session. With the memory of Winter Storm Uri still fresh in people’s minds, the county is putting together a contingency plan. “The goal here is to get some…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Nov 11, 2021
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CAMPO board approves project funding for seniors and differently abled citizens
At Monday’s meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, a quorum of transit board members, Travis County commissioners and City Council members discussed Federal Transit Administration 5310 Project Call funding, which is primarily intended for projects that increase accessibility and…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Nov 10, 2021
Following string of bigoted acts, county joins state in denouncing antisemitism
The only item on Tuesday’s Commissioners Court docket pertained to a resolution condemning antisemitism in all its forms in Travis County. The resolution comes in response to a recent series of antisemitic acts in Austin and Travis County, as well…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Nov 4, 2021
Travis County presents local climate strategies at U.N. climate conference
Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea is one of five elected officials selected by Local Governments for Sustainability USA, or ICLEI, to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 26th Conference of the Parties, commonly known as COP26. The U.N.…
Environment • By Seth Smalley • Nov 2, 2021
Commissioners applaud county’s assistance to ‘those who need help’
On Tuesday, Health and Human Services staffers gave commissioners a report from the Family Support Services Division, the section of HHS that operates out of community centers and provides basic services for low-income families. According to Kirsten Siegfried, HHS division…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Oct 27, 2021
Cap Metro board endorses $50M contract for MetroRapid projects
On Monday, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a five-year, $50 million group of construction contracts for transit facilities. Part of Project Connect, the primary goal of these particular contracts is…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Oct 26, 2021
County staffers update commissioners on the jail plan resolution
Last Tuesday’s Commissioners Court session focused on the future of the women’s jail. The Planning and Budget Office reported on the June 15 resolution, which asked county staff for strategies to reduce the number of incarcerated women and enhance jail…
