The Urban Transportation Commission voted unanimously to recommend a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS, prepared by the Austin Transit Partnership for the light-rail portion of Project Connect. The Austin Monitor has previously reported on the DEIS, which remains open for public comment until March 11, as well as the ongoing litigation over the light-rail system. The Austin Transit Partnership has said it expects to release the final EIS later this year.

Spring festival season is underway, and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is bracing for more than 30,000 departing passengers on some days. Though the season will last through the end of the month, the busiest days are expected to be Sunday, March 9; Monday, March 10; Sunday, March 30; and Monday, March 31. To cope with the congestion, airport officials are advising that passengers arrive 2.5 hours before domestic travel and 3 hours before international departures, allowing additional time for checking baggage and returning rental cars. AUS staff will be on-site to help travelers on the busiest days, and travelers can also call 512-530-2242 for assistance. Additional information and travel tips for this time can be found here.

At Monday’s meeting of the Music Commission meeting, Pedro Carvalho, a commission member and co-owner of the Far Out Lounge music venue, floated the idea of using the Rally Austin nonprofit to create a cooperative insurance program to help local music venues manage rapidly increasing insurance costs. Carvalho suggested a model in which venues collectively contribute to a self-funded insurance pool. “We’re all paying an exorbitant amount of money into insurance. A co-op insurance program could be super beneficial to us,” he said, citing his venue’s $120,000 annual insurance costs as an example of the financial strain on small and midsized venues. A co-op system, he argued, could not only lower costs but also generate revenue for Rally Austin to reinvest into other projects to support affordability goals throughout the city. Theresa Alvarez, CEO of Rally Austin, acknowledged the financial burden venues face but said the organization has not pursued an insurance co-op model due to other ongoing priorities, and expressed an openness to the idea. At last month’s meeting, Carvalho said Texas’ favorable laws for gun owners have created ongoing concern among insurance carriers because of the increased chance of a violent incident at events with large crowds.

The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce will host the 2025 Asia x Austin International Market Summit on March 11 at the Austin Public Library’s Central Branch. The summit will highlight business opportunities between Central Texas and key Asian markets, featuring discussions on artificial intelligence, startup pitches and workforce development. Key sessions include a “Welcome to Austin” panel with local and international business leaders, a startup-focused pitch event and a discussion on workforce development strategies. A featured panel on artificial intelligence will explore emerging trends and applications in global markets. The summit will conclude with Asia x Austin After Dark, an evening networking event celebrating Asian pop culture with live performances, interactive exhibits and food experiences. The event is free to attend with registration.

Drought conditions are triggering two significant actions by the Lower Colorado River Authority that affect all LCRA water customers. Moving from Stage 1 to Stage 2 of LCRA;s drought response means that all LCRA firm water customers – including cities, industries and retail water suppliers – are required to increase water-saving measures and limit outdoor watering to no more than once a week. Secondly, no water from the Highland Lakes will be available in in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties in 2025 to most LCRA agricultural customers that use “interruptible water,” which is curtailed or cut back during droughts. “These actions are needed to help preserve and extend our water supplies in the face of a drought that shows little signs of easing over spring and summer,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water. “Our water supply reservoirs – lakes Buchanan and Travis – remain stressed and are now sitting at about 51% of capacity.”

Casey Dobson, a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico, has been announced as the chair of Opportunity Austin, the regional economic development initiative under the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Dobson officially took over the role on Jan. 1, succeeding longtime chair and Opportunity Austin founder Gary Farmer, who led the organization for 16 years of its 22-year history. Farmer will remain active on the board as a strategic adviser. Dobson has served on the Opportunity Austin board since 2012 and as vice chair since 2017. In a prepared statement announcing his new role he emphasized his focus on expanding the region’s global reach and attracting foreign investment. “OA’s work and success would not have been possible without Gary’s leadership over the past 20 years. Looking ahead, I’m focused on expanding our international impact by attracting foreign investment and driving business growth. With life sciences as a key priority, we will continue collaborating with regional partners to strengthen our ecosystem and build lasting economic success,” he said. Opportunity Austin has helped create more than 700,000 jobs since its inception in 2004 and has played a role in attracting major corporate investments from companies like Tesla and Samsung Semiconductor. The Opportunity Austin board also welcomed new members:

• David Brewton, managing director, JP Morgan Chase
• Michael Crowl, CEO, University Federal Credit Union
• Miguel Romano, president of foundations, Ascension Texas
• Jeremy Smitheal, partner, Riverside Resources
• Alison Walgren, Central Texas managing principal, Deloitte

Foundation Communities, a nonprofit providing health and wellness services to Austinites, is seeking to raise $125,000 during Amplify Austin Day to sustain its health programs following the expiration of federal funding. The loss of American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2024 has forced the organization to scale back or eliminate key initiatives, including Healthy Food Pantries, fitness classes, health fairs and community health worker programs. To highlight the importance of these programs, the organization will kick off Amplify Austin Day with an event showcasing its Healthy Food Pantry, which distributed 383,000 pounds of food in 2024 to serve over 2,000 households. “These food pantries have become a lifeline for families facing food insecurity, especially with the rising cost of food in recent years,” Executive Director Walter Moreau said in a prepared statement. “Every dollar we raise during Amplify Austin will support our Healthy Living programs, ensuring our neighbors can access resources they need to improve their health and well-being.” The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Trails at Vintage Creek Apartments (7224 Northeast Drive). Donations can be made at foundcom.org/amplify.

​The Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum is set to host a free public event 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, to celebrate its partnership with Bloomberg Connects, a global digital platform that enhances accessibility and engagement for arts and cultural institutions. The event will include a presentation on utilizing the new digital guide, opportunities to explore the garden and complimentary refreshments. Information and event registration are available online. Representatives from the Zilker Botanical Garden and the Bullock Texas State History Museum will also be present to share information about their own Bloomberg Connects guides and programming. Umlauf is in the early stages of a significant renovation plan aimed at enhancing accessibility and expanding its offerings. The Historic Preservation, Expansion and Unification (HPEU) Plan proposes integrating Charles and Angeline Umlauf’s historic home, private garden and artist studio with the existing museum and sculpture garden. The plan includes developing new facilities, such as the “Treehouse,” a multilevel structure designed to connect different areas of the property, and the “Gateway,” a welcoming center to accommodate educational programming.

Developers, conservationists and local officials are calling for expanded use of water-saving strategies in Hill Country developments following a recent gathering in Wimberley. Attendees of the gathering organized by Hill Country Alliance, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and Comal Conservation emphasized the need for rainwater harvesting, graywater recycling and sustainable site design to address growing water constraints in the region. The event featured discussions on regulatory barriers and potential policy solutions. Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, warned that worsening drought conditions demand urgent action. Highlighted projects, including a rainwater-reliant subdivision in Dripping Springs, showcased practical models for sustainable growth.

Do you have opinions on scooters and e-bikes? Sure you do! And now, the city of Austin is actively looking to hear residents’ opinions on safety, parking and how they use shared micromobility devices. According to a news brief from the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department, the online survey currently underway aims “to find new and innovative ways to make Austin’s transportation system safer and more convenient for everyone” and will be used in refining the rules that regulate scooters and e-bikes. In addition to the survey, which is open through April 6 and can be found here, the city will also host an in-person event at the Carver Branch of Austin Public Library from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 24.

The Austin Community College District is partnering with the Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing (HICAM) to expand workforce training in Central Texas’ growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. The collaboration will see ACC offer its Core Automation and Semiconductor program at HICAM’s newly completed 52,000-square-foot facility in East Austin, near Tesla’s Giga Texas plant. The facility will also host ACC’s Engineering Development Program, which provides specialized training for Tesla employees in motor control technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline by providing hands-on training aligned with industry needs. HICAM, a nonprofit focused on accelerating manufacturing innovation, serves as a hub for companies specializing in robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. ACC officials say the partnership will help students access high-paying career paths while supporting local economic growth. The first Tesla training cohort is set to launch in April.

Movability, the Austin area’s transportation management association, is still accepting applications for its spring 2025 GoGrant program, which offers up to $7,500 in financial assistance to Austin employers aiming to promote sustainable mobility options. The application window is open until March 6.

The GoGrant program supports three types of projects:​

• Infrastructure projects: Funding for permanent structures like bike racks or lockers.​
• Programmatic projects: Incentives and policies encouraging active commuting, such as transit pass subsidies or vanpool programs.
• Mobility planning: Development of custom mobility plans, including transportation demand management research and auditing.​

Previous grant recipients include organizations such as Yellow Bike, Out Youth, O. Henry Middle School and ICC Austin, which have implemented projects ranging from bike refurbishments to transit pass programs. Employers interested in applying can access the application and additional resources on Movability’s website.