|
|
|
|
Right of Way Management fees to change next month
|
|
The new City budget, effective Oct. 1, includes a fee change for the ATD Right of Way Management Division. This consists of a four percent technology improvement surcharge on Right of Way transactions to make it faster and more convenient for people to apply for and obtain permits, including online.
This fee supports the expansion of technology initiatives and improvement of online permitting systems without impacting the City's General Fund, which is paid for primarily through property taxes. Examples of planned enhancements include online payment options and a map selection tool for our customers. If you have questions about this fee, you may contact Right of Way at RightOfWay@AustinTexas.gov or 512-974-1150.
The forthcoming City budget also includes significant increases in Development Services Department inspection fees that Right of Way is required to assess on excavation and driveway/sidewalk permits. For more information about these fee increases, please contact the Development Services Department at 512-978-4000.
|
|
Reminder: Spicewood Springs Road public meeting tomorrow
|
|
The City of Austin invites members of the community to attend the first public meeting regarding the 2016 Mobility Bond Project on Spicewood Springs Road. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Westover Church of Christ.
The focus of the meeting will be educating the community about the project timeline, scope and process. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the project and provide comments related to their experiences using Spicewood Springs Road.
Recognizing there are other events scheduled for that evening (congratulations Murchison Middle School on your 50th Anniversary!), the City has additional opportunities for residents who wish to participate or learn about the project:
- Participate online: Residents can leave comments about existing conditions on the online feedback tool starting today.
- Watch or view the presentation and read the audience Q&A: Staff will post a video of the presentation and a PDF of the slides from the public meeting online on Oct. 2.
- Email us your questions or request a small-group presentation: Email Cheyenne.Krause@AustinTexas.gov to submit another question or ask for a small-group presentation at your neighborhood association, book club, church group, etc.!
The 2016 Mobility Bond provides $17 million for preliminary engineering, design and construction of safety and mobility improvements on Spicewood Springs Road between Loop 360 and Mesa Drive. Improvements have not been designed but may include expansion from a two-lane section to a four-lane divided roadway, along with signals, sidewalks, bike facilities, and driveway reconstruction.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage on the Spicewood Springs Road project. Check the project website, AustinTexas.gov/SpicewoodSpringsRd, for additional meetings or opportunities to get involved. You can also view the project in the Capital Projects Explorer (Project ID 11880.001). For more information about the 2016 Mobility Bond, visit AustinTexas.gov/2016Bond.
|
|
Austin streets come to life as parks on PARK(ing) Day
|
|
|
Creative parklet installations offered a range of activities for passersby.
|
|
|
On Sept. 15, downtown Austin flourished with miniature temporary parks, or “parklets” for PARK(ing) Day. These creative installations, and performances in some cases, demonstrated Austinites’ colorful visions of how to use public space.
"More than provide open, communal space—a treat in itself—this year’s PARK(ing) Day invited us to curl up with a book, discuss affordable housing, explore native plantings, become better bee advocates, relax in an eight-seater hammock lounge and delight in the arts while nestled in a green living room," said ATD Training Specialist Paloma Amayo-Ryan.
Thanks to these brilliant participants for making PARK(ing) Day a continued success: Boomspace, Nido, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin Public Library, Asakura Robinson and Environment Texas. We look forward to next year! See the event album for more photos.
|
|
Austin B-cycle records two-millionth mile
|
|
Riders of Austin B-cycle, the City’s nationally recognized bike-sharing program, have surpassed the two-million-mile mark.
“Two million miles is a huge milestone, and we are happy these durable red bikes continue to help people get to work, to the trails, and to the festival quickly, while avoiding traffic,” said Elliott McFadden, Executive Director of Austin B-cycle.
The program launched in December 2013 and now features 54 stations and 420 bikes. So far in 2017, 27,000 riders have logged 136,000 trips and 476,000 miles.
The City of Austin plans to add 15 more stations and 85 bikes over the next year as part of a federally funded expansion of the bike-share system matched with 20 percent local funding.
|
|
Pitch in to improve our air quality by cutting down on vehicle idling
|
|
Vehicle idling—it’s no idle threat! An idling vehicle is not only wasteful, but harmful to the environment and those around you. Engine idling contributes to air pollution that negatively affects public health, creates noise pollution and increases engine maintenance costs.
According to a study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program, if each car in the U.S. were to idle just six minutes per day, about 3 billion gallons of fuel would be wasted annually, costing drivers $10 billion or more. The study also found that idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more carbon dioxide than restarting your vehicle. The bottom line is that idling gets you nowhere!
You can take some simple actions to reduce idling, such as:
- Turn your vehicle off when it is stopped and in park, for example while waiting to drop off or pick up children at school.
- Use alternative travel routes or avoid peak travel times where stand-still traffic may occur.
- Choose to eat or purchase food inside of restaurants rather than idling in drive-thru lines.
- Consider driving a hybrid or electric vehicle.
To learn more, read this U.S. Department of Energy article, called “Idling Reduction for Personal Vehicles.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
