May 07
WHAT: Briefing on the Downtown Austin Plan: Urban Rail Connector/Circulator Proposal
WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Check-in at 7:40 a.m., Meeting at 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 304 East 7th Street in Sumner’s Hall, 3rd Floor
City of Austin staff and members of the ROMA Design team will present details of the proposal for inclusion of a rail-based circulator/connector in the Downtown Austin Plan.
As proposed, the circulator would connect Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Downtown, the Capitol complex, and the Mueller redevelopment site. The line could be extended to other areas in future phases.
Parking will be available at the Southwest Tower parking garage located 211 East 7th Street. RSVP via email to rsvp@downtownaustin.com or call 512-469-1766 x211 by Monday, May 12 by 5:00 p.m.
Apr 11
Sen. Kirk Watson has announced that Joe Cantalupo has accepted the offer to become CAMPO Executive Director and will officially start work on April 28. CATC will co-host a reception in early May (date to be announced) with the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) and the Austin Chamber to welcome and congratulate Cantalupo.
NOTE: The April 21 CAMPO Board meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for May 12.
May 29
Take on Traffic held a press conference May 30 at 10:00 AM at Zilker Park. Gary Farmer, Chair of Take on Traffic and 2006 Chair of Opportunity Austin, and Paul Saldana, Chairman of the Board of the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, reviewed mobility options in light of the end of the Legislative session.
The Take on Traffic education campaign is an expansion of CATC’s Transportation Advocacy Program (TAP) effort. The campaign is led by the Greater Austin Chamber with support from other business groups such as the Real Estate Council of Austin, the Greater Austin Home Builders Association, and others, seeks to provide an accurate assessment of the Central Texas area’s transportation challenges and promote a regional comprehensive transportation plan.
Apr 26
Friday, May 4 - SH 130 Dell Diamond Sign Unveiling - 10AM @ SH 130/CR 190.
Come celebrate a new sign that will take you out to the ballgame! RSVP to 512.694.7797 or Nancy.Ledbetter@hdrinc.com.
Apr 26
May 1 - Take on Traffic Speakers Bureau Training: Noon in the offices of Jackson Walker (100 Congress Ave, Suite 1100). Lunch will be included. RSVP to Sandy Hentges if you would like to attend.
Apr 26
TONIGHT - April 26 - Austin PBS Series 3rd season premiere has segment on urban transportation: Premiering tonight at 8:00 p.m., on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS - Season 3 of DOWNTOWN - the 3-time Emmy® Award-winning series featuring the people and places that make DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets. Tonight’s episode is #301: Urban Transportation, Downtown’s “Wilder” Side, The “Rite” Playhouse.
The show is also available free on Time Warner Cable’s Lone Star on Demand, Channel 1400.
DOWNTOWN is a co-production of the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure and KLRU-TV, Austin PBS. More information on the series is available here.
Apr 20
TXDOT is preparing to open another portion of SH 45N (RM 620 W to to US 183), one of the last portions of the tollroad. The westbound lanes will open to traffic on Apr 26 and the eastbound lanes on Apr 27.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for April 23.
Northern half of SH 45 to open next week - Austin Business Journal
Apr 06
The second Distinguished Transportation Speaker Series (DTSS) will be held May 4 at 11:30 AM at the Hyatt Regency in Austin at 11:30 AM. The Distinguished Transportation Speaker Series’ objective is to provide top notch speakers to educate the regional business, community and political leadership though a series of lunches. Our first luncheon in this series, featuring noted congestion expert Alan Pisarski in October 2006, was well-attended and received.
The second event in this series will focus on public-private investment in transportation infrastructure. The event’s main speaker will be Leonard Gilroy, Senior Policy Analyst at the Reason Foundation and a nationally recognized expert on public-private partnerships.
Gilroy is the managing editor of Privatization Watch, a newsletter on privatization, and is the editor of the Annual Privatization Report, which examines trends and chronicles the experiences of local, state, and federal governments in bringing competition to public services. His articles have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, Washington Times, Houston Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Arizona Republic, San Francisco Examiner, and Rocky Mountain News.
Gilroy’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion of local and state leaders weighing in on the issue. We have invited Texas State Senators John Carona and Robert Nichols to participate on this panel. We’ll have additional information on the panel’s makeup soon.
The luncheon will be from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency in Austin (208 Barton Springs Road) and the cost is $40 per person. Seats are limited so please RSVP by May 1 to catc@catransco.org or 512-587.6625. Cash or checks will be accepted at the door.
Feb 20
The US 183A toll road is opening Saturday, March 3, with a community-wide celebration. The festivities will take place at the Park Street Toll Plaza and will include the Road to Hope 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, kid-friendly activities and live musical performances by the Dust Devils, Eight Ball Down and Ray Benson featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel. A complimentary BBQ lunch with cotton candy, popcorn and other concessions will also be provided. The event is free to the public with proceeds benefiting Hope Alliance, an organization providing support to Williamson County families during times of crisis.
Click here for parking directions, additonal information about the 183A Grand Opening and to register for The Road to Hope 5k Fun Run.
If you have a child between the ages of 3-6, and they have a PowerWheels or other battery-powered car, they could be among the first to drive on US 183A - click here for details.
Schedule of Events
8:30 AM - Road to Hope Fun Run (registration begins at 7 AM)
9:00 AM - Community Festival begins
11:00 AM - Opening Ceremony
12 Noon - Ray Benson, featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel
2:00 PM - Community Festival ends
Feb 19
Below the media advisory announcing the “Take on Traffic” press conference that will take place on Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 AM at Zilker Park.
The “Take on Traffic” education campaign is an expansion of CATC’s Transportation Advocacy Program (TAP) effort. The campaign, with support from business groups such as the Greater Austin Chamber, the Real Estate Council of Austin, CATC, and others, seeks to provide an accurate assessment of the Central Texas area’s transportation challenges and promote a regional comprehensive transportation plan.
Directions to the press conference: turn off Barton Springs Road at the booth as if heading to the Springs, veer left and pass the first lot - the conference will be held in the eastern most lot closest to the bridge.
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