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North Central Austin Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 9 DEC. 28, 2023 JAN. 29, 2024
This year, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport o cials saw nine record-breaking days of passenger volumes.
GRANT CRAWFORD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Airport sta expect another record-breaking year
passenger levels would not return to what they were prior to the pandemic until 2024. Instead, the total passenger count from 2022 rose above what it was in 2019 by about 20%.
In 2022, the city-owned airport experienced its busiest year on record. O cials anticipate that 2023 will break this record as passenger volumes continuously soar. In June of 2020, ABIA o cials projected that
BY ELLE BENT
As Austin’s population grows, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport o cials are working to modernize and expand the airport to accommodate the needs of passengers over time.
CONTINUED ON 18
Also in this issue
Impacts: Yard Bar founder opens new restaurant (Page 6)
Government: Council updates single-family housing limits (Page 14)
Education: AISD names superintendent nalist (Page 15)
Dining: Sisters serve authentic Italian cuisine (Page 22)
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Winter Weather PREPAREDNESS TIPS For updates and instructional videos visit: austinwater.org
Locate your water shutoff Make sure everyone in your residence knows where the water main shutoff valve is located and keep it clear of debris and obstacles at all times. In an emergency, Austin Water recommends you always try to shut off your water at your property owner’s cutoff valve first. For most homes in our service area, the property owner’s shutoff valve is on your side of the water meter at the meter box. If you are not sure where, check the property inspection report from when you purchased your residence. For renters, please consult with your property manager. If you cannot find your shutoff valve or if it is damaged, then you should be prepared to access the City shutoff valve in the meter box. You may need a water meter key to open the meter box, during an emergency, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. Keep out cold air Tightly close doors and windows to the outside. Make repairs to broken or drafty windows, doors, and walls. Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements. Winterize unheated spaces and close garage doors for the duration of the freeze. Exposed pipes and water heaters Insulate pipes in unheated and drafty areas, such as an attic or garage. Also check Also check manufacturer recommendations for your tanked and tankless water heaters. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to help keep pipes from freezing. Outside faucets Turn off outside faucets. Remove all connected hoses and wrap faucets with towels or a Styrofoam insulator. Turn off and drain automatic sprinkler systems. Prepare before leaving town If you plan to be away during a time when freezing temperatures are possible, turn off your water at the meter and set your thermostat to 65 degrees or higher.
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES to have on hand
■ WATER METER KEY to access your meter box if necessary ■ INSULATION
■ Battery powered RADIO and FLASHLIGHT ■ Have enough water
for 1 GALLON PER PERSON PER DAY FOR 7 DAYS
for indoor and outdoor pipes
■ HOSE BIB COVERS for outdoor faucets
In the event of an emergency and you can’t access your meter box, please call Austin Water’s Emergency Dispatch at 512-972-1000.
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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Michelle Alberts, Sales Manager, https://my.cmghomeloans.com/homehub/signup/MALBERTS@CMGFI.COMNMLS#232843, 9430 Research Blvd Ste200, Building IV. Austin, TX 78759 Branch NMLS# 1151668. CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Registered Mortgage Banker with the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. *Payment example: Stated rate may change or may not be available at time of rate lock. If you bought a $435,900 home with a 30 year loan at a fixed rate of 7.5% (8.331%% Annual Percentage Rate), with a down payment of $21,900, for a loan amount of $414,000, you would make 360 monthly payments of $2,895.00. Payment stated does not include mortgage insurance, taxes and homeowners insurance, which will result in a higher payment. **10/6 ARM. Stated rate may change or may not be available at time of rate lock. Example: Purchase Price $435,900, $21,900% Down Payment, $414,000 Loan Amount, 30 year term, initial interest rate 3.75% (5.493% APR) for initial 120 payments of $1,918, not including mortgage insurance/taxes/insurance. Post Introductory Period Example: Interest Rate = SOFR + Margin. Payment can adjust every 6 months. Sample Repayments at month 120 with balance of $323,383: 3% Margin, 5.323% SOFR (11/9/23), 8.375% variable rate, $2,782 monthly payment. At max interest rate of 8.750% payment is $2,858
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact
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Impacts
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
NORTH AUSTIN
2 Modern Animal Representatives with Modern Animal opened their second Austin location on Burnet Road in early December. The veterinary clinic offers primary and preventative pet care in addition to surgery, dentistry and 24/7 virtual pet care. The first Austin location opened late September on South
Coming soon
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Lamar Boulevard. • Opened Dec. 4
MOPAC
• 5118 Burnet Road, Austin • www.modernanimal.com
3 Rosa Pottery Studio Born and raised in Austin, Hillary Rose has founded a pottery studio that aims to serve as a safe space for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or people of color. The studio offers one-time classes and packages for multiple sessions. In addition to private lessons, Rosa Pottery Studio also hosts workshops and special events. • Opened Nov. 27 • 8711 Burnet Road, Ste. F65, Austin • www.rosapottery.studio 4 Honey Hill Market What started as an online shop has now evolved into a brick-and-mortar store called Honey Hill Market, which specializes in vintage clothing, hats, leather boots and more. The shop also hosts a Honey Hill Market on weekends and brings together other small, local vendors. • Opened Aug. 12
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6 Camp Out Kristen Heaney Clark, founder and owner of Yard Bar, opened outdoor restaurant and bar patio Camp Out in late October on the Yard Bar property. The menu consists of what head chef Candace Landberg, formerly of Cenote, calls “comfort food with a campfire fusion,” with reimagined dishes such as hamburgers, hot dogs and more in addition to a curated cocktail menu. • Opened Oct. 21
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• 6700 Burnet Road, Austin • www.campout.yardbar.com
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• 1800 W. Koenig Lane, Austin • Instagram: honeyhillmarket
North Central
Closing
Coming soon
7 Old Thousand The Chinese eatery closed on Burnet Road after more than three years in business. Major equipment failure and a pending increase in rent made it difficult to move forward with the location, an email from Old Thousand states. The restaurant’s original location at 1000 E. 11th St. will remain open, and officials staid there are plans to extend its operating hours and menu. • Closed Dec.
Now open
5 The Retreat at Mantra Yoga Collective A new yoga studio offering a wide range of classes, events, a relaxation space, and a full-service coffee and kombucha bar will open in Northwest Austin in mid- December. The studio, called The Retreat, will be split into two parts—one for practicing yoga, and the other for relaxing and socializing. • Opening in mid-December • 3300 West Anderson Lane, Ste. 300, Austin • www.mantrayogacollective.com
1 Playground ATX Sisters Sue Kim-Drohomyrecky and Katie Kim opened Playground ATX in mid-November. Playground ATX serves as a restaurant launchpad, with a six-month rotation of eateries occupying the 75-seat restaurant space to test the waters before a full-scale opening. Locals Kevin and Rosie Truong, who started the recently closed food truck Fil ‘n Viet, are the first tenants with their new eatery, East Meets Wings. • Opened Nov. 15
• 34805 Burnet Road, Austin • www.oldthousandatx.com
• 5001 Airport Blvd., Austin • www.playground-atx.com
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Start the new year off right and support one of the 125+ Texas-based small businesses featured in our shop
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BY AMANDA CUTSHALL
Downtown/West Campus
WHITIS AVE.
Now open
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1 Sapori Italian Roots After closing his South Austin food truck Il Saporis in May, Tony DeStefano opened brick-and-mortar restaurant Sapori Italian Roots with an expanded menu. • Opened Aug. 10 • 800 Brazos St., Ste. 215, Austin • www.saporiatx.com 2 Pearl Dive Oyster Bar Helmed by chef Peter Klimov, the Clarksville neighborhood oyster bar occupies the former Sushi Zushi space. Pearl Dive Oyster Bar o ers a variety of oysters and other fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes. • Opened Oct. 1 • 1611 W. Fifth St., Ste. 105, Austin • 512-291-7898 3 Quince LakeHouse Sitting on the banks of Lake Austin, Texas restaurateur Brian Sneed opened Quince LakeHouse in early November. The restaurant o ers a diverse menu, most of which is meant to be shared. • Opened Nov. 1 • 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 201, Austin • www.quincemas.com/atx 4 Cambria Austin Downtown Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is situated near the Rainey Street District. The hotel has a rooftop lounge called Limestone that o ers cocktails and live music, in addition to a lobby bar and restaurant called Gra ti. • Opened Dec. 5 • 68 East Ave., Austin • www.choicehotels.com
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included removing the orchestra pit, recon guring the lobby, replacing seats and upgrading the building’s infrastructure. • 2300 Whitis Ave., Austin • www.utexas.edu 6 Violet Crown Cinemas Mitch Roberts, founder of EVO Entertainment Group and an Austinite, announced EEG acquired Austin-based Violet Crown Cinemas in late October. Roberts said the acquisition is part of EEG’s growth plans; however, Violet Crown Cinemas will maintain its name. Violet Crown focuses on independent, documentary and foreign lms. • 434 W. Second St., Austin • http://austin.violetcrown.com
Closings
7 Counter Culture The vegan restaurant closed its West Campus food truck in hopes of opening a brick-and-mortar in late 2024, owner Sue Davis announced. • Closed Dec. 19 • 2908 Fruth St., Austin • www.countercultureaustin.com
In the news
5 Hogg Memorial Auditorium The 90-year-old performing arts venue nished its two- year, $27.7 million renovation in October. Renovations
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Impacts
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
35 location in late November. The smoothie shop blends raw, cold-pressed juices with fruits and vegetables to create smoothies. Guests can also choose from grab-and-go plant-based meals, wellness shots and superfood lattes. One of the bestselling smoothies is the Originator, which is a blend of apple, almond milk, banana, blueberry, cherry, peanut butter, brown rice protein and spirulina. • Opened Nov. 28 • 600 E. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 400, Austin • www.juiceland.com Mason Levey and Sarah Larson Levey, has opened. The studio offers heated, candlelit yoga with no mirrors so attendees can attend without feeling any pressure. The small chain has a handful of locations in Los Angeles and New York City, making this the first location in Texas. • Opened in September • 2330 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.y7-studio.com 3 JuiceLand JuiceLand opened an East Ben White Boulevard
Now open
MOPAC
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6 Nomade Cocina and Raw Bar The new eatery serves a gluten-free menu featuring flavors from several global cuisines. The new kitchen and bar was launched by Adam Weisberg and Jay Huang, the duo behind South Austin’s Lucky Robot Japanese restaurant. Nomade’s dishes are inspired by the varied foods of Central America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. • Opened Oct. 25
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In the news
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• 1506 S. First St., Austin • www.nomadecocina.com
4 Odd Duck The restaurant, locally owned by brothers Bryce and Dylan Gilmore, celebrated its 10th anniversary Dec. 10. Odd Duck serves American classics, such as pasta, redfish, burgers, quail, pork shoulder and more. The restaurant also has a full bar with an extensive beer, wine and cocktail list.
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South Central
7 Heather Gordon Spa & Wellness The spa and wellness center celebrated 15 years of serving the South Austin community anniversary Sept. 1. The center was founded by Heather Gordon and has a team of licensed estheticians, massage therapists and more. Services offered include facials, chemical peels, waxes and tiny tattoos. • 2919 Menchaca Road, Ste. 101, Austin • www.heathergordonspa.com
• 1201 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.oddduckaustin.com
Now open
1 Radfish Radfish, a food truck, is now open outside of record store End of an Ear serving shrimp and fish tacos, fish sandwiches and burgers. • Opened Nov. 10 • 4304 Clawson Road, Austin • www.radfishtx.com 2 Y7 Studio Residents along South Lamar have a new fitness option as Y7 Studio, founded by husband-and-wife duo
5 Rivian Austin Hub California-based electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is working on a $3 million project on South Congress, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. The project is stated to be a complete renovation of the interior of an existing 10,146-square- foot, two-story commercial office space with completion projected to happen sometime in December. • 200 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.rivian.com
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BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & KATY MCAFEE
EAST AUSTIN
2 Wolf and Wheat Helmed by chefs with Michelin-star experience, the shop’s dessert menu includes buckwheat brownies, oolong tiramisu and raspberry tres leches. Wolf and Wheat is owned by husband-and-wife duo Margarita Kallas-Lee and Phillip Frankland Lee. • Opened Oct. 26 • 1009 E. Sixth St., Austin • Instagram: wolfandwheatatx 3 DAWA HQ Founded by local Jonathan Chaka Mahone, Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action opened DAWA HQ to empower Austin’s BIPOC community and culture. The 1,100-square-foot, mixed-use venue can be used for live events, podcasting, workshops and more. • Opened Nov. 9 • 916 Springdale Road, Austin • www.dawaheals.org 183 4 Yellow Bell Tacos The South Texas-style taco truck opened by InterStellar BBQ owner John Bates opened at the new Northeast Austin location of Austin Beerworks. Menu items include tacos with brisket and longaniza, bean and
Now open
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7 Not a Damn Chance Burger The eatery has opened its first brick-and-mortar location serving one classic burger, which includes a ⅓-pound of seasoned Texas wagyu beef, American cheese, pickles, onions and secret sauce. The shop is owned by chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams. • Opened Dec. 4
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• 1007 E. Sixth St., Austin • Instagram: nadcburger
cheese, or smoked chicken. • Opened early September • 10300 Springdale Road, Austin • Instagram: yellowbelltacos
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5 Muzzy’s Bagels A new bagel shop touting high-quality sandwiches and late-night service opened in East Austin featuring five signature sandwiches as well as plain, everything, rosemary and jalapeno bagels. Muzzy’s Bagels is owned by Matthew Mussenden and Jimmy Ramirez. • Opened Oct. 14
East Austin
additional space will increase the capacity from 134 students to 283 students. • Expanded Sept. 29 • 2200 Aldrich St., Ste. 130, Austin • www.primroseschools.com/schools/austin-at-mueller 130 TOLL
Now open
1 Murray’s Tavern Local restaurateurs Travis Tober and Nic Yanes opened Murray’s Tavern in the former Gourmands Neighborhood Pub spot in East Austin. Murray’s Tavern offers dishes that include pancetta and corn chowder served in a bread bowl; oysters Rockefeller; and more. • Opening Dec. 11 • 2316 Webberville Road, Austin • www.murraysaustin.com 71
• 2909 E. 12th St., Austin • www.muzzysbagels.com
Closings
8 Cycleast Owner and founder Russell Pickavance announced on social media the bike shop has closed. • Closed early December • 1619 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin • www.cycleast.com
Expansions
6 Primrose School of Austin at Mueller The school, which provides early childhood education, started construction to expand its current space from 8,000 square feet to about 20,000 square feet. The
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Transportation
BY APRIL KELLEY
Streak of daily traffic fatalities reaches 23 years in Texas
Nov. 7 marked 23 years of daily traffic fatalities on Texas roadways, according to the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation. The gist According to TxDOT, Texas has not had one day without a traffic fatality since Nov. 7, 2000. On average, the state sees 10 deaths on Texas road- ways each day. As of Dec. 13, 3,871 fatalities have occurred as a result of 3,491 fatal crashes, according to TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System. A total of 4,481 traffic fatalities occurred in 2022 in Texas, down 16 from the 4,497 that occurred in 2021, according TxDOT. Traffic fatalities, however, were higher in 2022 than they were in 2020, which saw 3,896 total traffic fatalities. Background TxDOT launched its #EndTheStreakTX cam- paign Nov. 15, 2016, to raise awareness of daily
5K 4K 3K 2K 1K 0 Traffic fatalities 2003-2023
*AS OF DEC. 13
17.24% increase from 2003-2022
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
traffic fatalities and to encourage safe driving, with the goal of ending the daily streak of deaths. TxDOT asks all Texans to: • Make the best and safest decisions behind the wheel. • Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Always obey traffic laws. • Always wear a seat belt.
• Post pictures on social media with a download- able sign using the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX. • Share personal stories on social media of loved ones who died in a crash using the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX.
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Government
COMPILED BY ELLE BENT, KATY MCAFEE, BEN THOMPSON
O cials seek federal investigation of APD Travis County District Attorney José Garza and Austin leaders on Dec. 4 asked the Department of Justice to investigate the Austin Police Department’s response to the city’s May 2020 protests. Garza also announced protest-related prosecutions against 17 APD o cers will end, while four remain in progress. The speci cs O cials requested a federal “pattern or practice investigation,” to determine whether residents were deprived of their constitutional rights. Garza’s update on the APD prosecutions came nearly two years after the indictments. Separately, Austin has paid more than $20 million in injury settlements stemming from the 2020 protests.
Travis County readies for immigration law costs A new Texas law allowing local governments to arrest and expel undocumented immigrants could have “enormous” nancial impacts on Travis County, according to county sta . Senate Bill 4 passed in the fall and was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott Dec. 18. The impact Previously, only the federal government could take on most immigration law enforcement including arresting and expelling undocumented immigrants. Violators are now subject to Class B misdemeanor charges and, if convicted, may serve up to 6 months in county jail. The new law could cost millions of dollars locally and put pressure on the Travis County Jail’s already short-sta ed corrections department that had a 32% vacancy rate in November, county intergovernmen- tal relations o cer Julie Wheeler said.
“I think there’s been a perception that the bill would just impact border counties, but any person that’s here that wouldn’t be able to show their
status could be charged with this new o ense. You don’t need to be on the border
for that to happen.” INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER JULIE WHEELER
One jailed person costs the county at least $125-$600 per day, depending on their physical and mental health care needs. That range does not take into account the cost of indigent defense or inter- preters, costs Wheeler expects to go up under SB 4. In August, the Travis County Jail saw 318 inmates with immigration detainers, which cost the county $1.65 million, according to data from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Austin creates separate homelessness response o ce The city established a new stand-alone Home- less Strategy O ce Dec. 4 after a recent review found its former structure wasn’t e ective. The breakdown
Austin’s new stand-alone Homeless Strategy O ce will handle: • The city’s extensive homeless service contracts • Homeless shelter operations • City and community collaborations to make more housing available • Local, state and federal partnerships • Public space management, including cleanups and encampment closures • Homeless response fundraising • City communications
according to Austin o cials. The reorganization came with the promotion of David Gray as Austin’s permanent homeless strategy o cer. Gray took over that role on an interim basis in late September. The new structure will support an upcoming “joint independent assessment” of homeless services and spending by Austin, Travis County and several other community partners.
The city’s homeless strategy division previ- ously operated under Austin Public Health. The o ce’s spino is aimed at better focusing the city’s work with the local unhoused community,
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Government
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Tela Goodwin Mange explains role of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation The Texas Department of Licensing and Reg- ulation is the licensing entity for 38 different professions in Texas, ranging from barbers and cosmetologists to electricians and air conditioning contractors. In addition to licensing, the agency ensures these businesses are providing safe condi- tions and accessibility for consumers, Communi- cations Manager Tela Goodwin Mange said. Additionally, commercial projects and other projects such as churches and hospitals must be reported to the agency’s project registration database, which Community Impact uses to identify new openings or business renovations in our communities. The following interview with Goodwin Mange has been edited for length and clarity. Who has to register with the TDLR? If [the project costs] $50,000 or more, they have to register that with TDLR, and they have to provide a full set of construction documents to a person who’s known as a registered accessibility specialist. [We] will review those construction documents to make sure that construction project is going to meet the Texas Accessibility Standards, which is kind of a Texas version of the [Americans with Disabilities Act], because we want to make sure that all Texans are able to access a building. ... If the total project expenditure is less than $50,000, they’re not required to submit that information or that project to TDLR for regis- tration and review, but there are certain times where they still have to meet the accessibility standard. So just because it’s less than $50,000, just because they aren’t required to submit the project, they still have to proceed assuming that they’re going to have to adhere to those standards anyway, because again, everybody should be able to access those areas. What types of industries aren’t regulated by the TDLR? Plumbers are not regulated by us; doctors are not; dentists are not; physical therapists are not. There are a number of industries that we don’t regulate that are regulated by other state agencies.
Navigating the site The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s website has various tools residents can use to learn more about businesses who violated TDLR standards as well as who is licensed with the agency.
Searching for TDLR violators
Go to the TDLR website and select “search site.”
Visitors can search by license program type, company name, licensee name, city, county or ZIP code. Under “search for violations,” visitors can find the list of violators who have been adjudicated for the last two fiscal years.
Searching for TDLR licensees
Go to the TDLR website and select “search site.”
What does registering with the TDLR look like? They have to go through the licensing process, which includes a criminal background check. Certain industries that we regulate require people to provide fingerprints to get their criminal background done; others it’s name based. Certain other industries, we do risk-based inspections, which means if someone has had issues in the past, we will add them to the list of people who absolutely, positively have to get inspected. There are others that we will do an inspection, everything’s fine and we don’t consider them to be a potential risk. ... If a consumer files a complaint that they were injured or that there’s some issue where [the business is] not complying with state law and with the administrative rules, then we will in addition to doing an investigation—often we’ll end up doing an inspection as well. What kind of complaint could someone file about a business? It’s going to vary on the type of license that’s involved. If you were to go to a barbershop or a cosmetology salon and you hate your haircut, ... we’re not going to open a complaint on that. But if you went to a barbershop or a cosmetology salon, and you got an infection that your phy- sician said, ... ‘You got this because that salon or that barbershop wasn’t clean,’ then that’s definitely something that we want to know about, and there would be an investigation. We encourage folks to file a complaint if there’s something that they feel was health and safety related, or if you feel like you got scammed. That’s something that we would want to look
If a business is under the TDLR umbrella but not on the list, call TDLR customer support at 800-803-9202 to get assistance to verify if the business is registered. Under “search licensees,” visitors can find the list of individuals who have a license with the TDLR.
SOURCE: TELA GOODWIN MANGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
into. ... Anytime that you file a complaint, include as much information as you can. ... Consumers who are [going to] hire anyone who is in a profession that’s licensed by TDLR, we urge them to check and make sure, is this person licensed, and have they had any admin- istrative penalties in the last couple of years? ... In certain situations, if you do business with someone who’s unlicensed—like, for example, if you hire an electrician who is not licensed and they end up doing something that burns your house down—the insurance company may not pay your claim because by hiring someone who’s unlicensed, you’re not complying with what the insurance company requires, which is that you hire someone who’s licensed and competent to perform that work. Is there anything else our readers should know? We’re ... not the only licensing entity in the state, but if you go to our website, you can see all the dif- ferent programs that we license. If the service that you’re looking for is included in one of those, please do check and make sure that they are licensed.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY KATY MCAFEE
How did Austin get so many toll roads?
The actions taken
In 2003, House Bill 3588 passed, allowing regional mobility groups to build and operate toll roads. The passage allowed the CTRMA, which was created a year prior, to begin planning its rst toll road. In 2014 and 2015, two constitutional amend- ments dedicated more money from Texas’ oil, natural gas and sales tax to the state’s highway fund. The two amendments have provided billions more dollars to the state highway fund since their passage.
Without adequate nancial support from gas tax revenue, transportation leaders turned to toll roads as a solution. “In the early 2000s the commission said, ‘There’s got to be a better way to do this,’” Bass said. “One way we [did] that is by having our regional mobility authority go to the bond market [to] issue bonds, borrow money, and then collect the tolls and pay back that borrowed money over time.” The CTRMA has worked with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to build six toll roads through this process. The Texas Department of Transportation built the other four. Langmore said adding toll roads has gone “amazingly well,” as they’ve given drivers a faster option and generated enough surplus to build more roads in the past two decades.
As Austin’s population started to boom about 20 years ago, local transportation leaders recognized the need for more roadways connecting the region. Many roads were in a “lousy state of repair,” and the state did not have the money to x them or build new ones, said John Langmore, former board member of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. At the time, state road projects were funded solely through gas tax—a $0.20 per gallon tax Texans pay every time they’re at the pump. By the early 2000s, the gas tax wasn’t bringing in enough revenue to build all the needed infrastructure projects in Austin. Texas’ gas tax has not gone up since 1991, and it has lost nearly half its purchasing power due to in ation, according to CTRMA documents. The growing number of electric vehicles and fuel- e cient cars have also limited gas tax revenue, CTRMA Executive Director James Bass said.
Texas Department of Transportation toll roads Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll roads
29
95
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority operates six of the 10 toll roads in the Austin area.
130 TOLL
COURTESY CTRMA
183A TOLL
79
183
45 TOLL
What’s next
130 TOLL
The CTRMA has a ve-year plan for potential roads it plans to bring to the Austin metro using surplus funding. Bass said the group is looking into adding one or two tolled lanes on MoPac, south of Lady Bird Lake. The CTRMA is also considering extending Hwy. 290 past Hwy. 130 to the east. The CTRMA could also use its surplus funding for nontolled transportation projects, such as shared-use paths or trails. “[We’ve] been at a growth stage, helping bring on new roadways and then stabilizing,” Bass said. “I think we’re close to being at that point of stabilizing, and then maybe bringing on additional roadways, but maybe not, depending upon what the region wants.”
620
35
Express lane
290
MOPAC
290 TOLL
360
71
183 TOLL
HAMILTON POOL RD.
130 TOLL
71
71 TOLL
290
71
35
45 TOLL
1826
150
183
45 TOLL
12
1626
N
13
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Government
Transportation
BY BEN THOMPSON
BY ELLE BENT
Austin moves to allow 3 homes on single-family properties
AISD superintendent lone finalist named After more than a year without a perma- nent superintendent, the Austin ISD board of trustees named interim superintendent Matias Segura as the lone finalist on Dec. 14. The gist In a closed door meeting Dec. 7, trustees reviewed six applications and ultimately selected Segura as the top candidate. "[Segura] is Austin ISD's first homegrown superintendent. He's a product of Austin ISD, the son of a beloved Austin ISD teacher and a proud parent of two Austin ISD students. [Segura] is a shining example that anything is possible for Austin ISD students," board member Kathryn Whitley Chu said Dec. 14. The board plans to vote on Segura's contract on Jan. 25, following community feedback events.
Austin ISD begins work to expand internet access Austin ISD is making progress on a program to increase internet access around several of the dis- trict’s campuses. Construction is expected to begin as soon as winter break, Dec. 25-Jan. 5 and will take about three weeks to complete at each campus. The program—called Project Lighthouse—will bring monopoles, or towers that provide wireless services, to campuses in order to provide better connectivity to students as well as the surround- ing community. The backstory The district estimates that about 30% of students don’t have access to reliable internet at home, which can negatively impact academic performance and families’ communication with school, district officials said.
The following campuses will be the first to receive the monopoles:
Akins Early College High School Austin High School Liberal Arts and Science Academy
Officials moved to: • Adjust the allowed size of some housing units under HOME, and their distances from neigh- bors and property lines; • Encourage the preservation and planting of trees on residential lots; • Include preservation and sustainability bonuses to encourage retaining older structures; • Require regular, detailed reporting on HOME’s impacts in Austin What’s next While HOME will be in effect by late December, new development under the policy won’t be allowed until February to give city staff time to prepare for the updates. HOME’s second phase—cutting minimum lot sizes for residential construction, potentially by more than half—is set to be considered in the spring.
The first phase of a plan Austin officials hope will help tackle the city’s housing affordability crisis was approved by council on Dec. 7. Their 9-2 approval of Phase 1 of the “HOME” policy capped months of often-contentious debate over a plan allowing up to three homes on single-family properties. Additionally, City Council voted for an increase in the number of people who can live together. Supporters said they hope the update will allow smaller and more affordable homes to address the need for middle-income housing. Along with concerns about fueling gentrification and displacement, opponents said the plan was rushed, ill-conceived and may strain the city’s infrastructure and resources. The details Council passed HOME Phase 1 with several of their and the Planning Commission’s amendments.
Tracking the proposal Council members supporting HOME say the two-part plan will promote more middle- income housing by reducing development barriers and potentially allowing less expensive homes to be built.
Blanton Elementary School Blazier Elementary School Cook Elementary School Graham Elementary School Perez Elementary School Jordan Elementary School
Phase 1: Allow up to three housing units on single-family properties Status: Passed
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Communications, a telecommunications company, which will construct the monopoles. The construction and maintenance of the mono- poles will come at no cost to the district. Instead, AISD will receive monthly rental income for any space leased to a mobile carrier which will be used to fund other projects that offer students network access, district officials said.
Phase 2: Reduce minimum lot sizes for residential construction by more than half Status: Under consideration in the spring
In November 2021, the board of trust- ees approved a partnership with Branch
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
HIGHLAND 5775 Airport Blvd (512) 366-8300 ARBORETUM 10515 North Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE Mobility Authority
Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.
The Mobility Authority is not the only toll operator
The Mobility Authority is not an electronic tag provider or operator. We encourage all electronic tag customers to log into their account with their tag provider to ensure they are in good standing and to avoid receiving a Mobility Authority Pay By Mail bill in the future.
Late payment fees do apply
Valid Payment Method
The Mobility Authority is not TxTag
We accept a variety of electronic tags
Tag Account:
Tag Account:
+ $
There’s a reason you might get a bill in the mail even if you have an electronic tag
Pos ii itive Balance
There are payment options everywhere
Correct License Plate
Keep your electronic tag account in good standing
We use your address on file with the Texas DMV for bills
Vaild Tag
Learn what to do when you sell your car
Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more
* Check with your electronic tag provider for all criteria.
WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP
To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/tolling101.
16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
Median home sales price
November 2022
November 2023
Residential market data
After a summer and early fall of higher interest rates, home sales in the Austin area rose by 4.1% in November, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ most recent metro data.
2022
2023
2022
2023
78701
78723
+63.6%
+1.29%
$810,000
$601,000
$495,000
$593,351
78702
78731
-20.84%
+3.77%
$617,450
$939,100
$780,000
$905,000
360
78703
78751
-7.94%
+62%
$1,450,000
$810,000
$1,575,000
$500,000
183
290
35
MOPAC
71
N
78704
78752
+1.33%
-21.47%
$950,000
$347,500
$937,500
$442,500
78701
78702 78722
78703
78704
78705
78723
78731
78751
78752
78756 78757
78705
78756
-34.2%
-4.47%
$292,500
$812,000
$444,500
$850,000
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS 512-454-7636 WWW.ABOR.COM
78722
78757
+31.82%
+14.94%
$725,022
$592,500
$550,000
$515,500
17
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
From the cover
Airport staff expect another record-breaking year
The action taken
What’s happening
On the journey
Spanning over multiple years, the airport’s expansion program consists of projects aimed at creating space and modernizing the airport that was first opened in 1999, said Haynes. Active projects include a new baggage han- dling system for outbound checked bags; the West Gate expansion, which will extend the terminal out past gates 33 and 34 where Spirit Airlines is located; and an airline fuel facility. On Aug. 30, officials broke ground on the West Gate expansion, which will add a total of 84,000 square feet across three levels. In addition, the airport made strides toward its new midfield concourse project in 2023. A new 20-gate concourse, or area in which travelers pass through the airport, will connect to the Bar- bara Jordan Terminal by a tunnel underground, Haynes said. In order to construct the new concourse, the airport acquired the South Terminal from its pre- vious operator, LoneStar Airport Holdings LLC. The previous operator had a 40-year lease on the terminal that began in 2016, and the city settled for $88 million in a lawsuit to end the lease early. Operations of the South Terminal moved over to the city Nov. 1, and the terminal is up for removal by 2025. “This year has been a lot of planning, prepara- tion, sprinkling a little bit of groundbreaking, but it's really a lot of the behind the scenes work that has to get done before we start bringing projects online,” Haynes said. In 2024, airport officials anticipate the comple- tion of its jet fuel facility and a new cargo facility. The year will also see ground breaking on three projects.
ABIA spokesperson Sam Haynes says the growth can likely be attributed to an increased interest in Central Texas. Austin is one of the top 15 largest cities in the United States and Georgetown was the fastest growing city in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The story of Central Texas has always been growth,” Haynes said. “That's why we're doing our airport expansion. It's to meet the needs of today while building out a foundation for long term success for our community.” The multi-year expansion program is funded by airport revenue and federal grants and will address the need of a increasing volume of travelers.
In planning
• A new multi-level parking garage that will support both short and long-term parking for up to 30 days • A new arrivals and departure hall to expand ticketing and check-in • A new 20-gate concourse, or area which travelers pass through, that connects to the Barbara Jordan Terminal through an underground tunnel
In design
• Improvements to the international facility that will include new baggage carousels and more queuing space Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024 • Two parallel taxiways to connect the east and west sides of the building • Ticketing-level atrium infill, which will fill in an open space with 13,000 square feet to avoid TSA lines from queuing outside Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024 • West infill to expand TSA Checkpoint 3, which will add 16,000 square feet and add additional lanes to a TSA checkpoint Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024
ABIA to break records
AS OF SEPT. 2023, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PASSENGERS IS 16.3M
25M
20M
15M
Under construction
• New baggage handling system for outbound checked bags Timeline: estimated completion 2025 • West Gate expansion, which will extend the terminal out past gates 33 and 34, where Spirit Airlines is located Timeline: estimated completion 2026 • New jet fuel facility Timeline: estimated to be completed Oct. 2024
10M
5M
0
- 2019 -
- 2021 2023
SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
1014 N. LAMAR BLVD. 4477 S. LAMAR BLVD.
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18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ELLE BENT
Some context
Austin control tower staffing
This past year, city leaders and elected officials raised concerns about safety at the airport. On Nov. 9, Austin City Council passed a resolu- tion, authored by council member Vanessa Fuentes, that prompted action to develop a virtual ramp control system that will help navigate planes on the terminal ramp, the area where aircraft are parked and maintained. This came after an airline employee was killed in April and a city airport employee was killed in October due to accidents in this area. “Instead of having a City of Austin employee stationed somewhere where they are looking at the ramp, like unobstructed watching the aircraft move on the ramp, we are simulating that in a room that's actually north of the terminal,” Haynes said of the virtual ramp control system. In addition, Rep. Lloyd Doggett addressed the Federal Aviation Administration in a letter Oct. 16, urging the government agency to address low
staffing of air traffic controllers at ABIA, citing it as a safety issue for the airport after multiple near- misses were reported. “Austin is a growing city, and our airport must grow with it—including staffing up our air traffic control tower,” Doggett told Community Impact in an email. As part of his requests, Doggett suggested increasing ABIA’s rank to a level 10 terminal facility, meaning the airport is classified as high activity, to reflect the airport’s growth and provide more com- pensation to air traffic controllers. Fuentes echoed this in her resolution. “I really believe that [this resolution] will bring the necessary safety changes that the community requires in order for us to have a healthy opera- tional airport,” council member Mackenzie Kelly said Nov. 9. In response to the resolution, an FAA
Total amount of fully certified controllers: 35 Total amount of controllers in training: 8
43 total
The FAA staffing standard for ABIA, based on its size, is
51 controllers.
The minimum staffing level is 42.
STAFFING NUMBERS ARE AS OF PRESS TIME
SOURCE: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
spokesperson told Community Impact the agency is committed to safety. “The FAA maintains extremely conservative standards for keeping aircraft safely separated, and multiple layers of safety protect the traveling public,” a spokesperson said.
Busiest travel days in 2023
Looking ahead
April 17 36,253 March 13 36,265 March 10 36,740 Oct. 6 36,460 Oct. 9 37,058 Oct. 16 38,475 Sept. 1 36,290 June 30 35,780 Oct. 23 43,243
START OF SPRING BREAK FOR UT
15 domestic destinations. Despite the canceled routes, the airline will offer 19 additional daily departures on available routes compared to 2019, a spokesperson for the airline said. Travelers will also see new routes from other airlines, including a new nonstop route to Oregon from Allegiant, which will fly out of the South Terminal. Viva Aerobus will offer nonstop flights to Mexico beginning in March.
This past year, ABIA officials recorded nine dates as the airport’s busiest ever. The Monday following Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, Oct. 23, was the airport’s busiest day, with 43,243 passengers, according to airport data. In 2024, Haynes said passenger’s experiences may change as ABIA is under construction. Airlines are also announcing changes such as American Airlines, which will cut 21 nonstop flights in 2024, including six international and
BEGINNING OF LABOR DAY WEEKEND FRIDAY BEFORE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND
MONDAY AFTER FORMULA 1
ABIA OFFICIALS EXPECT MAY, JUNE AND OCTOBER TO BE THE BUSIEST MONTHS OF 2024
SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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19
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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