2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Austin trail work planned for 2023 BY KATY MCAFEE
OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2023
Plant at Festival Beach in the East Cesar Chavez Street and Holly neigh- borhoods. The project will realign the trail and restore native plants and a wetland habitat along the shore. The project will realign the trail and restore native plants and a wetland habitat along the shore. The Butler Shores exercise area, which sits next to the trail near the Austin Parks and Recreation Depart- ment and West Riverside Drive, is getting revamped. The project, which includes getting new exercise equip- ment and a solar-powered drinking fountain with cold water, is expected to be nished in March. The Trail Conservancy will also revamp Butler Trail signage.
The Trail Conservancy will work on three restoration projects along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail in 2023. In the spring, the conservancy will begin construction on the Rainey Street trailhead, a project meant to encourage playing in nature, said Andy Austin, Trail Conservancy board chair elect. Schematics for the trailhead include secret paths, a grass maze, a sand pit, stepping stones and boulders. The conservancy will also begin gathering permits in 2023 for the Holly Project, a site located west of the decommissioned Holly Power
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MOPAC
The Rainey Street trailhead will encourage children to play in nature.
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RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN
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183 North Mobility Project Construction on the 183 North Mobility Project—a 9-mile project expanding from SH 45 N to MoPac—will continue to move forward in 2023. Construction for the $612 million project began in early 2022 and is expected to continue until 2026. The project will add two express lanes on 183 North in each direction and one general-purpose lane, which will total four nontolled lanes in each direction. The project will also add new sidewalks and cross- street connections for bicycles and pedestrians. When nished, drivers will be able to choose between taking the 183 North Express toll lanes or commuting on the improved general- purpose lanes. Construction will cause lane closures and lane shifts; however, the Mobility Authority will impose nancial penalties to contractors if lane closures occur outside of approved time frames, most of which are
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Red Line makes progress; other Project Connect work moves forward
In 2023, the planning for Austin’s light rail will continue; a new Metro- Rail station will open; and two bus lines will be completed. The work is part of Project Con- nect, a multibillion-dollar plan to rethink and expand Austin’s trans- portation infrastructure passed by voters in November 2020. The plan includes two light rail lines, a down- town Austin tunnel and multiple new bus routes along with anti-displace- ment funds. Capital Metro expects to complete two MetroRapid lines in 2023. The Expo Center line will connect north- west Central Austin and downtown, while the Pleasant Valley line will BY SUMAIYA MALIK & DARCY SPRAGUE
While the multibillion-dollar transit overhaul known as Project Connect is expected to years to complete, several pieces will move forward in 2023.
PROJECT CONNECT UNDERWAY
Early 2023
Late 2023
Early 2024
$35 million of anti- displacement funds becomes available
McKalla Station expected to be completed
Lakeline-Leander Double Tracking Project expected to be completed
SOURCE: AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT
outside peak tra c hours. Timeline: early 2022-26 Cost: $612 million
run north-south and connect Mueller and Goodnight Ranch, according to Austin Transit Partnership’s end-of- year review. Two projects related to the Met- roRail Red Line, which will run from downtown to Leader, are set to wrap up. The Lakeline-Leander Double
Tracking Project broke ground in January 2021 and is expected to open in early 2023. The McKalla Station broke ground in July and is expected to be completed in the fall. Of the anti-displacement funds, $35 million will also be available for scal year 2022-23.
Funding sources: Texas Transporta- tion Commission, toll revenue bonds, Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act funds
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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