Transportation
BY ELLE BENT, GRANT CRAWFORD & HALEY MCLEOD
Self-driving cars to be tested in Austin Automated transportation company Zoox announced it will begin fine-tuning their self-driving vehicles in Austin, beginning testing late this summer. What’s happening? Expanding to both Miami and Austin, Zoox will be deploying its new fleet in small areas near the business and enter- tainment districts of the two cities, a company news release states. Part of Austin’s allure stems from the area’s horizontal traffic lights, wire-hang- ing traffic lights, railway crossings and “famous thunderstorms,” the release continues. A driver will remain in the car during this phase of testing and rides will not yet be available for the public.
Austin airport gets new screening options Travelers now have more than one option to expedite security screening at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The gist Clear, a private company that provides identity verification in airports, will now offer Transporta- tion Security Administration PreCheck enrollment at a kiosk near Checkpoint 1. This is in addition to security company IDEMIA’s kiosk near baggage claim at the Barbara Jordan Terminal where passengers can enroll in the program with an appointment. The details TSA PreCheck allows passengers, if deemed low risk by the TSA, to go through security without removing their shoes and bypass full-body scanners. The program can cost up to $85 every five years. Clear can cost up to $189 annually and pro- vides expedited identity verification by using
T I A L B L V D .
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CHECKPOINT 1
WEST INFILL PROJECT, CHECKPOINT 3
CHECKPOINT 2 WEST
CHECKPOINT 2 EAST
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fingerprints or an iris scan so passengers won’t need a physical ID card to get through security. Going forward Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck and Clear use Checkpoint 2 West at ABIA, after airport officials consolidated security checkpoints May 8. To enroll in the programs in person outside of ABIA, travelers can also visit the following locations with an appointment: • IDEMIA Oak Hill Enrollment Center, 6330 E. Hwy. 290, Ste. 125, Austin • IDEMIA Round Rock Enrollment Center, 600 Round Rock West Drive, Ste. 303, Round Rock
Kenney Fort project gets new timeline The city of Round Rock is still working on Segment 2 and 3 of its Kenney Fort Boulevard project after experiencing delays, according to
KENNEY FORT BLVD.
S. LAKE CREEK DR.
FOREST CREEK DR.
ST. WILLIAMS AVE.
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city documents. Current situation
Round Rock repairs Deep Wood bridge The city of Round Rock briefly closed the bridge on Deep Wood Drive in mid-July to make way for repairs. Overview The bridge, located between South Lake Creek Drive and St. Williams Avenue, was closed to traffic briefly to allow the city to make repairs to the box bridge on Deep Wood Drive. According to city staff, crews repaired a deteriorated bridge joint as part of the city’s normal maintenance program.
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Segments 2 and 3 of the Kenney Fort Boulevard extension project—from Forest Creek Drive to SH 45—remain under construction. While the city originally planned to have these portions of the roadway extension completed in 2023, the project’s timeline has been extended due to contractor delays. The $23.4 million project—funded by the city’s Type B sales tax and $12.2 million in federal funding from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization—is now expected to be finished this September. What else The work on the new roadway continues after the city recently completed Segment 4, running from Old Settlers Boulevard to Joe DiMaggio
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Boulevard. The six-lane divided roadway was designed to alleviate traffic congestion and pro- vide another north-south route through town. It also now provides additional access to the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex. In the future, the city will extend the road to run from Old Settlers to University Boulevard as part of the city’s Master Transportation Plan. However, work is years from completion as city staff are still in the design and right of way acquisition phase, according to a news release.
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ROUND ROCK EDITION
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