Northwest Austin Edition | December 2022

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Austin Energy customers to see higher e-bike rebates in 2023 Austin riders who want to pedal to work can switch to e-bikes at a more aordable price starting next year. Starting in January, Austin Energy will double the customer rebate for $1,000-$1,999 will receive a $400 rebate, doubling what is oered this year. E-bikes $2,000 and up will receive a $600 rebate. Fleet purchase rebates will range from $400-

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ONGOING PROJECTS

RAKING IN REBATES

The rebates for individual e-bikes for Austin Energy customers will double in 2023.

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PECAN PARK BLVD.

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E-bike price:

New rebate:

Previous rebate:

$500$999

$100

$200

183 North mobility expansion There will be overnight closures on Lake Creek Parkway between the north and southbound US 183 North frontage road from Dec. 16-Feb. 10. Trac on Lake Creek Parkway travel- ing east will be redirected to Ander- son Mill Road, and westbound trac will detour to Pecan Park Boulevard. Timeline: January 2022-26 Cost: $612 million Funding sources: Texas Department of Transportation, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority REGIONAL PROJECTS

$1,000$1,999

$200

$400

$800 depending on price. Austin Energy will oer more incentives through the Customer Assistance Program for those who qualify. According to the League of American Bicyclists, an organization that provides education and promotes bicycling as the option of choice, e-bikes are similar to traditional bicycles,

$2,000+

$300

$600

e-bikes. The rebate diers depending on whether it is an individual or eet purchase. For individual e-bike purchases under the three-tiered rebate plan, based on the price range of an e-bike, an e-bike costing $500-$999 will receive a rebate of $200 instead $100. E-bikes costing

SOURCE: AUSTIN ENERGYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

charging for $4.17 per month at charging ports in the service area. The additional rebates come in response to a June resolution from Austin City Council instructing sta to take action to increase e-bike ownership rebates and promote aordability.

but they have a low- speed electric motor that provides a boost of power to climb hills and extend a trip. Austin Energy provides electric vehicle charging in its service area. It also provides a subscription plan for unlimited

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Texas A&M Transportation Institute report shows trac fatalities are up in Central Texas

RISING FATALITIES Data from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute shows Central Texas trac fatalities are rising.

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45A TOLL

A trac safety report presented to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board on Nov. 14 showed trac fatalities are up in Central Texas, with distracted driving listed as the most frequently reported cause of crashes. “Regionally, crashes have been trending upward over the last 10 years or so with the exception being the two-year period during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21,” said Je Kaufman, Texas A&M American Institute of Certied Planners associ- ate research scientist. The report prepared by Kaufman

looked at 16 focus areas. The data shows that the Greater Austin area is seeing a lower crash rate when comparing the number of crashes versus miles traveled. Despite the number of regional crashes falling since 2019 due to the pandemic, fatalities have continued to rise. Data shows the number of fatalities in the region has risen by 50% since 2012, Kaufman said. While distracted driving was the leading cause of crashes, Kaufman said the leading cause for fatalities were instances in which a car left the road and collided with an object.

I-35 Capital Express South construction

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2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF DEC. 18. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT NWANEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. The construction of two nontolled high-occupancy vehicle lanes along I-35 from SH 71 at Ben White Boule- vard to SH 45 SE broke ground Nov. 15. As part of the larger I-35 Capital Express South project, the endeavor will also improve bicycle and pedes- trian paths. Timeline: November 2022-2026 Cost: $548 million Funding source: TxDOT

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SOURCE: TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTECOMMUNITY IMPACT Fatalities

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NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • DECEMBER 2022