Round Rock Edition | July 2024

Transportation

BY ELLE BENT, PARKS KUGLE & HALEY MCLEOD

Airport ocials prepare for summer season Transportation Security Administration ocials said this summer—from May 24 to Sept. 3—is fore- cast to be the busiest summer for travel ever seen, nationwide. For the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, May through July are already historically busy months, and passenger volumes have only increased year over year. This year alone, four days made the list of top 10 busiest days for ABIA, including the days following a total solar eclipse. What you need to know Passengers will notice many changes to airport security this summer. For example, Checkpoint 3, near JetBlue Airlines, is closed until 2026. Tips ABIA ocials have for travelers include: • Arrive 2.5 hours prior to domestic ights and three hours before international ights. • Monitor the latest ight status with the airline as well as the weather. • Check if parking is available ahead of time online or by calling ABIA ocials. • Drop o passengers at either the upper departures

County conducts I35, East WilCo study Williamson County ocials are conduct- ing a right-of-way preservation study for a future east-west connection from I-35 to the East Wilco Highway, to be completed in late 2024. The gist Known as Corridor K, the connection is an eort to plan for continued population growth in eastern Williamson County. Originally planned as a 350-foot right-of- way corridor road project, county docu- ments show the project has been reduced to an arterial road with a 150-foot right of way, or the area the road takes up. Once a route and funding have been nalized, the rst phase of construction will build a three-lane roadway, with one lane traveling east, one lane traveling west and a turn lane in the middle. Corridor K is funded by the county’s Long Range Transportation Plan, which is nanced by a combination of road and bridge funds and general funds.

ABIA passenger totals, 201823 2023 was the busiest year ever for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in total passenger count.

22,095,876

10M 15M 20M 25M

0 5M

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

SOURCE: AUSTINBERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

or lower arrivals level at the Barbara Jordan Terminal. • Allow extra time to arrive at the airport if trac conditions are poor. What else Construction is expected to begin on the follow- ing projects this year: • New queuing space and baggage carousels at international facility • Two parallel taxiways to connect the east and west sides of the building • Ticketing-level atrium inll of 13,000 square feet of space to avoid TSA lines from queuing outside Round Rock on-demand rides program expands The city of Round Rock expanded Round Rock Rides, the city’s on-demand ride-sharing program, to now service the entire city limits beginning July 1. What started as a pilot program last summer, the service oers on-demand public transporta- tion, similar to that of an Uber or Lyft. A supple- ment to the city’s xed-route bus system, users are able to book, pay and track their ride by using the mobile app, visiting https://book.roundrock. rideco.com or calling 512-312-2124. What residents need to know Passengers can schedule pickups and drop- os at designated locations throughout the city, found on the city’s public transportation website. The service runs Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Round Rock Rides does not operate on Sundays.

KENNEY FORT BLVD.

JOE DIMAGGIO BLVD.

Kenney Fort section open in Round Rock Stretching from Old Settlers Boulevard to Joe DiMaggio Boulevard in Round Rock, Segment 4 of Kenney Fort Boulevard opened to the public June 6. The details The new roadway is intended to provide a north-south arterial road on the eastern side of the city, running from Georgetown through Round Rock to Pugerville.

The city of Round Rock is expanding its on-demand ride service, Round Rock Rides.

COURTESY CITY OF ROUND ROCK

Residents can schedule rides as soon as 30 minutes before their pickup, and up to seven days in advance of a ride. Normal fare costs $4 one way. Senior citizens, paratransit service eligible passengers and active- duty military are eligible for a reduced fare of $2 for a one-way trip. Payments can be prepaid on the mobile app or made with exact cash upon boarding the vehicle.

ROUND ROCK EDITION