Transportation
BY DANIEL SCHWALM & BEN THOMPSON
Air taxi testing coming to the Austin area Test ights for electric aviation services like air taxis will soon be taking o across the state, including in Austin, following the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation’s selection for a Federal Aviation Administration pilot program this month. The big picture Under an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump, the FAA is moving to advance aviation systems, including unmanned drones and electric vertical takeo and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft. The 2025 order called to establish a pilot pro- gram to test emerging eVTOL technology and push its “safe and lawful” deployment. After a public solicitation, the FAA on March 9 announced the selection of eight pilot projects across the country expected to kick o this summer.
Cedar Park pursues $28M in road grants Cedar Park ocials gave the green light early this year to pursue funding for two transportation projects along some of the city’s busiest roadways—Whitestone Boule- vard and Bell Boulevard. The breakdown Work on Whitestone Boulevard would include widening the roadway from four to six lanes between Bagdad Road and the Williamson-Travis County line. The cost of that project is estimated at $27 million. The remaining $1 million would be allocated for a corridor study along Bell Bou- levard, in order to evaluate roadway safety. Shared-use paths are also being considered, along with features like benches, trash cans, landscaping and other upgrades to make the area more attractive and user friendly.
Archer's Midnight electric air taxi will be part of the TxDOT pilot program.
COURTESY ARCHER
Local impact Under the FAA pilot, the Texas Department of Transportation is coordinating with four aviation companies: Archer, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation and Wisk Aero. The partnership will see eVTOL air taxi ights and other services launch between Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston—known as the Texas Triangle—as well as rural communities around that area. The transportation department didn’t identify specic communities outside the major cities.
8
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook