Education
Transportation
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ
BY HALEY MCLEOD
South Austin elementary school food pantry opens
AISD gets cameras to prevent bus passing Video cameras will be installed on the outside of Austin ISD school buses to record vehicles passing when the stop-sign arm is being used, as part of an initiative to prevent illegal passing of school buses. What you need to know Only 294 out of 555 AISD school buses had cameras installed, as of the time of the Jan. 30 board meeting. Those with on-camera o enses are ned $300. If caught by an o cer, a person can be ned anywhere from $500 to $1,250. Repeat o enders may have their driver’s licenses suspended for up to six months. In the 2024-25 academic year so far, there have been over 3,100 violations, according to agenda documents.
Rates increase along 6 toll lanes across metro The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the agency responsible for managing and collect- ing toll fares on many of the express lanes in the Austin area, increased toll rates Jan. 1. What you need to know The majority of toll collection points will see between a 2%-3% increase. The rate increases follow Mobility Authority pol- icy that adjusts rates each year based on in ation to prevent larger hikes every ve years. Most tolling location points will see between a $0.01 to $0.05 increase for toll users compared to previous rates in 2024, while three tolling points along the 183A Toll—the Crystal Falls ramp, Crystal Falls Mainline Plaza and Lakeline Mainline Plaza— will see a $0.09 increase. The Mobility Authority predicts weekday tra c increases of more that 50% by 2040.
MoPac South project to start next steps Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority leaders discussed next steps during a Jan. 29 board meeting to address more than 1,200 comments received on the MoPac South expansion. In a nutshell The agency has dialed in on plans for up to two new toll lanes in either direction to address tra c for an 8-mile stretch of south MoPac from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaugh- ter Lane. Austin City Council member Paige Ellis urged the Mobility Authority to limit expansion to only one additional express lane, while the city of West Lake Hills joined Rollingwood in pushback against the project due to its impact on local mobility.
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Galindo Elementary School celebrated the o cial opening of a food pantry on campus during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 14. The details The food pantry o ers fresh produce, protein, shelf-stable products, dairy and other pantry sta- ples received from the Central Texas Food Bank. Austin ISD parent Linda Santos said the pantry, which is available for all Austin ISD families to use, opens the door for families to access essentials such as food. “The word is ‘opportunity,’” she said. “I think the goal here is to keep the opportunity to ask for help and get help. Our kids are the end goal.” Travis County faces a childhood food insecurity rate of 20.9%, which is higher than the 17.9% national average, CTFB o cials said. An estimated 61% of students at Galindo Ele- mentary rely on free or reduced lunch and about 88% live in an economically disadvantaged home,
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AISD parent Linda Santos spoke at Galindo Elementary.
ELISABETH JIMENEZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
The MoPac Express Lane will also see an $0.08 rate increase. Additionally, the agency is eyeing an extension of the MoPac Express Lanes in South Austin.
according to CTFB. Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura said the pantry will help address food insecurity in Galindo and across the district.
ARBORETUM 10515 North Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893 HIGHLAND
NORTH LAMAR 914 North Lamar (512) 214-6665
5775 Airport Blvd (512) 366-8300
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