South Central Austin Edition | January 2025

Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

Sixth Street reopened to vehicular trac Sixth Street will no longer be closed o to vehicles on busy weekend nights. For years, the strip was packed with pedestrians while vehicular trac was blocked for several nights each week. The gist Safety updates on the corridor were made in December and January, including: • The roadway opening to vehicular trac for the entire weekend—with possible late- night closures if there are large crowds as bars close • An expanded sidewalk area with barriers along the street • Street closures at intersections with San Jacinto, Trinity, and Neches streets on Thursdays through Sundays

Austin Transit Partnership has proposed a greenway running parallel to the proposed rail line along Riverside Drive.

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL VISUALIZATION COURTESY AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP

Project Connect legal proceedings continue After a lawsuit from community opponents seeking to halt Austin’s tax collections for Project Connect was dismissed in December, the group is now seeking to revive the case. The suit alleges the city broke promises to taxpayers with a “drastically reduced” transit plan and unclear construction timeline.

What’s happening? Attorney General Ken Paxton is also seeking to reverse a separate decision that would allow a trial over the project’s nancing to proceed. After a state appeals court rejected his push to halt those proceedings in the fall, Paxton asked the Texas Supreme Court to consider the case; its review was pending as of press time. The big picture Voters backed the project in 2020 with the approval of an indenite tax increase, and the initial rail outline was since scaled down.

LA STRONG A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE

As wild fires ravage large swaths of LA, Belmont Village Senior Living sends thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by this tragedy. Our hearts go out to anyone who has endured the loss of a home, of treasured belongings, of a livelihood and, most of all, the loss of life. We are deeply inspired by local first responders whose courage and commitment exemplifies the best of humanity. Also by the countless men and women from other cities, states and even other countries who rushed into our City to join front lines. At Belmont Village Senior Living we continue to work tirelessly to keep our residents and our associates safe and to help protect the well-being of all seniors. We are especially grateful to community partners—hoteliers, transportation companies, and many more who have helped effectuate seamless evacuations when called upon. We cannot express enough gratitude to our own team members for their grit, intelligence and determination to keep our seniors safe. We will endure as a City, and emerge from this ordeal resilient and proud. In challenging times, community matters more than ever. Patricia Will

Help us support LA seniors belmontvillage.com/SupportLA

Founder and CEO Belmont Village Senior Living

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION