Two proposed bills in the Texas state legislature call for more voter oversight of the mass transit project, which could imperil the transit expansion approved by voters in 2020.
Despite approving a tax to fund Project Connect in 2020, Austin voters may once again have to vote on the light rail project, reports Kelsey Thompson for KXAN. If two proposed bills pass the state legislature, each component of the project would come before voters before it could move forward.
The new laws would require voters to approve the purpose, amount, and tax rate required to pay back debt associated with each project component. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the bills, collectively, “a terrible precedent for the Legislature to muck with a voter-approved infrastructure investment.”
According to Watson, voters would also have to approve the issuance of revenue bonds. “Those bonds would be funded by the property tax revenue streams voters approved for Project Connect back in November 2020 — meaning tax bills wouldn’t go up or down as a result of this upcoming election.”
For Watson, the bills are simply an attempt to kill light rail in Central Texas. Last month, the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) issued a dramatically reduced revision to its plan for the project to cut costs.
FULL STORY: Austin could re-vote on Project Connect this fall — here’s why
Austin’s Project Connect Gains Key Budget Approval
The light rail project can move forward with the engineering and design phase, with a groundbreaking expected in 2027.
Texas Attorney General Calls Project Connect Funding Scheme Illegal
The massive transit project’s unique funding scheme could run afoul of state law.
Austin’s Project Connect Transit Plan Drastically Reduced
The details of drastic reductions to the proposed building program for Austin’s Project Connect long-range transit plan are now open for public comment.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service