Nathan Bernier
Austin transportation reporter
KUT News
What is the worst intersection in Austin?
I'm supposed to debate this topic on a City Cast Austin podcast this week. I'm looking at data but want to know what people think.
Here's the friendly debate. Can't really say who won. I think the point is everything is terrible. But at least we had fun.
Your responses were helpful and informative!
They gave me the fuel I needed to debate this topic with City Cast Austin. But I still feel like my view is too narrow to talk about this with confidence.
You can judge for yourself. Here's the episode: https://t.co/np5MlpqN2U
The ATP board was set to vote Wednesday on the lease plus a $15 million contract to furnish the space.
But now ATP says board chair Veronica Castro de Barrera has asked the item be postponed "to allow for additional information and a better understanding of the proposal." https://t.co/drKSt4W00g
PROJECT CONNECT NEWS: Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says he opposes an Austin Transit Partnership plan to lease prime office space at 100 Congress Ave. for $4.27 million/year ($32 million total for 7.5 years).
Watson sits on the ATP board.
Video of 100 Congress by Carr Properties: https://t.co/Bdnegltj4Z
Watson says he opposes ATP's proposed $32 million lease because it...
1) ...comes less than 6 months after Austinites rejected a tax rate election.
2) ...lacked an "analysis of alternatives" and would set back ATP's work "calibrating its plans and stabilizing governance." https://t.co/cWc5i5gSZd
Watson suggested to ATP executive director Greg Canally that the agency move into CapMetro HQ on East 5th.
Canally told Watson that ATP needed more space and "felt it important for ATP to be downtown," according to Watson's account.
https://t.co/yB0G8rcMjE
Watson says ATP should "immediately begin the process of looking at how it can co-locate with Capital Metro."
He says it would show ATP is "saving the taxpayers money, and watching their financial backs."
đ¸CapMetro HQ in 2023 https://t.co/WAd9UYXH1O
In a statement, ATP says it's "been located downtown near the alignment since day one, and at 200 people, has outgrown its current space [at 203 Colorado St.]. With plans to expand to around 300 people by the end of the year, ATP requires an additional 15,000 sq. ft..." https://t.co/kyt7eItssI
During a news conference about disaster preparedness today, Watson was asked about the two postponed items.
"I'm pleased that my compliant and concerns were listened to and that there's going to be a better analysis of what Austin Transit Partnership ought to do," he said.
In remarks today, Watson implied ATP's $32 million plan to lease downtown office space was politically tone deaf.
In addition to the failure of Prop Q, Watson cited Austin "seriously cutting services" and the severe budget crisis at Austin ISD.
Full audio of Watson's response. https://t.co/eXyNdULv9A
Thanks to my pal @LuzMorenoLozano for the audio!
@LuzMorenoLozano Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela (a CapMetro board member) joins Watson's call for ATP to relocate into CapMetro headquarters. CM Duchen also signaled support.
"[T]he office rents ATP does pay will now go to CapMetro, helping the agency provide quality transit service," Vela said. https://t.co/n213R4p2JB
@MarkA95157 @KUT https://t.co/BAcF4Xws8F
BREAKING: Smokable hemp products can be sold again in Texas for now.
A Travis County judge just granted a temporary restraining order against some of the new hemp regulations that took effect March 31.
The order leaves in place sharply higher annual fees for businesses. https://t.co/XjhOwuh446
The temporary restraining order remains in effect for two weeks.
A hearing on a possible longer-term suspension of the state's hemp rules (known as a temporary injunction) is set for April 23 at 9 a.m.
Story https://t.co/y2TbzpXFHH
@SassytxSonia This is a great question. I tried to write a story about it. https://t.co/DcaekhDavf
A Travis County judge agreed with plaintiffs that some of the rules that took effect March 31 were causing irreparable harm.
Read the story at KUT
Texas hemp businesses hope a Travis County judge issues a temporary restraining order allowing smokable cannabis to be sold as soon as this weekend.
The hearing is on Friday.
More about the lawsuit:
https://t.co/e422My1eZw
@Julez_TrueCrime If so, the business is facing massive financial risk in the form of fines that rapidly escalate or having their registration to sell hemp products suspended. We're being honest about this regulation. It's not a law.
Companies seek immediate pause of rules, accusing Texas regulators of effectively banning smokable products, raising fees beyond what's allowed and sidestepping rulemaking requirements.
Read the story at KUTAustin police will confiscate hemp flower and concentrate if people donât have the packaging with them, a senior police official told me.
He said they donât arrest for small amounts of marijuana because they canât tell if itâs hemp or not. https://t.co/U0RD9Qqroc
âHempâ = the legal term in Texas for cannabis with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
âMarihuanaâ = the legal term in Texas for cannabis with more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
Both can have lots of THCA which converts to Delta-9 THC when heated or smoked.
The Texas Hemp Business Council will file a lawsuit next week on the state's new hemp regulations, Hometown Hero CEO Lukas Gilkey says. https://t.co/4r7dFmcOwZ
Wish we had something like this at @AustinAirport
https://t.co/JpQbEYRPNK
The Texas ban on smokable hemp takes effect today.
Can consumers still buy online from out-of-state?
State regulators say no. Cannabis attorneys say yes, but acknowledge it's a legal gray area.
https://t.co/QyaahK6Vsw
Texas says new rules banning sales of smokable hemp also apply to out-of-state companies. But cannabis lawyers question the rules and Austin police won't confiscate hemp if you have the packaging.
Read the story at KUT
City staff warned council members against committing more money to caps over I-35 as costs climb and no outside funding has emerged.
Read the story at KUT
Politicians from both major parties are blaming each other for holding unpaid TSA officers "hostage" in negotiations over government funding. But they say few TSA workers at Austin's airport are calling in sick.
Read the story at KUT
New state rules change how THC levels are calculated and raise fees on hemp businesses by as much as 4,000%
Read the story at KUT
Public records show TxDOT and the Trail Conservancy spent more than two years exploring ways to route $25 million in boardwalk funding around Austin Parks and Recreation and City Council.
Read the story at KUT
Construction on the boardwalk has not begun. Public records show the project has been slowed by behind-the-scenes disputes over who would control the money.
Read the story at KUT
Austin Police Chief Linda Davis said she is confident her department has the resources it needs to ensure "a safe festival season" after a deadly shooting at a West Sixth Street bar.
Read the story at KUT
The three crossings were part of a federal study, originally scheduled to run through 2026, on how creative crosswalks affect pedestrian safety.
Read the story at KUT
