Updates

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says he doesn't support funding for Austin's Project Connect transit expansion.

Cornyn, who's fighting Texas AG Ken Paxton for the GOP Senate nomination, told @NewsRadioKLBJ that "we don't need this sort of project along with the profligate spending." https://t.co/7tN3fLKZPh

The Austin Transit Partnership, a government corporation created to build light-rail line, got the green light from the FTA in January to build a 9.8-mile system.

ATP is now waiting to find out if the feds will cover up to half the $8 billion tab.

kut.org/transportation… Austin's light-rail plans get environmental clearance from Trump administration Federal transit officials approve the environmental review for Austin's light-rail plans. But the question of federal funding remains unanswered.

"Obviously, the [Austin] city council has run amok and needs to be reined in, and this is maybe just the latest example," Cornyn said.

Paxton also opposes Project Connect and is fighting it in Texas court.

Source:

omny.fm/shows/the-todd… Todd and Oz Show 4-16-26 - The Todd and Oz Show A Travis County judge has reissued a temporary injunction blocking camp Mystic from reopening its Guadalupe River grounds anytime soon after a 3 day hearing where judge Maya Guerra Gamble decided to keep the injunction and restraining order in place over camp mystic that she issued back in March, Senator John Cornyn joins the show to discuss his position in the Texas state primaries coming this summer, and a new report out by the transportation and public works department shows two large bridges and 20 smaller bridges are in need of repair across the city over the next five years as city staff says more than $90-million-dollars will need to be spent on bridge replacement and repair.

In the meantime, ATP is moving forward with hiring contractors.

This week, ATP's board approved a $25 million contract with Kiewit Austin Partnership to start work on the operations and maintenance facility near the airport.

https://t.co/07EDGeh8fU https://t.co/25qJkVqWdo

Austin's mayor who sits on ATP's board, this week publicly opposed the agency's decision to pursue a $4 million/year lease at 100 Congress Avenue downtown without first trying to move into CapMetro's headquarters.

x.com/KUTnathan/stat… Nathan Bernier (@KUTnathan) on X 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:

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.

austin.citycast.fm The 10 Worst Intersections in Austin - City Cast Austin There are hundreds of intersections in Austin, but which are the absolute worst? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by KUT's transportation reporter, Nathan Bernier.

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."

📸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

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.

Austin police will confiscate hemp flower and concentrate if people don’t have the packaging with them, a senior police official told me.

He said they don’t arrest for small amounts of marijuana because they can’t tell if it’s hemp or not. https://t.co/U0RD9Qqroc

“Hemp” = the legal term in Texas for cannabis with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

“Marihuana” = 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.