05.19.2023

Today’s Forecast

92º | Mostly sunny | 15% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:39 a.m. | Sunset 8:16 p.m.

🚆 Get on the rails

Creating connected communities with Austin Transit Partnership’s Peter Mullan

A rendering showing street-level rail cars moving through downtown.

An artist rendering of 3rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. | Rendering via Austin Transit Partnership

After more than a month of gathering community feedback on five potential light rail plans, the Austin Transit Partnership is preparing to recommend one for the first phase of light rail implementation.

The recommended plan will make up the core of Austin’s urban transit fabric.

We spoke with Peter Mullan, ATP’s chief of architecture and urban design, to learn more about the challenges of creating transit in the city of Austin.

Editor’s note: this interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

How has the plan for Austin’s light rail changed between when residents voted for Project Connect in 2020 and now?

This is a process of ongoing development of design and when we think about what was in the vote, it was a vision about expanding our transit network to create certain key outcomes, which is, how do we actually make our community more connected? If you think about it, that’s what the vision for Project Connect that we all voted on was seeking to achieve.

The 38th to Yellow Jacket line, which travels from 38th Street, to Oltorf, to Yellow Jacket Lane. — The Downtown Austin Alliance revealed that of the five, its top choice is the 38th Street to Yellow Jacket line, with a few recommendations.
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Graphic via the Austin Transit Partnership

What factors were prioritized during this most recent redesign?

We’re always trying to remember the north star right now, why we’re building this transit infrastructure in the first place. It’s about connecting people to places they want to go and places they need to go as part of their daily lives. I think also what we found in our conversations with the community is that’s what they prioritize as well.

ATX_APTevent — The Austin Transit Partnership collected feedback from over 8,000 residents over the course of dozens of in-person and vitual events.
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Photo courtesy Austin Transit Partnership

Is it a challenge for Austin Transit Partnership to get people to take transit instead of their car?

We want to create a system that people will want to use and will use. So how do we do that? We have to build a culture of transit. We make the system as easy and attractive to use as possible and make it work really well.

4 more questions

Asked

Have you ever ridden with CapMetro?

A. Yes
B. No

Tell us about your experience

Events

Friday, May 19

Fanatec GT World Challenge America | Friday, May 19-Sunday, May 21 | 7:30 a.m. | Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Austin | $11-$1,033 | It’s three days of non-stop racing at this car-centered event.

Saturday, May 20

Austin Bonsai Society Show and Sale | Saturday, May 20-Sunday, May 21 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free with admission | Peruse dozens of bonsai specimens at Austin Bonsai Society’s 52nd annual sale.
Toronto FC vs. Austin FC | Saturday, May 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Q2 Stadium, 10414 McKalla Pl., Austin | $64-$92 | Wear your green and black at this home game against Toronto.

Sunday, May 21

Barre in the Park | Sunday, May 21 | 9 a.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | Join in on an all-levels, guided barre class on the soccer field before heading to the taproom for breakfast from Pueblo Viejo + Side Eye Pie.
Mimosa Fest 2023 | Sunday, May 21 | 12-4 p.m. | Wanderlust Wine Collective, 702 Shady Ln., Austin | $60-$150 | Indulge in brunch bites and refreshing mimosa drinks.
“Ten in Texas” | Sunday, May 21 | 3 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $25 | Join in on the story of ten West Texas women attempting to help their community amid the spread of a deadly virus.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Active

Wellness

Rock your child’s summer with this camp

Presented by an ATXtoday Partner

A youth climber warms up on a traverse rock climbing wall.

A camper warms up at the beginning of camp on Mesa Rim’s traverse wall. | Photo by Mesa Rim Climbing Centers

Looking for a way to fill your child’s summer schedule and help them learn a new skill? Here’s an idea: Try a rock climbing camp at Mesa Rim, where young adventurers can experience rock climbing, learn new skills, make friends, and, of course, have fun.

Camps are offered for children ages 6-13 with activities tailored to each child based on their age and experience level. (Read: Beginners and experts alike are welcome at camp.) Under the guidance of experienced coaches, campers will learn:

Basic climbing movement
How to tie knots
Belaying techniques

They’ll also play fun, mentally challenging games and do arts and crafts, along with other engaging non-climbing activities.

Camps run weekly from Monday, June 5 through Friday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (with extended care available). Choose between a four-day ($320) or five-day ($429) camp. Campers must bring their own lunch and must be at least 6 years old the day camp starts.

Less talk, more chalk. Explore camp options + register your child. (Registration is open throughout the summer, but spaces are limited.).*

Rock registration

News Notes

Transit

Speaking of Project Connect, the Downtown Austin Alliance released its top choice for the light rail. Although we won’t know Austin Transit Partnership’s recommendation until next week, the DAA is in favor of the 38th Street to Yellow Jacket option with a few caveats. (KXAN)

Civic

The city’s Transportation and Public Works Department plans to request $25 million from the Texas Department of Transportation to fund mobility infrastructure upgrades, including sidewalks, bike paths, and areas that don’t comply with the Americans with Disability Act. (KXAN)

Development

“Clarksvillage,” or the eight properties between 1100-1200 Blanco St., is up for demolition and redevelopment. The properties include the old Z’Tejas site, Swedish Hill Bakery, and Rapha Austin — all owned by Clarks Village LP — and will make room for a mixed-use development in partnership with McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality. (Austin Business Journal)

Sports

Austin FC took home a 2-1 victory in a match against Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field, breaking its eight-game streak without a win. Read the highlights. (Austin American-Statesman)

Eat

Local new American pop-up Elementary will move into a physical restaurant near Zilker, at 2026 S. Lamar Blvd., and open its doors in mid-July. Expect fusion flavors with dishes like al pastor tortellini served with mole, banh mi eclairs, and birria soup dumplings. (Eater Austin)

Outdoors

Mosquito season could be shortening in Austin, due in part to extreme heat. ‘Skeeters thrive in the range of 50-95°F, and the Capital City was one of just 29% of cities that has seen a decrease in mosquito activity since 1979. You’ll thank those 100º days later. (KXAN)

List

What do Austin Detours, Emler Swim School, Favor Delivery, Infinitum, and Spyglass Realty have in common? They were all named on the Austin Business Journal’s 2023 Best Places to Work in Austin. View the full list.
Do you know any babies named Liam or Olivia? Chances are you do, because those were the two most popular baby names in Texas for 2022. Also on the list were Mia, Emma, Sebastian, and Daniel.

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Shop

Quick, who’s the next person you’ll buy a gift for? We’ve got 25 gift ideas that will spark joy + are perfect for every budget. One of our favorites? A heated back and neck massager to relieve pressure and tension.

Culture

🎧 Playing Austin on repeat

15 songs that reference Austin

What songs make you think of Austin? | Photo by @teamscreamy

We woke up Deep in the Heart of Texas (see what we did there), and for us, that alone is a good enough reason to break out into song.

Give these five songs that reference Austin a listen.

“Multi-Love” — Unknown Mortal Orchestra

This song has a local double whammy with the line, “she wants to bury me in Austin, under Uchiko.”

“E. 11th Street” — Jon Dee Graham

See an address you recognize? This classic local tune is about returning home to ATX.

“Dublin Blues” — Guy Clark

This song starts with the line “I wished I was in Austin in the Chili Parlor Bar, drinking Mad Dog margaritas and not caring where you are.”

“Back to Austin” — Jamestown Revival

Take a trip with this Austin-based band as they journey home from Los Angeles.

“Austin Prison” — Johnny Cash

This song doesn’t romanticize Austin the way the rest of them do.

10 more songs

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

Will someone out there please adopt Inkling and Iggle, a duo of two-month-old tuxedo kittens, before I do? I’m already a mother of two cats — and my partner wouldn’t necessarily be thrilled if I brought home two more — but something about these little babies pulls at my heartstrings.

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