Here are a few things to know this week if you live in or around Northwest Austin.
Parking enforcement at Pennybacker Bridge
Loop 360 near the Pennybacker Bridge has become a popular spot for sightseeing and hiking. But the popularity has brought increased dangers, according to Austin police, who are stepping up parking law enforcement in the area.
Parking is not allowed anywhere along the Loop 360 right of way, and police will be giving out warnings and tickets to drivers who illegally park in the area. Read more here.
Know when to avoid I-35
The Texas Department of Transportation launched a new website to help Austin drivers track road projects.
The new site, www.My35Construction.com, includes details on upcoming lane closures, traffic incidents and travel delays in Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. TxDOT has more than 40 projects ultimately planned to improve I-35, although many remain unfunded.
Water Forward public workshop
Austin Water hosts a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 8, to aid its effort to identify future water needs and how to meet them over the course of the next 100 years. During the workshop, a project team will give an overview of Austin Water’s proposed water plan, called Water Forward, and share information on Austin’s future water supply and demand. The team will also ask for public input on how to meet future water demand. More information on Water Forward is available at www.austintexas.gov/waterforward.
6-8:30 p.m. Free. Austin ISD Performing Arts Center Multipurpose Room, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Austin. 512-972-0101. www.austintexas.gov/department/water
Mobility bond rollout
Construction of the first projects from Austin's $720 million mobility bond could start this summer.
The bond allocates funding to three types of transportation projects: $101 million for regional projects; $482 million for corridor projects; and $137 million for local projects, including safe routes to school, sidewalks, urban trails, bikeways, fatality-reduction strategies and substandard streets. Here are five things to know.
City Councils OKs remote meeting participation
Austin City Council has a solution for residents who want to participate in the citizen communication portion of the council's meetings but cannot always make it to City Hall. Council members passed a resolution last week to implement a program that would utilize telecommunication technology at a select number of libraries throughout the city that will allow comments to be given remotely.
Two Austin Public Library branches in the Northwest Austin area are included in the program: the Little Walnut Creek Branch at 835 W. Rundberg Lane and the Spicewood Springs Branch and 8637 Spicewood Springs Road.
Citizen communication is offered at each open regular council public meeting. Residents who sign up for the public comment segment are allotted time to bring anything of their choosing to the attention of the council, including topics not listed on the meeting agenda. Council members have the opportunity to hear issues directly from their constituents.
Cupcakes and beer
There were a couple notable business announcements last week in North Austin.
Austin Beerworks held a grand opening for its new taproom. The brewery is also set to begin using a larger production space that will double—and could potentially triple, at full build-out—its brewing capacity.
Sprinkles Cupcakes opened its first Austin location in Domain Northside. Along with selling fresh-baked cupcakes daily, the shop has a special cupcake ATM, which dispenses the treats 24 hours a day. Here are three questions with Sprinkles founder Candace Nelson.
