WHAT WE REPORTED  Throughout 2016, the Travis County Commissioners Court and a citizens advisory committee established in February examined ways to provide additional civil and family courts capacity following voters’ rejection in 2015 of a bond proposal to build a new courthouse in Austin. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt accepted the deed to the historic Austin Federal Courthouse at 200 W. Eighth St. in Austin on Dec. 29.

THE LATEST Probate court services will move to the federal courthouse, which Eckhardt said will relieve some of the pressure on the courts system but will not solve overcrowding issues. The county is examining other properties it owns and is working with the citizen group to determine the next steps.

WHAT’S NEXT The court will hear from the  project team in late January with an update as well as from real estate firm CBRE in mid-February on efforts to secure a new site and an update on how to move forward with the county’s 308 Guadalupe St. block. More details on the Travis County Civil & Family Courts Capacity project are posted at www.traviscountytx.gov/cfcc. 

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 10 things to look for in 2017 here.