Transportation

With some exceptions, city rules require most residential and commercial developers in Austin to build a minimum amount of parking spots. Council members could vote Thursday to do away with these rules.

The long-awaited light-rail project faces tradeoffs as Austin evaluates five new proposals. A final decision is expected in June.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says if the Texas Legislature is going to force another election, sooner is better than later. But the strategy is frustrating some supporters of the voter-approved transit expansion.

But airport officials say they'll eventually need to remove three gates to build an underground tunnel connecting the Barbara Jordan Terminal to a new concourse — part of an even longer-term expansion that would increase the airport's capacity by as many as 40 gates.

Citing public safety concerns, Austin City Council moved last week to eliminate required parking spaces at cocktail lounges. Advocates applauded the city's efforts to get folks to leave their cars at home and to ease the burden on small businesses.

The agency is studying whether to build a road for testing autonomous vehicles on the MoKan Corridor, despite Austin's plans to start building the Northern Walnut Creek Trail there next year.

TxDOT is building the $606 million project amid criticism from Austin's City Council and protests from community groups.

The city is adding pay stations to two more lots. The price to park is also going up in May.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said the lounge had been underused. The deal will bring the airport $3.8 million and help pay down the airport's mortgage.

The plans, each under $5 billion, are starkly smaller than the original map presented to voters before the November 2020 election.