REGULAR MEETING OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2025, AT 5:00 PM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 AUSTIN CITY HALL, 301 W 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Urban Transportation Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please call or email the staff liaison in advance at (512)-974-3428 or natalie.leone@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Monday October 6, 2025, with the following information: name, item number(s) to speak on, telephone number, and email address. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Vacant – (District 2) Arlin Alvarez-(District 3) Susan Somers, Chair-(District 4) Daniel Kavelman, Parliamentarian -(District 5) Kevin Chen- (District 6) Varun Prasad- (District 7) Justin Jacobson- (District 8) Spencer Schumacher, Vice Chair- (District 9) Joshua Sorin – (District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on September 2, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion and presentation regarding the Great Springs Project. Presenter: Mikey Goralnik, Great Springs Project 3. Discussion and presentation regarding Trees on City Streets. Presenter: Michelle Marx, Austin Transportation and Public Works 4. Discussion and presentation regarding the Right of Way Vacation Process and an overview of the managing division. Presenter: Joseph Fotinos, Austin Transportation and Public Works 5. Discussion and presentation regarding Safe Routes to School Infrastructure. Presenter: Coleen Gentles, Austin Transportation and Public Works DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 Facilitator: Spencer Schumacher 7. Amend previously established Bond Working group to include new commissioner(s) Facilitator: Spencer Schumacher 8. Discussion and approval of 2026 Urban Transportation Commission meeting dates. Facilitator: Susan Somers COMMITTEE UPDATES 9. Update from Commissioner Chen from the Downtown Commission regarding actions taken at the September 17, 2025, meeting. 10. Update from Commissioner Prasad from the Joint …
SRTS Infrastructure Program Overview This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Austin Transportation and Public Works 1 Mission To increase the number of students walking and biking to school by creating a safer, healthier and more equitable environment that fosters human-powered transportation Vision Engage with the community to create a safer, healthier and more equitable environment that fosters human powered transportation as the first choice for City of Austin students 10/6/2025 Austin Transportation and Public Works 2 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING Crossing Guards Infrastructure Education Engagement 10/6/2025 Austin Transportation and Public Works 3 2016 Bond Funding $27,500,000 divided evenly among the ten City Council Districts to allow the City to address Safe Routes to School. The Safe Routes to School Program is a partnership with local school districts to address safety concerns of routes to school and encourage children and families to bike or walk to school. Improvements may include infrastructure options that create a safer environment such as sidewalks, traffic calming devices, protected bicycle facilities, and urban trails. 2020 Bond Funding $20,000,000 was allocated to address barriers identified in the SRTS Infrastructure Reports with a focus on Very High and High Benefit and/or Cost Benefit Projects. To help address equity concerns, SRTS is allocating at least $1,000,000 of the 2020 Bond to improvements near charter schools which have historically been built in Low SES areas around Austin. 4 Austin Transportation and Public Works 10/6/2025 PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT Type New/Improved Sidewalk Ramp/Curb Extension/Crosswalk Traffic Control/Intersection Reconfiguration *Other Bike Lane/Buffered Bike Lane/Protected Bike Lane Off-Street Trail Shared Use Path Neighborhood Bikeway/Traffic Calming Over/Underpass # of Projects Estimated Cost 1,714 1,567 378 278 253 214 134 116 8 $256,819,000 $42,017,000 $47,523,000 $17,757,000 $89,898,000 $89,912,000 $259,551,000 $5,969,000 $15,607,000 *Common “other” recommendations include maintenance of vegetation and existing infrastructure, parking and circulation studies on school campuses, informational signage, and bike parking. Total: 4,662 $825,053,000 10/6/2025 Austin Transportation and Public Works 5 BENEFIT ANALYSIS Demand (35%): • Schools within .5 miles • Students Served (Network Analysis) Safety (30%): • Bike/Ped Crashes • Functional Class Score • Engineering Judgement Equity (20%): • Free and reduced eligibility rate • Poverty Rate Stakeholder Input (15%): • WikiMap Comments • Public Comment 10/6/2025 Austin Transportation and Public Works 6 INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT BREAKDOWN • Background • Process • Overall Benefit and Estimated Cost:Benefit Chart • Recommendations by School 10/6/2025 Austin Transportation and Public Works …
Urban Transportation Commission 2026 Proposed Dates 1. Jan. 6, 2026 2. Feb. 3, 2026 3. March 3, 2026 4. April 7, 2026 5. May 5, 2026 6. June 2, 2026 7. July 7, 2026 8. August 4, 2026 9. September 1, 2026 10. October 6, 2026 11. November 10, 2026* 12. December 1, 2026 *Suggested 2nd Tuesday due to election day
URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 2, 2025 The Urban Transportation Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, Austin, Texas. Chair Somers called the Commission Meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Susan Somers, Chair - (District 4) Daniel Kavelman, Parliamentarian - (District 5) Spencer Schumacher, Vice Chair - (District 9) Commissioners in Attendance Virtually: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Kevin Chen - (District 6) Varun Prasad, - (District 7) Joshua Sorin – (District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Philip Wiley APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on August 5, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 8/5/2025 were approved on a motion from Vice Chair Schumacher, and a second from Commissioner Kavelman on a 7-0 vote, with Commissioners Buffo, Alvarez, & Jacobson absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion and presentation regarding the Integrated Bond Program Development and Delivery Plan. The commission received a presentation from Eric Bailey, Austin Capital Delivery Services. 3. Discussion and presentation regarding the CapMetro 2035 Transit Plan and Metro Rapid The commission received a presentation from Lawrence Deeter, CapMetro. 4. Discussion and presentation regarding the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Overview and Update The commission received a presentation from Kristin Pipkin, Austin Transportation and Public Works 1 URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and approval of a Right of Way Vacation for 1109 S Lamar Boulevard. The commission received a presentation from Christopher Bueckert, Austin Transportation and Public Works On a motion from Chair Somers, and a second from Vice Chair Schumacher, the right of way vacation was approved with an 8-0 vote, with Commissioners Alvarez, & Jacobson absent. 6. Discussion and approval of a Right of Way Vacation for 1200 W Gibson Street. The commission received a presentation from Christopher Bueckert, Austin Transportation and Public Works On a motion from Chair Somers, and a second from Vice Chair Schumacher, the right of way vacation was approved with an 8-0 vote, with Commissioners Alvarez, & Jacobson absent. 7. Establish a Working Group to update the by-laws of the Urban Transportation Commission. The commission discussed and Commissioners Schumacher, Chen, Prasad, Buffo, & Somers were appointed to the working group. On a motion from Chair Somers, and a second from Vice Chair …
GUIDING LOCAL // REGIONAL PLANS LOWER COLORADO RIVER TRAIL LOWER COLORADO RIVER TRAIL URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION // OCTOBER 7, 2025 URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION // OCTOBER 7, 2025 TPW MONTOPOLIS + SITE VISIT | May 2025 TPW MONTOPOLIS + SITE VISIT | May 2025 THE COLLABORATIVE IDEA PROTECTING, ENHANCING, AND CONNECTING THE BUTLER HIKE-AND- BIKE TRAIL FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL LOWER COLORADO RIVER TRAIL CREATING A 70-MILE NETWORK OF GREENWAYS IN EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORK CONSERVING LANDSCAPES + CONNECTING COMMUNITIES FROM THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITOL SOUTH WALNUT CREEK TRAIL THE BIG IDEA MONTOPOLIS BRIDGE MONTOPOLIS BRIDGE N R O H G N O L M A D END OF END OF BUTLER BUTLER TRAIL TRAIL ROY G. ROY G. GUERRERO GUERRERO PARKPARK COUNTRY CLUB CREEK TRAIL UNDERPASS UNDERPASS 3 S-18 U BOLM BOLM PARKPARK VISION PLAN VISION PLAN VISION PLAN VISION PLAN View Looking South Across Prairie DRAFT post oak and prairie restoration areas event pavilion Bluff House Colorado River barn and water tower ecology center lookout tower trail to Walnut Creek Greenbelt nature play “Treviño’s Walk” 4 3 2 flood plain forest 6 5 wildflower meadow 1 entry from Oak St T E E R T S K A O entry from FM 969 tailgate picnic play multi-purpose field picnic pavilions dog park 1 Field 2 Farm 3 Home 4 River 5 Ravine 6 Floodplain Master Plan for John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park Final Master Plan 32 VISION PLAN VISION PLAN TREVINO TREVINO PARKPARK SH-130 HORNSBY HORNSBY BENDBEND BIRD SANCTUARY BIRD SANCTUARY TO TRAVIS TO TRAVIS COUNTY COUNTY LINELINE ONION CREEK ONION CREEK CONFLUENCE CONFLUENCE ONION CREEK CREENWAY THE IMMEDIATE IDEA DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION Transportation and Public Works + LAND ACQUISITION Parks and Recreation Department • Detail site conditions, such as right of way, utilities, and topography • Determine the trail design, such as dimensions, materiality, and amenities based on existing conditions in trail corridor • Confirm trail alignment based on identified site conditions • Finalize project costs and delivery approach • Focused on upstream segments of the project area • Negotiate with willing sellers to acquire fee title ownership or an easement for trails and park in the project area • Agree on price and terms of acquisition to ensure that identified park and trail priorities are available for future generations • Supplement to parkland dedication mechanism • Focused …
Right-of-Way Vacation Process Presented by: Joseph Fotinos, Project Manager Right-of-Way Vacation A right-of-way (ROW) vacation is a request for the City to relinquish the public’s interest in the property (e.g. Street and/or Alley) and can only be requested by the abutting property owner(s) of the ROW. See Austin Code 14-11 Use of Right of Way, Division 5 - Vacation of Public Right-of-Way. City Council approval is required. The entire vacation process takes an estimated 12 months. IMPORTANT: If multiple parcels are included in the application, all property owners must be the same, if not, a quitclaim deed for the ROW land can be signed over to one entity. Otherwise, separate applications will need to be submitted from each property owner for their section of the ROW to be vacated. 2 ATPW – ROW Vacation Process 10/7/2025 Submittal and Review Initial Consultation Submit Application Reviews and Approvals Before applying for a right-of- way vacation, applicants must contact ATPW Land Management to schedule an initial consultation.. After all the required documentation is gathered, application is submitted via the AB+C portal. Application fee is invoiced. 3 ATPW – ROW Vacation Process This process has a suggested time frame of 15 business days for the reviewers, however, this is not an exact deadline. Applicants will be copied on all correspondence with reviewers, and it is their responsibility to work with the reviewers to clear, resolve, or accept any rejections. 10/7/2025 Boards and Commissions, Public Notifications & Appraisal Public Notification Boards and Commissions Appraisal .Public notifications are sent out to all property owners within 300 feet of the area to be vacated. This notifications are sent out via certified mail. 4 The application is submitted for review with the required Boards and Commissions, such as Urban Transportation Commission and Planning Commission. The applicant must attend the meetings and be prepared to answer any questions. ATPW – ROW Vacation Process The applicant will need to pay the City the appraised Fair Market Value for the public rights the City is vacating. HB 1295 is not required. 10/7/2025 Right of Way Vacation City Council Vote After the Fair Market Value is paid by the applicant, a Request for Council Action is submitted at least 6 weeks in advance for a City Council date. A draft Ordinance is prepared and submitted through the Law Department. The ATPW Director, or a designee, will represent the application/file at the scheduled …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20251007-006: CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 WHEREAS, the draft plan recommends aligning the current bus network with travel patterns, preparing for high-capacity transit integration with Austin Light Rail, and expanding Pickup zones to provide better east-west and first-mile/last-mile connections across the region; WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035 serves as the agency’s roadmap and vision for the next 5 to 10 years of transit development in Central Texas, updating its long-term service plan to align with regional growth, emerging travel patterns, and the implementation of Project Connect; WHEREAS, the plan was informed by extensive community engagement—including over 8,100 survey responses, focus groups, and Customer Care Reports—which consistently emphasized the need for increased frequency, improved connectivity, greater reliability, and expanded service hours across the transit system; D R A F T WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Existing Conditions Report found the areas with the highest concentration of “transit ridership include Downtown Austin, the University of Texas (UT), East Riverside, South Congress Ave., South 1st St. and North Lamar Blvd;” and WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission recognizes that Transit Plan 2035 represents not a service change but a framework for future policy and investment decisions, subject to continued refinement through CapMetro’s standard service change process and additional public engagement; WHEREAS, stagnant sales tax growth has limited traditional opportunities for service expansions and underscored the need for a fiscally responsible approach to network revisions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that CapMetro continue evaluating 801/803 alignment through downtown upon the initiation of light rail service, including assessing which options provide the best service for transit-dependent individuals near North Lamar and South Congress beyond the light rail route, ensuring any alignment provides short and reliable transfers for light-rail riders continuing onto the 801 or 803, and studying the feasibility of transit enhancements on San Jacinto beyond MLK Jr to ensure the roadway can handle additional bus capacity; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the Northwest Area, the UTC recommends that Transit Plan 2035 be amended to offset the removal of the route 466 with additional neighborhood service connecting major residential centers to the Domain, Uptown ATX, and other employment centers through a Pickup Service, neighborhood circulator, or other service; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends CapMetro work with the City of Austin and other public safety partners to create and implement a public safety improvement plan for …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20251007-006: CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035 serves as the agency’s roadmap and vision for the next 5 to 10 years of transit development in Central Texas, updating its long-term service plan to align with regional growth, emerging travel patterns, and the implementation of Project Connect; WHEREAS, the draft plan recommends aligning the current bus network with travel patterns, preparing for high-capacity transit integration with Austin Light Rail, and expanding Pickup zones to provide better east-west and first-mile/last-mile connections across the region; WHEREAS, the plan was informed by extensive community engagement—including over 8,100 survey responses, focus groups, and Customer Care Reports—which consistently emphasized the need for increased frequency, improved connectivity, greater reliability, and expanded service hours across the transit system; WHEREAS, stagnant sales tax growth has limited traditional opportunities for service expansions and underscored the need for a fiscally responsible approach to network revisions; WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Existing Conditions Report found the areas with the highest concentration of “transit ridership include Downtown Austin, the University of Texas (UT), East Riverside, South Congress Ave., South 1st St. and North Lamar Blvd;” and WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recognizes that Transit Plan 2035 represents not a service change but a framework for future policy and investment decisions, subject to continued refinement through CapMetro’s standard service change process and additional public engagement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that CapMetro continue studying two options through 2030 for 801/803 alignment: running through downtown on San Jacinto/Trinity or funneling into light rail service, including assessing which options provide the best service for transit-dependent individuals near North Lamar and South Congress beyond the light rail route, ensuring any alignment provides short and reliable transfers for light-rail riders continuing onto the 801 or 803, and studying the feasibility of transit enhancements on San Jacinto beyond MLK Jr Blvd to ensure the roadway can handle additional bus capacity; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the Northwest Area, the UTC recommends that Transit Plan 2035 be amended to offset the removal of the route 466 with additional neighborhood service connecting major residential centers to the Domain, Uptown ATX, and other employment centers through a new or expanded Pickup Service, neighborhood circulator, or other service; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends CapMetro work with the City of Austin and other public safety partners to create …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20251007-006: CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035 serves as the agency’s roadmap and vision for the next 5 to 10 years of transit development in Central Texas, updating its long-term service plan to align with regional growth, emerging travel patterns, and the implementation of Project Connect; WHEREAS, the draft plan recommends aligning the current bus network with travel patterns, preparing for high-capacity transit integration with Austin Light Rail, and expanding Pickup zones to provide better east-west and first-mile/last-mile connections across the region; WHEREAS, the plan was informed by extensive community engagement—including over 8,100 survey responses, focus groups, and Customer Care Reports—which consistently emphasized the need for increased frequency, improved connectivity, greater reliability, and expanded service hours across the transit system; WHEREAS, stagnant sales tax growth has limited traditional opportunities for service expansions and underscored the need for a fiscally responsible approach to network revisions; WHEREAS, CapMetro’s Existing Conditions Report found the areas with the highest concentration of “transit ridership include Downtown Austin, the University of Texas (UT), East Riverside, South Congress Ave., South 1st St. and North Lamar Blvd;” and WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recognizes that Transit Plan 2035 represents not a service change but a framework for future policy and investment decisions, subject to continued refinement through CapMetro’s standard service change process and additional public engagement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that CapMetro continue studying options for 801/803 alignment through downtown upon the initiation of light rail service, including assessing which options provide the best service for transit-dependent individuals near North Lamar and South Congress beyond the light rail route, ensuring any alignment provides short and reliable transfers for light-rail riders continuing onto the 801 or Formatted: Font: Bold 803, and studying the feasibility of transit enhancements on San Jacinto beyond MLK Jr to ensure the roadway can handle additional bus capacity; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that CapMetro continue studying two options through 2030 for 801/803 alignment: running through downtown on San Jacinto/Trinity or funneling into light rail service, including assessing which options provide the best service for transit-dependent individuals near North Lamar and South Congress beyond the light rail route, ensuring any alignment provides short and reliable transfers for light-rail riders continuing onto the 801 or 803, and studying the feasibility of transit enhancements on San Jacinto …
Urban Transportation Commission 2026 Approved Dates 1. Jan. 6, 2026 2. Feb. 3, 2026 3. March 3, 2026 4. April 7, 2026 5. May 5, 2026 6. June 2, 2026 7. July 7, 2026 8. August 4, 2026 9. September 1, 2026 10. October 6, 2026 11. November 10, 2026* 12. December 1, 2026 *Moved due to election day
