06 Draft Recommendation: 2026 Bond — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation 20260407-006: 2026 Bond Update WHEREAS, the 2026 Bond Development Initial Project Request List included 10 projects and programs from Austin Transportation & Public Works (ATPW) totaling $925,200,000; WHEREAS, the ATPW long-term Key Performance Indicator of percent of lane miles in the City’s Street Inventory in Fair to Excellent Condition has dropped from 75% in FY21 to 68.5% in FY25; WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s commitment to Vision Zero has seen early signs of success, with a slight decrease in fatalities on City-owned roadways while fatalities on state-owned roadways have sharply increased; WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 20240718-093 directed the City Manager to develop “a comprehensive bond package that funds and addresses climate, infrastructure, and any other public improvements for the purpose of conducting an election no later than November 2026;” DRAFT ● Expand the All Ages and Abilities Bikeways Network to 660 miles by 2033; ● Construct all 94 miles of Tier 1 Urban Trails by 2043; ● Address all Very High and High priority sidewalks and shared streets by 2033 (Approx. WHEREAS, on November 30, 2023 the City Council adopted amendments to the ASMP creating a new Bicycle, Urban Trails, and Sidewalks, Shared Streets and Crossing Plan, collectively referred to as ATX Walk-Bike-Roll, setting the following build-out goals: WHEREAS, both the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) & the Austin Climate Equity Plan set the goal of achieving a 50/50 mode-split goal with 50% of people walking, bicycling, taking transit, or using other non drive-alone mode to work by 2039; 340 miles of new sidewalks and 200 miles of shared streets) WHEREAS, in commenting on the Environmental Investment Plan, UTC Recommendation 20240305-006 noted that a $188.8 million investment was needed to keep the ATX Walk-Bike-Roll Buildout Plans on track through 2028; WHEREAS, funding from previous bonds allocated toward named projects, such as the Dougherty Arts Center and the various Corridors projects, has been underspent and not resulted in comparable results to programmatically defined bond funding; WHEREAS, transportation represents the largest share of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions, and thus presents the greatest opportunity for climate investment; WHEREAS, on January 21, 2026, the Project Review Board proposed an initial draft with a $251,000,000 transportation bond (see Appendix A); WHEREAS, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force Transportation & Electrification Working Group proposed a $300,000,000 transportation and electrification bond (see Appendix A); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recommends that the City Council prioritize mobility programs for a 2026 Bond that align with three core strategic goals for the City of Austin and Austin Transportation & Public Works: WHEREAS, in Recommendation 20251202-005, the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recommended the Bond Advisory Task Force and the Project Review Board advance a $331,200,000 transportation bond, focusing investments in safety, ATX Walk-Bike-Roll, and roadway conditions. DRAFT BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that the City Council consider a program’s previous bond performance when considering prioritizing investments in the 2026 Bond (See Appendix B for evaluation); 2. Achieving a 50/50 mode-split goal with 50% of people walking, bicycling, taking transit, or using other non drive-alone mode to work by 2039 (Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Austin Climate Equity Plan); and 1. Reducing the number of people hurt or killed by traffic crashes to zero (Imagine Austin 3. 80% of the City's total lane miles are rated in fair to excellent condition (ATPW Comprehensive Plan, Austin Strategic Mobility Plan); Long-Term Key Performance Indicator); BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that if the City Council is inclined to follow the Project Review Board’s recommendation of $251 million for transportation, the City Council move forward with the following mobility investments in the 2026 Bond: Investment in Safety - $55 Million Subprograms Vision Zero: $38 million (Initial Project Request: $65 million) Aligned Plan: 2016-2018 Vision Zero Action Plan, 2025 Update Aligned Goal: Decrease traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Austin streets (ASMP, Safety Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2016 ($15 million, 99.8% Obligated); 2018 ($15 million, 90.1% Obligated), 2020 ($65 million, 73% Obligated) Transit Enhancement $7 million (Initial Project Request $19 million) Aligned Plan: 2024 Transit Enhancement Infrastructure Report Aligned Goal: Increase the number of transit priority treatments at intersections along the Transit Priority Network (ASMP, Public Transportation Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2020 ($19 million, 72% Obligated) Safe Routes to School: $10 million (Initial Project Request: $20 million) Aligned Plan: 2019 Safe Routes to School Citywide Summary Report (City Council-initiated update coming in 2026) Aligned Goal: Recognize the expanding needs of different users and modes on the transportation network (ASMP, Safety Culture Policy 4) Previous Bond Performance: 2016 ($27.5 million, 99.42% Obligated), 2020 ($20 million, 84% Obligated) DRAFT Investment in ATX Walk-Bike-Roll - $140 Million Subprograms Sidewalks: $75 million (Initial Project Request: $81 million) Aligned Plan: 2023 Sidewalks, Shared Streets, and Crossings Plan Aligned Goal: Complete 100% of all missing very high- and high-priority sidewalks and shared streets by 2033 (ASMP, Pedestrian Network Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2016 ($37.5 million, 100.71% Obligated), 2018 ($20 million, 100% Obligated), 2020 ($80 million, 93.6% Obligated) Bikeways: $30 million (Initial Project Request: $40 million) Aligned Plan: 2023 Bicycle Plan Aligned Goal: Increase the linear miles of all ages and abilities facilities, completing 660 miles by 2033 (ASMP, Bicycle Target) Previous Bond Performance 2016 ($20 million, 101.4% Obligated), 2020 ($40 million, 76.9% Obligated) Urban Trails $35 million (Initial Project Request: $80 million) Aligned Plan: 2023 Urban Trails Plan Aligned Goal: Increase the linear miles of Tier 1 Urban Trails & complete 100% of Tier 1 Urban Trails by 2043 (ASMP, Urban Trails Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2016 ($26 million, 100.5% Obligated); 2018 ($3 million, 66.5% Obligated); 2020 ($80 million, 68.6% Obligated) Bridge Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Program: $8 million (Initial Project Request: $61.2 million) Aligned Plan: N/A Aligned Goal: Decrease the lane miles of City streets in poor or failing condition (ASMP, Condition of Infrastructure Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2018 ($50 Million, 26.46%) Investment Roadway Conditions - $58 Million Subprograms Street Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Program: $50 million (Initial Project Request: $194 million) Aligned Plan: N/A Aligned Goal: Decrease the lane miles of City streets in poor or failing condition (ASMP, Condition of Infrastructure Target) Previous Bond Performance: 2018 ($66.5 million, 95.3% Obligated) DRAFT BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that bond funding for mobility projects be allocated toward defined departmental programs with council-approved plans and equity and needs-based prioritization tools, rather than named projects, to ensure projects can be delivered within the 6-year bond cycle. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that ATPW prioritize funding for the Austin Core Transportation Plan through programmatic funding in the 2026 Bond, including Sidewalks, Bikeways, Street Reconstruction, and Vision Zero, but not include it as a named project; Appendix A: Bond Recommendation Reference Recommendation Total Vision Zero Safe Routes Transit Bikeways Sidewalks Urban Trails Street Rehab ACT Plan Bridges Neighborhood Partnering EV Charging UTC 20251202-005: 2026 Bond $331.2m $58.7m $20m $11.8m $40m $81m $53.2m - $65.5m - - - $7.3m - - - 2018 Bikeways 2016 $20,000,000.00 BEATF Transportation & Electrification WG Initial $300m $58.7m $20m Project Review Board Initial Draft Appendix B: Link to data here. Data through Q1 2026. UTC 20260407-007: 2026 Bond Update - - $7m $8m $8m $7m $2m $8m $7m $1m $75m $15m $28m $40m $81m $33m $42m $35m $30m $50m $35m $251m $251m Allocated Obligated $96m $20m $38m $10m $30m $10m Obligated % Un-Obligated -$275,502.46 $20,275,502.46 DRAFT $8,969,476.295 $51,016,951.49 $9,244,978.751 $30,755,021.25 $13,230,644.42 $36,769,355.58 $13,230,644.42 $36,769,355.58 Total $50,000,000.00 Un-Obligated Un-Obligated Obligated % Obligated % 2018 $50,000,000.00 Obligated Obligated Allocated Allocated 101.38% 26.46% 85.03% 26.46% 76.89% 2020 2016 Transit Enhancement Bridges & Structures 2020 $40,000,000.00 Total $60,000,000.00 2016 2018 2020 $19,000,000.00 $5,311,903.12 $13,688,096.88 72.04% Total $19,000,000.00 $5,311,903.12 $13,688,096.88 72.04% Safe Routes to School Allocated Un-Obligated Obligated Obligated % 2016 $27,500,000.00 $159,977.63 $27,340,022.37 99.42% 2018 2020 $20,000,000.00 $3,209,339.96 $16,790,660.04 83.95% Total $47,500,000.00 $3,369,337.59 $44,130,662.41 92.9% Sidewalks Street Reconstruction 2016 2018 2020 Total 2016 2018 2020 Total 93.60% 92.47% 99.99% 100.71% Allocated Allocated Obligated Obligated Obligated % Obligated % Un-Obligated Un-Obligated $80,000,000.00 $66,500,000.00 $37,500,000.00 $20,000,000.00 $137,500,000.00 $1,881.56 $19,998,118.44 -$257,014.03 $37,766,508.67 $6,027,307.32 $73,972,692.68 $5,965,021.916 $131,534,978.09 DRAFT Total $109,000,000.00 $26,057,699.046 $82,942,300.96 $25,155,375.68 $54,844,624.32 $3,135,956.87 $63,364,043.13 $3,135,956.87 $63,364,043.13 -$141,344.26 $26,141,344.26 $30,676.88 $14,969,323.12 $80,000,000.00 $15,000,000.00 $26,000,000.00 $66,500,000.00 $3,000,000.00 $1,995,740.58 $1,004,259.42 Un-Obligated Un-Obligated Obligated % Obligated % Obligated Obligated Allocated Allocated 100.54% 68.56% 99.80% 76.09% 95.28% 95.28% 66.52% 2016 2018 2020 2016 Urban Trails Vision Zero 2018 $15,000,000.00 $1,487,024.07 $13,512,975.93 90.09% 2020 $65,000,000.00 $17,548,952.02 $47,451,047.98 73.00% Total $95,000,000.00 $18,197,308.52 $76,802,691.49 80.84% Motioned by: Seconded by: Date of Approval: Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) DRAFT