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Austin’s supply of parks and open spaces is often referenced as one of its most cherished amenities. But after years of population growth, it’s become more challenging to meet rising recreational needs.

The details: Portions of city bond packages have been used to expand parkland, and Austin’s also relied on a parkland dedication system requiring developers to either pay fees or contribute land. But future acquisition funding is uncertain, especially under a 2023 state law that slashed dedication requirements.

The changes came as much of Austin lacks the parks access that’s a stated desire of residents and city planners. Less than 18.5 acres of parkland were available per 1,000 residents as of late 2025, 77% of the city’s per-resident goal and a gap that equates to a need of roughly 5,700 new acres, or almost 9 square miles.

Funding for Austin's social service programs is in line for further cuts, and the city is now evaluating how to both save and reduce portions of its tens of millions of dollars in annual spending.

The details: Last year, City Council originally passed a fiscal year 2025-26 budget with significant investments in social services like homelessness response, public health programming, violence interruption and resident assistance. After the Proposition Q tax election failed, much of that spending was cut through required budget revisions and millions of dollars in social service cuts were outlined late last year.

Ongoing review of spending on various contracts is taking place this year to determine which programs are most critical to maintain, and which could be streamlined or reduced. Both council members and residents will have the chance to weigh in further as the process continues ahead of summer budgeting deliberations.

A total of about 21.67 million passengers departed and arrived at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2025, marking the year as the third busiest for the airport.

The details: Passenger traffic marked 2024 as the airport’s second busiest year, following 2023 and 2022’s record-breaking totals.

The busiest airline for the airport was Southwest Airlines, with 8.9 million passengers, similar to 2024. Southwest Airlines officials recently announced plans to expand at ABIA, backed by a $5.5 million economic incentive deal between the airline and the city of Austin.

What else: The airport is currently undergoing a multiyear expansion program designed to upgrade facilities and increase capacity to address the record-breaking passenger traffic in recent years. The expansion program includes several projects, such as a new baggage handling system, facilities and passenger gates, various airfield upgrades, and the construction of new taxiways and a second terminal.

In 2025, officials broke ground on a new parking garage with 7,000 spaces opening in two phases, as well as broke ground on the Atrium Infill project.

Check out six upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects
Crystal Falls Parkway rail bridge
Project: Leander city officials are considering building a railroad bridge over Crystal Falls Parkway at US 183, removing the current ground-level rail crossing and allowing traffic to flow uninterrupted by passing trains.
Update: The city is actively seeking a $40 million grant from TxDOT. The design phase is expected to take around two and a half years, followed by roughly three years of construction.

• Timeline: 2029-32
• Cost: $103 million
• Funding source: TBD

• Timeline: total project completion expected in 2029
• Cost: $4.5 billion
• Funding source: TxDOT and CAMPO