A total of $295 million in bond propositions for Austin parks and libraries will be on the ballot this November. They include the $260 million Proposition A for a slate of Austin Parks and Recreation initiatives, and the $35 million Proposition B for two Austin Public Library branches.

The details: Every $100 million of new debt is now estimated to cost the typical Austin homeowner just over $14 in annual taxes. If approved, both propositions would add about $42 to property tax bills starting next year.

The two bond propositions will appear on the ballot alongside eight proposed amendments to Austin's city charter. Five council districts will also be electing their representatives to City Hall this fall, four of which feature incumbent candidates seeking to hold their seats.

After a temporary service suspension, CapMetro officials announced that its rentable electric-assist bike service Bikeshare will return in phases beginning Aug. 11.

The details: Bikeshare was suspended after a fire May 23 at CapMetro's operations facility that damaged the system's charging infrastructure. CapMetro pulled all bikes from docking stations and suspended service following the fire, saying it was conducting a thorough investigation before restoring service.

Now, nearly one-third of the Bikeshare fleet will be available for riding by Aug. 18 in priority areas with the highest customer demand, including the University of Texas. CapMetro installed several new electrified stations during this suspension, including two at the UT campus.

Officials also said that while all Bikeshare stations will reopen, there will be limited bike availability as the agency continues to rebuild the charging and battery infrastructure. Customers are encouraged to use the CapMetro Bikeshare app to find available bikes before going to a station.

Looking ahead: All Bikeshare service is expected to be fully restored by the end of 2026. 

Asmbly Makerspace, a local Austin creative community, is celebrating five years of operations. The space serves as Austin’s largest nonprofit makerspace, according to Asmbly’s website, offering access to woodshop, metal shop, a ceramics studio and more. 

“It's a little bit mind-boggling to me that it's only been five years because so much has just completely changed about the space,” Wilmont said. “We've gone from 8,000-square-feet to 13,333-square-feet. We were at 250 members, now we're at 575.”

What they offer: The makerspace is a membership-based organization with access to the woodshop, metal shop, lasers, textiles, 3D printing and electronics lab. Asmbly Makerspace also hosts classes and events for the community, including markets, demonstrations and showcases. 

What’s new: In mid-July Asmbly Makerspace announced that the nonprofit hired its first paid Executive Director, Galen Wixson. Prior to Wixson joining the organization, Wilmot served as the inaugural volunteer Executive Director since 2021. 

• 9701 Dessau Road, Ste. 304, Austin

Phase 5 of the MoKan Trail project is underway, per a recent Austin Transportation and Public Works update. The project aims to improve walking and biking connections in East Austin.

The details: City of Austin crews began installing a shared-use trail segment and bridge over Boggy Creek in January as part of Phase 5 of the project. Additional safety improvements at the Springdale Road crossing east of the bridge are slated to begin in September. Construction on this section is expected to be complete this fall and will close a "key gap" in the trail, officials said. The $5.6 million phase is being funded by the 2020 Mobility Bond and federal funding.

About the project: The MoKan Trail will follow a section of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas, or MoKan, Railroad. Once complete, the 1.5-mile trail will connect to an existing bike path on Pedernales Street to the Southern Walnut Creek Trail system. Phases 1, 2, 3A and 4 are complete. Phase 3B is currently in the design phase, and construction is expected to begin this fall.