City leaders are continuing to increase messaging and enforcement surrounding electronic motorcycles and mini-bikes, or e-motos, which have drawn safety and regulatory concerns as they've grown in popularity.

The overview: E-motos are self-propelled vehicles that can reach top speeds well over 30 miles per hour. Devices falling under the e-moto umbrella can be illegal to operate on public streets, but difficult to distinguish from motorcycles, pocket bikes, mopeds and e-bikes—all of which have various definitions and regulations.

What they're saying: Ellis, who sponsored the e-moto resolution earlier this year, noted Austin has frequently served as a "guinea pig" for mobility advancements like electric scooters and autonomous vehicles. And as with AVs or other transportation options, the city may not be able to put its own rules into place given the state's dedicated authority over those topics.

One more thing: As part of council's directive from earlier this year, the city is also exploring the creation of a dedicated e-moto recreation area where the devices could be legally driven.

The Texas Department of Transportation manages over 200,000 miles of state highways. Roughly 72% of all vehicle travel in the state occurs on TxDOT-maintained highways, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

As Texas’ population continues to grow, so does “demand on our transportation systems, from busy urban corridors to rural communities,” Williams told lawmakers during an Aug. 17 hearing held by the Texas House Transportation Committee.

What's happening: More than 11,000 TxDOT projects are currently in the works, according to the agency’s website.

To keep motorists informed about road construction, TxDOT collects public input during the project planning process, then conducts outreach on social media, on project websites and through email notifications before and during closures, according to Eric Lykins, TxDOT’s senior director of district operations. The agency also places electronic message signs on roadways ahead of closures or detours, he said.

Some state lawmakers are encouraging transportation officials to improve outreach to motorists when roads, lanes and exits are closed or adjusted.

Voters in Austin ISD will choose their school board trustee for the At-Large Position 9 on Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 19-30. Community Impact asked candidates to share their motivations, priorities, and vision for the district.

Read the full Q&A for details on each candidate's platform ahead of the general election.