Austin Transit Partnership continues to hit more Light Rail milestones, approving an operations and maintenance building contract and a resolution to acquire parcels of land for the project at its April 15 meeting.

The details: The agency approved a contract in an amount not to exceed $25 million for the construction of an operations and maintenance facility for the project, which will serve as a base for the trains to be cleaned, serviced and maintained. The agency also approved a resolution not to exceed $230 million to acquire up to 18 parcels of property to use as part of Phase 1, with nine being used for the O&M facility and nine being used for the light rail alignment. 

In other news: The board postponed three agenda items that would have executed a $32 million contract for ATP to lease 51,600 square feet of administrative office space at the 100 Congress building for 90 months, as well as a $15 million contract for building finish-out and improvement services of the leased space. 

The Red River Cultural District, coined as Austin’s music mile, announced its five-year strategic plan for preservation and evolution on April 14, according to a news release. 

Dig deeper: “Soundtrack to the Future” details exterior upgrades to existing venues, new signage, solar-powered lighting, public murals and more. The district unveiled its plans, along with renderings of the updates, at an April 14 press conference with presentations by Executive Director Nicole Klepadlo, council member Zo Qadri and Matt Patton, vice president of AngelouEconomics. 

The context: Red River is home to over 40 local businesses, including hotels and retail stores, all located between Fifth and 15th streets. The district is home to Austin staples, including Stubb’s, Chess Club, and 13th Floor. 

The update: The strategic plan was developed with insights from key stakeholders, including local businesses, musicians, property owners and more, to develop a vision for the future, according to the district.

As the Austin Public Library approaches 100 years of service in the community, officials are planning several events to commemorate the occasion.

APL officials recently announced a public art contest for new card designs.

“Austin Public Library has always been shaped by the community it serves,” Austin Public Library Director Hannah Terrell said in a news release. “This contest is a celebration of Austin’s creative spirit, and an opportunity for Austinites of all ages to contribute to our Centennial Celebrations and be a part of defining what the next century of Austin Public Library will look like.”

At a glance: The contest is open to cardholders of all ages who are residents of the APL service area. City of Austin employees are not eligible.

The contest features different themes for different age groups, including:

• Children (0-12): “The Library’s 100th Birthday Party”
• Teens (13-17): “Austin Public Library’s Next Century”
• Adults (18 and up): “Inspiring All to Discover, Learn and Create”