The Peached Tortilla, an Asian-Southern fusion restaurant, has launched a new menu to accompany its renovated dining room and patio at its flagship location. The restaurant debuted the renovations and menu offerings on July 28, according to a news release. 

The backstory: Founder and owner Eric Silverstein started The Peached Tortilla as an Austin-based food truck in September 2010. The restaurant’s flagship location launched four years later in 2014.

On the menu: New menu items include the smashed cucumbers, charred cabbage and pork wontons prepared with Lacto-fermented morita hot sauce, soy, black vinegar and cilantro. Guests can also try the new Hainanese Chicken, which is a slow poached half chicken with lacquered sweet soy, ginger scallion sauce and chili crisp

What’s new: The restaurant’s updated design includes a plant installation, new dining tables and upgrades to the bar area. The patio now has banquet and table seating with a fabric awning to provide shade throughout the summer, according to the release.

• 5520 Burnet Road, Ste. 100, Austin

The Geothermal Resolution, sponsored by council member Mike Siegel, will require the city to gather a group of experts to research and evaluate potential geothermal energy projects in Austin. Led by the city of Austin’s Climate Action and Resilience Department, the initial planning and research are estimated to be completed by May 2027.

Why it matters: According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, geothermal energy has a minimal carbon footprint, emitting 99% less carbon dioxide than an oil plant of a similar size.

This renewable energy resource is also widely abundant. While building a geothermal facility involves a substantial upfront infrastructure investment, it lowers operational expenses over time, said Kaiba White on behalf of Public Citizen's Texas office.

Quote of note: “If we're serious about addressing climate change, strengthening our energy system, protecting Austinites and growing our economy, we need every tool available,” said Jeremy Hendricks, Central Texas Building Trades Council local president. “Geothermal can be another tool in our clean energy toolbox.” 

Travis County's push to expand affordable child care is running up against a workforce shortage.

The problem: Travis County committed $51.7 million to make child care affordable, but there aren't enough teachers to staff the classrooms that money is meant to open.

Providers sit at 65% capacity as low wages drive turnover past 40% a year.

The wage issue: For the first time, Travis County will require child care providers to pay a baseline wage—pegged near Austin's $22.05 per hour living wage—to win contracts.

The county will begin procuring an administrator for the designated slots program, including a minimum wage for teachers, this fall.

Multiple lane closures are planned nightly on I-35 through Aug. 10 for roadway maintenance as part of the Lady Bird Lake segment of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project.

What you need to know: The northbound I-35 mainlanes between Woodland Avenue and Holly Street will be closed nightly from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Aug. 2-Aug. 6 and again Aug. 9. Drivers can use the Woodland Avenue exit 232B to access the frontage road, and use the Riverside Drive bypass lane to reenter the mainlanes. Northbound detour traffic between Riverside Drive and Holly Street will be reduced to one lane on the bypass. The bypass lane will be closed from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. each night to prepare for the detour.

What else? The southbound I-35 mainlanes between Riverside Drive and Oltorf Street will also be reduced to one lane nightly from Aug. 4 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 6 at 5 a.m., then again from Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 10 at 5 a.m. Multiple entrance and exit ramps will also be closed. 

Check out the latest transportation projects across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects

I-35 at Inner Loop Interchange

Project: The project includes the design and construction of improvements to the interchange between SE Inner Loop and I-35 in Georgetown.

Update: All work for the project has been put on hold pending TxDOT advancing the design of I-35.

• Timeline: TBD

• Cost: TBD

• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond

Ongoing projects

Oak Hill Parkway

Project: The Texas Department of Transportation is currently reconstructing Hwy. 290 in Oak Hill, transforming the existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a six-lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths.

Update: As of July, drivers can now travel on newly opened mainlanes, frontage roads and ramps. Drivers can expect ongoing painting, landscaping, asphalt paving, striping and shared-use path improvements to cause lane closures.

• Timeline: 2022-26 (total project)

• Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project

• Funding source: TxDOT