Austin Fire official Tom Vocke was confirmed as the city's interim fire chief, effective Sept. 1 after the retirement of current Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker.

The overview: Baker formally submitted his resignation notice Aug. 4 and he'll leave his role at the end of August. City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced Baker was "unavailable and out of the office" starting Aug. 11, leading him to designate Vocke as acting fire chief this month.

City Council honored Baker with a distinguished service award and confirmed Vocke's appointment Aug. 27. He'll now lead Austin Fire on an interim basis until a successor is hired.

Sixty people who have experienced chronic homelessness in Travis County will have a permanent home at Seabrook Square II, a supportive housing community in East Austin from county mental health authority Integral Care.
Fourteen residents moved in the first week, with more arriving in waves of about 15, said Kristi Kaiser, Integral Care's practice administrator for housing and healthcare in its homeless initiatives.

How it works: Referrals come through the county's Coordinated Entry system, and a full-time on-site team provides voluntary services. Treatment or sobriety is not required to qualify or stay housed.

By the numbers: Austin-Travis County officials counted 3,238 people experiencing homelessness in its January 2025 Point-in-Time count, a 36% jump from 2023.

What's next: The community holds a welcome gathering Aug. 28, followed by a Sept. 18 mural unveiling honoring the building's namesake, Dr. J.J. Seabrook.

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation updates from local agencies.

Ongoing projects

Center Street
Project: The street in Kyle will be widened with added curbs, gutters, lighting and sidewalks to both sides of the road, including one shared-use path, between Old Stagecoach Road and Veterans Drive; and adds a new single-lane roundabout. 
Update: Construction began at the 5-way traffic stop at West Center Street and Old Stagecoach Road on July 13. Crews are potholing and building drainage improvements.

• Timeline: fall 2026-fall 2027
• Cost: $10.2 million
• Funding source: 2022 Kyle Road Bond

Completed projects

SH 195 exit ramp
Project: Led by the Texas Department of Transportation, the right lane exit ramp provides direct access to Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Georgetown from northbound SH 195. Previously, drivers had to use a turn lane and cross over southbound lanes. 
Update: Williamson County and TxDOT officials celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting on Aug. 24.

• Timeline: 2025-26
• Cost: $3.6 million
• Funding source: 2019 Wilco Road Bond

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.