Part of the RM 620 widening project between Hwy. 71 and Dave Drive is proposed to be added to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, with construction anticipated to begin at the start of fiscal year 2029.

The improvement program covers 2027-2030 and is periodically amended to reflect changes to project planning and development. It is adopted every two years and may be amended twice a year.

The overview: The entirety of the RM 620 widening project will start at Hwy. 71 and extend to RM 2222.

The road will be widened to include six through lanes, raised medians, right and left turn lanes at certain intersections and a shared use path on each side.

Currently, the project is divided into three sections in CAMPO's 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, with different anticipated start years for each section.

The issue: Lakeway City Council passed a resolution on Sept. 8 requesting changes to the project, citing concerns about traffic congestion and cost.

Mayor Thomas Kilgore said the construction plans from Hwy. 71 to Dave Drive may be interpreted to end the six-lane expansion at Aria Drive, near the intersection of Lake Travis High School.

Trellis Academy, a new private school in Bee Cave, opened this fall serving its first cohort of students.

The overview: The non-denominational Christian school currently serves students in grades pre-K through 4th grade, focusing on small class sizes and small group learning. 

Founder Courtney Murdoch, who has three children at the school and a background in engineering, said she wanted “school to be more efficient.”

“I’m trying to get the actual school part down to less time, so that they have more time to be a child—more child-led critical thinking, curiosity, creativity; all of those things that everybody wants out of a childhood, but we kind of have slowly not given our kids anymore,” she said.

• Opened in August

Airbnb is launching a $250 million fund to support housing development nationwide. It's part of the rental company's newly announced housing accelerator initiative, including:

• The $250 million for housing project financing

• "Pro-housing" policy advocacy like zoning and permitting reform

• A $5 million housing innovation award program

• A public database ranking cities' housing policies and their affordability impacts

The details: The accelerator's first U.S. investment will direct $6.4 million to the Austin Housing Authority and Greystar's redevelopment of the city-owned St. John Site off I-35. The long-awaited project will bring more than 500 apartments, including more than 200 affordable units, alongside commercial space and a new public park.

A Kia dealership in Austin, a Walmart in Liberty Hill and an Olive Garden in Kyle are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Kia of Central Austin ($36 million): A new 206,601-square-foot Kia dealership is set to begin construction in Austin next spring.

2. Walmart ($12.2 million): A new Walmart Supercenter is coming to Liberty Hill with construction set to begin in October.

3. Hill Country Bible Georgetown ($6.2 million): This project involves the construction of new admin and student ministry buildings at the Hill Country Bible Church in Georgetown.

4. Olive Garden ($4.1 million): A new Olive Garden restaurant is coming to Kyle, with construction set to wrap up late next year.

5. 3rd Wave Climbing Gym ($2.3 million): This project involves the renovation and change of occupancy of an existing warehouse building into an indoor climbing gym facility.