Gold Sponsors

Austin and the Texas Department of Transportation reached a new agreement for management of state highways throughout the city.

The details: The city and state coordinate to oversee both controlled access highways like I-35 and MoPac, and noncontrolled TxDOT roadways including stretches of Menchaca and Bee Caves roads. Austin and TxDOT recently worked to lay out a new maintenance agreement given updates to roadway conditions and relevant regulations, which was approved by City Council on Feb. 5.

The new framework was developed after review by several city departments that share oversight of the roadways and adjacent areas. Transportation Director Richard Mendoza previously said the agreement remains "largely the same" as the one established decades ago and isn't expect to carry any budget impacts for the city.

The Sobering Center has increased its capacity with the opening of a second floor for community members to recover from intoxication.

What’s changed: With the new renovations, the center has expanded with 14 additional beds for clients awaiting treatment placement, which doubles its overall capacity. The upgrades also included new client spaces on the second floor. As a result of the improvements, the center’s clinical team is able to efficiently coordinate treatment services and discharge planning, as stated in a news release.

“The completion of the second floor represents a step forward in our mission to provide safe, supportive care for those using substances,” CEO Laura Elmore LeBlanc said. “The center continues to evolve to meet community needs and is committed to ensuring there is a place for people to wait on treatment beds to become available.”

The milestone will be celebrated at Electric Gravy on Dec. 2 with a brief documentary depicting the mission of the center. Awards will be presented to community members who helped support expansion efforts.

• 1213 Sabine St., Austin

From a Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient facility to a new McDonald’s and more, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Round Rock: The Department of Veterans Affairs will construct an outpatient facility with a dedicated parking lot for visitors and staff, as well as a service access area in Round Rock.

2. Pflugerville: Two office warehouse buildings, totaling 68,924 square feet, will be built by Workhub Developments to accommodate start-up and flex space for businesses

3. Buda: Illinois-based collision repair provider Crash Champions will build a 15,131-square-foot garage and office space constructed from a pre-engineered metal building.

4. Cedar Park: Another McDonald’s will bring its popular menu items, such as the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder, to the Bell District.

5. Austin: A 6,445-square-foot QuikTrip will soon fuel up South Austin, bringing a full-service pumping station alongside a made-to-order kitchen with grab-and-go options.

Travis County has reinstated a burn ban for unincorporated areas that was lifted Jan. 26.

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved implementing a burn ban effective immediately at its Feb. 10 meeting. The burn ban will last 30 days unless lifted earlier by the Travis County judge or fire marshal.

The update: The burn ban comes after Travis County responded to 20-25 fires Feb. 8, Gary Howell, Travis County Chief Fire Marshal, said at the Feb. 10 meeting.

The ban applies to outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Travis County, excluding prescribed burns, outdoor welding, cutting, grinding or other hot work operations when conducted in accordance with the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office guidelines.

Also of note: The Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office is also urging residents to:

• Avoid activities that could generate sparks.
• Use caution when grilling or barbecuing outdoors. Residents should keep a water source or fire extinguisher nearby when doing so.
• Call 911 if they notice a fire that may be out of control.

In the upcoming March 3 primary elections, Texas voters will have the opportunity to nominate their chosen candidates for the November midterm election. From top state officials to county commissioners, primary elections shape who is ultimately elected to dozens of seats, driving the future direction of the Lone Star State.

Yet less than one-fifth of registered Texas voters participated in recent primary elections, data from the secretary of state’s office shows.

The big picture: March Matters, a group that works to get more Texans to the primary polls, found that 146 of Texas’ 150 state House races were effectively decided during the 2022 primaries, with just four competitive seats during that year’s midterm election.

Data also shows that primary voters tend to be older and represent the more extreme wings of their political parties.

What they're saying: "When primary voter turnout is so small, when only a fraction of voters are voting, your vote counts more,” said Mark Strama, who leads the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas.