Many major corridor projects funded through the city of Austin's 2016 mobility bond are completed or moving toward construction, with tens of millions of dollars from the voter-approved transportation package still remaining as of early 2026.

The details: City voters approved the $720 million bond for roadway, sidewalk and trail upgrades, as well as safety improvements under the Vision Zero program, in November 2016. The majority of the package, $482 million, was dedicated to stretches of Austin's busiest roadways under the corridor program.

Corridor projects worth roughly $360 million have now been completed or approved for development as of this winter, and more than $40 million in construction work is anticipated this year, headlined by intensive work along South Lamar Boulevard.

Coca-Cola’s Sips & Sounds Music Festival is returning to Austin on March 13-14 with a range of featured artists including Christina Aguilera and Calvin Harris. The two-day event will showcase performances from 16 different artists, as stated in a news release.

The details: Community members can find two-day and one-day general admission tickets in addition to two-day and one-day general admission plus tickets. Event-goers can look forward to immersive activations throughout the festival and local food vendors.

Performing artists include Flipturn, GROUPLOVE, The Two Lips, Foster The People, Jade LeMac, Aidan Bissett, Mallrat, Skateland, Caroline Hale, The Runarounds, Between Friends, Stephen Sanchez, Ravyn Lenae and Major Lazer Soundsystem. 

📍 Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin

Williamson County received over $20 million for road safety improvements through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program on Dec. 23.

The local impact: Using the SS4A grant, the county plans to install:

• 3,648 reflective signal backplates to improve traffic signal visibility at 238 intersections
• 75 pedestrian-activated warning lights at crosswalks
• 32 speed feedback signs

A new U.S. Postal Service rule could impact when time-sensitive mail, such as tax forms and mail-in ballots, is considered officially sent.

The overview: Effective Dec. 24, mailed items are postmarked when the USPS processes them, rather than the date items are dropped in a mailbox. A postmark refers to the date and location stamped or printed on most mailed items, indicating when and where the USPS “accepted custody” of a mailpiece, per the federal agency.

Zooming in: According to the Texas comptroller’s office, the updated USPS guidance means items could be postmarked “several days” after they are dropped in a mailbox. This includes date-sensitive items sent by Texas residents and businesses, such as property tax payments, federal tax returns, mail-in ballots and required business reports.

To ensure that mail is postmarked on the day it is sent, customers can take mail into their local post office and request that the item be hand-stamped for free, according to the USPS. Texans can also pay property taxes and submit ballots in-person at county offices.