Mayor Adler proposes multimillion dollar bond to fix mobility problem
It's no secret Austin has a traffic problem. Tuesday, city council announced plans to move forward with a mobility bond this November. Mayor Steve Adler is proposing a more than $700 million bond to fix Austin's most traveled roadways.
Austin's rapid growth is the capital city's biggest problem.
“In my opinion I think that the city has been limited in their thinking about how fast Austin would grow and how popular it would become,” Nancy Crowther, Austin resident, said.
Nancy Crowther saw the change happen right before her eyes over the years. Her main concern is if the city can keep up with not only driver's needs, but people who have needs like hers. The South Austin resident mostly walks and commutes in her scooter.
“Sidewalks primarily, and any type of mass transit. It can only help,” Crowther said.
Mayor Steve Adler has a $720 million bond on the table.
“In this city mobility and affordability are intertwined. They are two sides of the same coin. We're not going to be able to solve one unless we solve the other. We’re not going to be able to solve either of them unless we actually invest,” Adler said.
The $500 million would go for improving Austin's most traveled streets like North and South Lamar, Guadalupe, East Riverside, and Airport just to name a few. Another $120 million would go toward sidewalks.
“Then there are some pain points in the city like Loop 360 and others we need to focus on as well,” Adler said.
Some council members feel it could be too much too soon. Ann kitchen brought up a cheaper proposal of just $300 million. The mayor continues to stand by his original plan
“We just started the conversation. I'm hoping council will consider going big or going home,” Adler said.
Many advocates are pushing for light rail. Adler believes Austin can handle it, but just not right now.
“All we should be doing in November at this point are the things there's general consensus on. That doesn't mean we won’t do rail in the future,” he said.
Most Austinites agree, the city should try their best to come to an agreement and get the ball rolling.
"There's only so much you can do with the influx of people moving to Austin,” Charlita Davis, resident, said.
“I think it's a problem with being too car conscious,” Crowther said.