Austin reports progress, technical challenges on 2016 mobility bond corridor projects

Austin Transportation staff told the Urban Transportation Commission on April 1 that projects funded by the 2016 Mobility Bond are increasingly moving into construction, but several corridors required scope changes, coordination with utility and drainage work, or have been deferred where regional transit work will reconstruct the roadway.

The update, presented by Eric Bailey, deputy director of Capital Delivery Services, detailed completed drainage work that enables corridor work on Burnet Road, active construction on William Cannon Drive and other signal/sidewalk fills, and planned advertising this year for more than $146 million in construction. Bailey said the program has reported about $265,000,000 in updated spending to date and roughly $100,000,000 in leveraged funds from grants and developers.

Bailey said many of the 2016 bond projects started as high-level concepts and during design were found to require additional work — for example, some projects evolved from relatively light transportation improvements into major storm-drain or watershed projects, which increased cost and schedule. Capital Delivery Services (CDS) and Austin Water/Watershed teams have been coordinating since 2023 to re-evaluate available budgets, prioritize work, and adjust…