Central Texas transportation agencies are adjusting their vision

From Impact News, May8, 2009...

Central Texas transportation agencies are adjusting their long-range planning strategies this year to reflect the needs of a region that has been reshaped by rapid growth and accelerated economic development. As Austin and its surrounding communities have become increasingly interconnected over the last decade, agency leaders are working to create systems that will enhance urban mobility and support an emergent commuter population.

The quick pace of growth presents challenges for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and other agencies as traffic congestion builds steadily each year, said CTRMA Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein.

“Our transportation model has changed radically over the last 10 years,” he said. “Right now we’re in one of those evolutionary phases of transportation where it’s really hard to get anything put on the ground without a lot of funding mechanisms.”

Read more...

Region's job market is holding steady

From statesman, April 18, 2009...

Central Texas continued to add jobs during March, in the face of a recession that led to job losses in every other large Texas city.

The Texas Workforce Commission said Friday that jobs grew in the region at a 0.4 percent annual rate last month. That works out to 3,300 jobs between March 2008 and March 2009. Job growth was 0.2 percent in February.

The local unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent in February but up from 3.8 percent in March 2008.

Read more...

Home sales falter in Austin area

From statesman, April 21, 2009...

Sales of existing homes in Central Texas fell 22 percent in March — a six-year low for that month, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. The median price dipped 4 percent, to $180,000, though it was off just 1 percent for the first three months of the year.

March marked the 22nd consecutive month of sales declines, as the Austin market continues to feel the effects of the recession, housing slowdown and slower local job growth. But the year-over-year percentage decline was smaller than in January and February.

Read more...

Rustlers keeping special cattle rangers busy in Central Texas and across the state

From wacotrib, April 13, 2009...

Andy Wilkins was 15 when he tried cattle rustling for the first time. A pilfered yearling he sold to a wheat farmer brought him about $175.

“Man, it was easy,” he said. As he got older, he grew bolder.

Wilkins, 38, boasts that he can load 16 head of cattle onto a truck by himself in 30 minutes. If a cattle thief is lucky, the rancher will have animals already in a small pen, meaning the bulk of roundup work is done. “You just . . . pull up and load them up, and get out of there,” Wilkins said.

Hal Dumas comes at cattle rustling from the other side.

Dumas, one of more than two dozen special rangers stationed throughout Texas and Oklahoma, supervises a vast area of South and Southeast Texas.

Read more...

Job Angels seeks to help Central Texans find work

From KEYE, April 3, 2009...

People are out of work now more than ever, but a twist on an old idea is taking shape and finding the jobless jobs. One may says hope is still alive. "We don't ask you to save the world," Chris Bailey said.

"We just ask for you to, one person at a time, help them find a job. Do whatever you need to do. Open up your network," he said.

Bailey joined a contact of his in Washington, D.C. on a venture called Job Angels. In its most basic form, Job Angels seeks to connect unemployed people to those with connections in order for them to find a job.

You can find out more about Job Angels by visiting their website at JobAngels.org.

Read more...

Rabies on the Rise in Central Texas

From Associated Content, March 19, 2009...

Cases of rabies in Central Texas are on the rise.In 2008 bats accounted for 271 cases in a 30-county region in Central Texas. Skunks came in second with 111 cases.

Travis County had 197 animals that tested positive, all but three were bats. Williamson County reported 53 rabies cases, where 46 were bats and 7 were skunks. Brazos County and Burnet County also reported high numbers of rabies cases, most were bats. In Burnet County 27 cases were confirmed in 2008, but in the prior year there were only 14 cases.

Read more...

Farmers facing obstacles besides the drought

From News 8 Austin, March 25, 2009...

Central Texas farmers reluctantly began planting corn crops about a month ago, but with drought conditions, many said they were planting for a failure.

Though recent rains may have lightened some moods, many farmers still pray for more moisture. And while some are more optimistic, there is no deficiency in the types of problems farmers face.

Read more...

Severe doctor shortage hits Central TX

From KXAN, March 27, 2009...

Central Texas hospitals report a severe doctor shortage.

A new study by the Seton Family of Hospitals shows one out of every 10 Medicare patients has a hard time finding a primary-care doctor. The survey found one in four Central Texans believe there are not enough doctors in the area.

The most frequent problems are doctors not taking on new patients and insurance. Of uninsured people, 19 percent report going to the emergency room for basic care.

"In fact, Williamson and Hays counties are considered by the Feds to be underserved counties in the ratio of physicians to population," said Charles Barnett , Seton Family of Hospitals president and CEO. "As those counties continue to grow, that problem will become worse."

Read more...

City hopes phone calls will save residents from flash flooding

From KVUE, March 27, 2009...

Living in Central Texas, it's pretty common to see intense rain storms. They can dump a large amount of rain in a short period of time-- and that makes conditions ripe for flash floods. In the event of an emergency, the City of Austin hopes to keep you safe with a phone call.

Friday [March 27], Austin employees demonstrated how their telephone-based emergency notification system works during a flood situation to keep residents safe and help first responders evacuate homes.

Read more...

Texas adds certain road projects back to stimulus list

From News 8 Austin, March 5, 2009...

Texas transportation officials approved the addition of more road projects Thursday.

The projects will be part of the $1.2 billion in major road work to be paid for with federal stimulus money.

The three Central Texas road projects added back to the list include:

• Flyover bridges at U.S. 290 and U.S. 183 in Austin
• A new Interstate 35 bridge in Buda
• Widening of FM 1460 in Round Rock.

Read more...

High-end foreclosure postings in Central Texas more than double

From Austin Business Journal, March 4, 2009...

In the first quarter of the year, Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties saw foreclosures among higher-end homes more than double, according to new data from Addison-based Foreclosure Listing Service Inc.

While 71 percent of the homes posted for foreclosure in the Austin metro area are still valued at under $200,000, the largest gains in first quarter home postings were among higher-end homes. George Roddy, president of FLS, said all four price categories of higher-end houses, which include executive homes and luxury homes, experienced a gain or 100 percent or more in foreclosure notices.

Read more...

Texas governor OK's aid to battle wildfires

From News 8 Austin, March 1, 2009...

Gov. Rick Perry has activated state resources to combat wildfires in Central Texas including four Texas Military Forces Blackhawk helicopters.

A statement from the governor's office Sunday said the helicopters can aid in the wildfire fight because they are equipped to drop water and fire retardant, Texas Forest Service fire fighters and equipment.

At least 25 homes and nine businesses have been destroyed by a fire that's burned 1,250 acres of grass, heavy timber and brush in Central Texas.

Read more...

There is a reason Texas has a burn ban

From KXAN, February 27, 2009...

Grass in Central Texas is already dry and with no rain in the forecast this week, the danger remains high. With windy conditions expected Friday afternoon, more fires could certainly start up, just like a fire near Llano Thursday in Pontotoc, TX.

Volunteer firefighters responded quickly late Thursday and are still monitoring the flames as of Friday afternoon. No homes were destroyed though and the volunteer firefighters say they don't know what caused the blaze.

Read more...

Central Texas' dire drought persists

From KXAN, February 12, 2009...

The National Drought Mitigation Center , U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Lower Colorado River Authority sponsored a drought workshop Thursday. Many area farmers, ranchers and water management officials from Central Texas attended the free event.

Presentations assessed local drought conditions and offered tools and techniques for area farmers and ranchers to deal with the drought's effects. One presentation also encouraged everyone to develop a drought plan.

Drought conditions now affect 97.4 percent of Texas according to the U.S. Drought Monitor issued Thursday. Central Texas is not only the hardest-hit region in Texas but in the nation as well. The Seasonal Drought Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center paints a bleak picture with drought conditions persisting through April.

Read more...

Central Texas Drought Forcing Change for Ranchers

From KEYE, February 5, 2009...

As the severe drought in Central Texas continues, farmers and ranchers across the area are beginning to see a change in the way they do business.

For Lisa White, who owns 20 acres of land in Bastrop County, feeding her horses is putting a strain on her financially. "It's really bad right now," she said.

Read more...

Central Texas' economy stable, despite recession

From News 8 Austin, January 14, 2009...

The rest of the country might be reeling from the recession but Central Texas is doing fine, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Perryman Group, which is an economic analysis firm headquartered in Waco.

Read more...

Drought effects on Central Texas boating

From KXAN, January 9, 2009...

Central Texas drought continues. Local lakes are up to 14 feet below normal levels. The economy is struggling and people are cutting back on luxury items. A favorite warm weather activity, boating, is actually doing well.

Portions of Central Texas have seen only 25 to 50 percent of the normal amount of rain in 2008. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority , rain totals are running eight to 12 inches below normal. In the worst regions, rain totals are running between 12 and 20 inches below normal. As of Dec. 18, Lake Buchanan was about seven feet below the historic December average, while Lake Travis was about 13 feet below. Many boaters are not finding the lower lake levels a bother.

Read more...

Residents react to pulled plug on Trans-Texas Corridor

From News 8 Austin, January 7, 2009...

Eddy resident Willis Wilcox, 82, has lived in the same town all his life.

He's seen many buildings and roads go up but said he probably won't be around to see the finished Trans-Texas Corridor or the controversial super-highway that may be called by any other name.

Read more...

Some real estate activity likely to wait out downturn

From Austin Business Journal, January 2, 2009...

“Wait and see” attitudes will likely dominate Central Texas real estate in 2009.

While Austin is in better shape than most cities nationwide in terms of foreclosures, leasing activity and home values, experts said Central Texas can expect to see some activity put on hold as the area feels the ramifications of the national economic downturn.

Read more...

Despite pinch, area still saw major road and rail work in 2008

From statesman, December 29, 2008...

In a year of relative scarcity of transportation dollars, Central Texas in 2008 still saw significant work on major legs of its transportation system: near-completion of the area's first urban passenger rail line, improvements on the two major routes to the Hill Country, widening and extension of two major Williamson County routes, progress on Central Texas' fifth toll road and even a 50 percent increase in the capacity of a section of Interstate 35 between Georgetown and Salado.

Read more...