Austin Issues Primer On 2020 Mobility Elections

AUSTIN, TX — The City of Austin has created resources to help inform the community about the mobility elections scheculed in November — an ambitious transit system plan financed via property taxes and $460 million in voter-approved bonds.

To that end, web pages have been created along with brochures and fact sheets in multiple languages — all designed to notify voters about a pair of propositions related to the city's envisioned transportation and transit systems that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot.

On Aug. 12, the city council passed an ordinance setting ballot language for two separate mobility propositions for voters to consider. The propositions are:

• Proposition A: Approving the City’s property tax rate and dedicating 8.75 cents of the operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate for Project Connect, a high-capacity transit system.
• Proposition B: $460M in voter-approved General Obligation Bonds for transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, transportation-related bikeways, urban trails, transportation safety projects (Vision Zero), safe routes to school and substandard streets.

If approved, Proposition A would dedicate 8.75-cents of the property tax rate to the initial investment in the Project Connect high-capacity transit system that includes:

• New rail and bus transit service.
• New park and rides.
• A downtown transit tunnel.
• New neighborhood circulators.
• Transit-supportive, anti-displacement housing strategies.
• The creation of the Austin Transit Partnership: a new, independent local government corporation to oversee and implement Project Connect.

For its part, Proposition B would dedicate $460 million in general obligation bonds for transportation infrastructure including:

• Sidewalks.
• Transportation-related urban trails.
• Transportation-related bikeways.
• Safety/Vision Zero projects.
• Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects.
• Local transit enhancement projects.
• Neighborhood Partnering Program projects.
• Improvements to substandard streets.
• Major Capital Projects.

This election is being held in conjunction with the November General Election for federal, state and county offices and the City of Austin General Election for Council Member Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10.

Mobility Elections website

The City of Austin has information available about Propositions A and B at AustinTexas.gov/MobilityElections2020. The website includes general election information, ballot language, program and project summaries, frequently asked questions, and financial impact calculators for both propositions.

Additional materials

A voter brochure is available in English and Spanish, and a one-page factsheet is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Printed copies of brochures and fact sheets are available for pickup by appointment only at 901 S. MoPac Expressway, Building 5, Suite 300. Email Mobility@austintexas.gov to request materials and schedule a pickup time.