Where should Austin's light rail system go? How to weigh in on locations for Project Connect "The agencies working on the creation of a light rail system in Austin have released concepts on the locations for stations for the Orange and Blue Lines, which were approved last year as part of the city's $7.1 billion Project Connect plan.

Capital Metro and the newly created Austin Transit Partnership are holding three virtual meetings this week on the station locations. Early concepts show 11 stations on the Blue Line, which would run from Republic Square to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Orange Line could have up to 21 stops from Slaughter Lane to Tech Ridge." (Austin American-Statesman)

Carver Museum expansion plans headed to Council in May "City Council is set to approve expansion plans for the George Washington Carver Museum in May, the final step in a yearlong – and entirely virtual – process of planning, community engagement, and board and commission review.

The museum is dedicated to Black history, art and culture, and serves as an important community space in East Austin. 

The expansion has been in the works for over 20 years. The museum’s master plan, adopted in 2000, called for a phased build-out. But only the first phase, the current structure that was completed in 2005, was ever built." (Austin Monitor)

Austin’s community leaders see upcoming I-35 project as a $4.9 billion opportunity, but they are asking for TxDOT to shift its thinking "Work is set to begin in 2025 on the first major reconstruction of I-35 through downtown Austin since the 1970s. The Texas Department of Transportation hopes to improve safety on one of its most dangerous stretches of highway and relieve congestion at a choke point that is the worst in the state, according to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

"Final design decisions from TxDOT likely will not come until 2022, but many city leaders and community members say the project as it stands does not meet Austin’s goals.

"TxDOT is still in the process of making decisions, which include the elevation of highway lanes and the placement of ramps and frontage roads. The federally mandated public comment period ended April 9, but the state agency is still holding community working group sessions, including one that was held April 15." (Community Impact)

A look inside the Moody Center, UT's new arena replacing Frank Erwin Center "The University of Texas announced last week that Dell Technologies would be the founding partner of the Moody Center, and now KVUE is getting an inside look at the new state-of-the-art venue set to replace the 42-year-old Frank Erwin Center." (KVUE)

Apple’s massive $1 billion campus will take a bite out of Northwest Austin in 2022 "Apple will mark the 30th anniversary of its first Austin office with the debut of its $1 billion office campus in Northwest Austin. ... The tech giant confirmed April 26 that employees will start occupying the new campus, at West Parmer Lane and Dallas Drive, sometime in 2022. Apple first established an Austin presence in 1992." (CultureMap Austin)

A Reincarnation Of Austin's Beloved 'Graffiti Park' Is Revving Up To Open This Summer "Austin's beloved Castle Hill graffiti park is being reincarnated into a nearly 18-acre open-air cultural center fit with art exhibits, food and drinks, practice paint walls and a market. The project, which is set to open by the airport sometime this summer, is much larger than the original and less central. But it’ll take aspects of the original with it — including one of the walls itself." (KUT)

ATX Decides [Editor's note: May 1 is Election Day.] "This May Austin voters will make decisions on mayoral power, council districts, a public camping ban and more. Hear explanation and analysis of the propositions appearing in the May special election." (Austin PBS/KUT)