HUD sends $3.7 million for planning in 5 Central Texas cities

Urban rail and TOD in Austin

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jan 04, 12.

Five central Texas cities - Austin, Lockhart, Drippings Springs, Elgin, and Hutto - will engage in planning activities through a $3.7 million grant from HUD to the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), according to Austin American Statesman.

The funds for Austin will study the proposed urban rail plan that has been under development for years along with the potential for transit-oriented development. Dripping Springs and Elgin will plan for growth, while Lockhart will try to match the planning with previous efforts for better pedestrian and bicycle access and revitalizing downtown, and Hutto will explore making its downtown more attractive to development, although some of the funding will stay with CAPCOG and pay for planning tools and processes to be utilized in all five cities, as noted by the Statesman:

The largest single expense might tentatively be $500,000 for a software tool still in development that would assess community priorities and likely effects under various development scenarios for each city and the region as a whole.

The University of Texas’ Sustainable Development and Transportation Research departments are expected to “assist the communities to assess the fiscal and economic impacts of different approaches for planning future development,” according to the council’s website.

The Houston region received funding last year during the first round of this type of funding through the Sustainable Communities program to develop the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.