18 Jun EcoBits June 18th – June 25th, 2015: Free CapMetro Rides, I-35 Improvements, and Zilker Park Recycling

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[Transportation] Some major improvements could be coming to I-35 … they're just not exactly what the local community was hoping for. 

An I-35 improvement plan revealed earlier this week by local and state lawmakers calls for an additional lane on the upper decks of the highway between 15th and 51st streets in downtown Austin. If the plan comes to fruition, it will also lower I-35 from Caesar Chavez to 12th Street.

Some in the community have called for a cap over I-35.The kicker is, the plan doesn't call for I-35 to be capped, which is something that many in the local community have advocated for. If the highway is capped, then it can be covered over by parkland, helping to connect the city and eat away at Austin's infamous east/west divide.

But there is still some hope. Mayor Steve Adler said that the highway will be built so that it can be capped by the city at a later date. The real trouble is the money. Adler also said that the only way parks will cover I-35 is if the city decides to pay for it, and that will require a great deal of community support. More info>>
 

The Conversation Corps are covering transportation this month.

 

[Transportation] We've all done it. We've all sat in traffic, grumbling under our breath about what we would do to fix Austin's frustrating traffic problems. Well, prepare to grumble no more!


All this month MobilityATX is teaming up with the city's Conversation Corps to get the local community talking about creative solutions to Austin's transportation problems. The feedback received at the Conversation Corps meetings will be combined with all of the other input MobilityATX has received, and then presented to city council. Just think of it as crowdsourced public policy. More info>>

There are still six more Conversation Corps meetings scheduled for this month:

  • Sunday, June 21st at 4pm – La Madeleine Country French Café
  • Wednesday, June 24th at 6pm – Hampton Branch Library
  • Wednesday, June 24th at 6:30pm – Spicewood Springs Library 
  • Saturday, June 27th at 1:30pm – South Austin Recreation Center
  • Sunday, June 28th at 10am – Kick Butt Coffee 
  • Sunday, June 28th at 1pm – Dove Springs Recreation Center

Capital Metro is now offering free rides to Austin Aztec games.

[Transportation] This one's for all you soccer fans out there! Capital Metro is now offering free MetroRail rides to Austin Aztex home games. For the remainder of the 2015 season, the Aztex will be providing shuttles to take fans from the Lakeline MetroRail Station to their stadium at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in North Austin, and then back again at the end of the game. The first game to offer this free service will be this Saturday, June 20th at 7:30pm. More info>>

Here's how it works:

  • Purchase tickets to the soccer game of your choice
  • Go here, and print your free CapMetro pass
  • On the day of the game, check the MetroRail schedule here. Be sure to bring your Aztex ticket and your free rail pass to the station.
  • Find the Aztex Shuttle sign at the Lakeline MetroRail station. Shuttles will run from 6pmto 11pm.

 


[Energy/Zero Waste] Did you know? A refrigerator made before 2001 uses nearly 50 percent more energy than newer models! That's why Austin Energy is actually willing to pay you $50 to switch out that old fridge for a new, energy-efficient model. Not only that, but they'll also haul away the old one for free and recycle it.

Austin Energy is able to recycle almost 98 percent of a refrigerator's components, preventing the release of hazardous materials into the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to Austin’s zero waste goals. Learn how you can get paid to recycle your refrigerator here>>
 

Implementing recycling at Zilker Park could be expensive.

 

[Recycling/Zero Waste]Despite Austin's commitment to recycling, the city's own Parks and Recreation Department is struggling to keep up. At a recent meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, it was revealed that Parks and Rec has over 2,000 trash cans in its system, but only 17 recycling cans.


Parks and Rec points to funding as the biggest barrier to implementing a more widespread recycling program. A recent estimate from Austin Resource Recovery found that bringing recycling just to Zilker Park would cost $94,000 in one-time costs and $51,840 in annual costs. Learn more with this article from the Austin Monitor>> 
 

The Natural Neighborhoods Coalition is in the running for a grant.

 

[Green Building] The Natural Neighborhood Development Coalition is in the running for a $100,000 grant to make naturally-built homes and neighborhoods in Austin more affordable. The grant will help the coalition to develop small, permaculture mixed income neighborhoods and to teach people how to build their own natural, earthen homes. But, they can't get the grant without your help. They need to collect 250 votes by midnight tomorrow, Friday, June 19th.  You can vote for the project here>>

 

The SXSW Eco Startup Showcase is accepting applications.

 

[SXSW Eco] Calling all you innovators, tinkerers, and entrepreneurs out there! The SXSW Eco Startup Showcase is accepting applications through Friday, June 26th. The Startup Showcase is a fast-paced pitch competition that serves as a launching pad for socially-responsible and environmentally-friendly companies, connecting them with investors from around the country. If you have a business idea that you'd like to get noticed, you can apply to enter the competition here>>

 

 

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