📰 CivicIn7 Austin | Friday, October 24 2025
⚡ Be the most informed neighbor in Austin —in 7 minutes or less.
⚡ TL;DR — What You Need to Know Today
🚍 CapMetro Board (8-1) approved the Transit Plan 2035 — Austin’s biggest service overhaul since 2018; first-phase changes begin March 2026.
⚡ ERCOT reports data-center requests up 227 % (56 → 205 GW); PUC planning hearings open for public comment.
🗳 Early Voting continues through Oct 31 for Prop Q (+ 17 state amendments); Election Day is Nov 4.
🔋 Austin Energy signs a 100 MW / $288 M battery storage contract with Jupiter Power.
🚧 FM 969 corridor study comments due Nov 3 — project targets 31 % above-average crash rate.
🎉 Viva La Vida Festival returns Saturday — 25 k visitors expected, ≈ $3 M local impact.
🧭 LEAD STORY | CapMetro Approves Transit Plan 2035
Vote: 8-1 ( Paige Ellis dissent ) Confidence: HIGH ✅
CapMetro’s board on Oct 21 adopted Transit Plan 2035, a ten-year blueprint reducing bus routes from 61 to 55 while adding higher-frequency and later-night service. The plan integrates bus and rail expansions in advance of Project Connect’s light-rail launch ( target 2033 ). Phase 1 service changes begin March 2026, starting with Rapid 801 and 803 corridor improvements.
Southwest Austin impact: Circle C, Oak Hill and West Gate lose direct downtown routes ( Flyer lines → RAPID transfers ).
North Austin gain: New Domain Red Line station opens 2027; frequency boosts on Burnet & Metric.
Direct Austin Impact: Shorter waits citywide but some route changes to plan for now.
Civic Engagement:
📘 Review plan → capmetro.org/transit-plan-2035
🗓 Next board meeting → Wed Oct 29 | 10 a.m. | capmetro.org/board
Sources & Compliance: CapMetro official plan ✅ | KUT & KVUE ⚠️ (summarized with ToS links)
⚙️ THE RUNDOWN (Medium Priority)
⚡ ERCOT Warns of 227 % Surge in Large-Load Requests
At the Oct 23 PUC meeting, ERCOT reported requests rising from 56 GW to 205 GW (+ 227 %), 70 % from data centers. Sites in Taylor and Jarrell ( served by Oncor not Austin Energy ) still impact regional grid capacity and Austin’s wholesale prices.
Direct Austin Impact: Future grid upgrades may raise costs if capital projects expand.
Resident Action: Submit comments to PUC Docket #55000 or testify at ERCOT Board meetings → ercot.com/meetings.
Sources: ERCOT presentation ✅ | KXAN report ⚠️
🗳 Early Voting for Proposition Q & 17 State Amendments
Early voting runs through Fri Oct 31; Election Day Tue Nov 4. Travis County lists 37 early-vote sites and ≈ 120 vote centers.
Proposition Q Impact: Adds ≈ $302 per year ( median home $605 k ) to fund Homelessness (32 %) | Public Safety (59 %) | Parks (9 %).
State Amendments Highlights:
Prop 4: Creates $1 B Water Infrastructure Fund.
Prop 13: Raises homestead exemption to $140 k.
Prop 15: Adds Parental Rights Guarantee to state constitution.
Civic Engagement: Find locations → traviscountytx.gov/elections
Sources: Travis County Elections ✅ | City Prop page ✅ | KUT ⚠️
🔋 Austin Energy Finalizes 100 MW Battery Storage Deal
Austin Energy signed a $288 M contract with Jupiter Power for up to 100 MW of utility-scale storage, advancing its 125 MW by 2027 goal. Batteries will stabilize voltage during peak hours and integrate renewables.
Direct Impact: Fewer outages during summer/winter spikes; no rate change announced.
Sources: Austin Energy press release ✅
📝 BRIEF MENTIONS
🛣 FM 969 Corridor Study → Comments due Nov 3 | TxDOT reports 31 % higher crash rate; design improvements aim to reduce severe collisions. ✅
🎉 Viva La Vida Festival → Sat Oct 25 | noon–6 p.m. downtown | ≈ 25 k attendees | $3 M economic impact (PARD estimate). ✅
📍 HAPPENING NEAR YOU
Sat Oct 25 | Downtown — Viva La Vida Festival & Parade ( free , family event )
Ongoing → Oct 31 — Early Voting for Prop Q + State Amendments
Thru Nov 3 — TxDOT FM 969 Virtual Open House ( Public Comment Deadline )
💬 HOW TO ENGAGE RIGHT NOW
🗳 Vote Early → Travis County Elections
🚍 Review Transit Plan → CapMetro 2035 Plan
⚡ Comment on Grid Planning → PUC Docket #55000 (public input form)
📝 Weigh in on FM 969 Corridor Safety → TxDOT project portal
💡 Track Energy Storage Project → Austin Energy Commission agendas
🗓 CIVIC CALENDAR
Sat Oct 25 | Noon–6 PM — Viva La Vida Festival 🎉
Mon Oct 27 | 2 PM — CAMPO TAC Meeting 📍 campotexas.org
Wed Oct 29 | 9 AM — CTRMA Board Meeting 📍 ctrma.org
Wed Oct 29 | 10 AM — CapMetro Board 📍 capmetro.org/board
Fri Oct 31 | 7 AM–7 PM — Last Day of Early Voting
Mon Nov 3 — FM 969 Comment Deadline
Tue Nov 4 — Election Day (Prop Q + 17 Amendments)
📊 BY THE NUMBERS
8-1 — Vote approving CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 ✅
227 % — Increase in ERCOT large-load requests ✅
$302 / yr — Average Prop Q cost to median Austin home ✅
100 MW / $288 M — Austin Energy–Jupiter Power battery contract ✅
