Grass Roots Advocacy
Each year Austin Outside’s members convene and agree on policy and project priorities we hope to advocate for as a coalition. Here are some of Austin Outside’s accomplishments.
NOVEMBER 2023: Travis County Bond Proposition B for parks
In the Fall of 2022, AO advocated for the creation of a Citizens Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC). In January 2023, the CBAC was created. At the Travis County Commissioners’ Court in June, 2023, AO strongly supported the CBAC’s park bond recommendations for $200 million for parkland acquisition and conservation, and $76 million for park projects that add facilities and access, like soccer fields and greenway trails. As property values continue to rise, land acquisition throughout Travis County is a solid strategy for improving future access to outdoor and green spaces for residents. The $76 million set aside for shovel-ready projects are key improvements to Travis County parks and instrumental in building out 70 miles of a trail network that links to our regional network. This bond recommendation was ultimately put to Travis County voters as Proposition B on the November 2023 ballot, which received over 77% voter approval.
november 2023 travis county bond Proposition A for mobility
In November, 2023, Travis County voters approved Proposition A, a $235 million multi-modal transportation bond investment proposal. AO supported Proposition B because it included the critical recommendation that the Court create a Travis County multimodal connectivity plan (for pedestrians, bike, ADA, & trails) and a Vision Zero plan, to be funded in the County’s next operating budget, $15 million for active transportation, safety, & safe routes to school, Shared Use Paths or sidewalks and bike lanes on Cameron Road, Arterial A, and South Pleasant Valley proposed projects, and the adoption of the SAFE-2 design for the Bee Creek Road and Rowe Lane transportation projects. Austin Outside successfully advocated for adding $5 million for County participation funds to the FM 812 (US183 to County Line) TxDOT project and adding the $11 million Howard Lane shared use path, which provides access to CapMetro Rail Howard Station and McNeil High School, and helps complete the regional 36-mile Red Line Parkway.
November 2023 texas consitutional amendment Proposition 14
Texas voters approved The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund (Proposition 14) with over 75% of the vote. Proposition 14 creates the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, dedicating one billion dollars toward acquiring and developing state parks. Austin Outside joined the Texas Coalition for State Parks to spread the word among voters, who turned out in record numbers.
november 2020 PROPosition B
Austin Outside led the campaign that passed City of Austin Bond Proposition B by 67% of the vote in November 2020, representing a clear public mandate to move quickly and boldly toward making walking and bicycling and streets in general safe, comfortable, and accessible for all. Thank you for all your support in passing this historic funding package for walking, bicycling, and safe streets.
spring and summer 202 Safe mobility for all bond
Austin Outside led the effort asking Austin City Council to approve a $750 million safe mobility bond to fund the City's Sidewalk Plan, Bicycle Plan, Urban Trails Plan, and Vision Zero goals for a public vote this November! Safely moving around is every person's right, no matter what their age, ability, income, or skin color.
On Thursday, August 13th, 2020, Austin City Council voted to add a $460 million Safe Mobility Bond to the November 2020 Ballot as Proposition B. Thank you to the 3,200+ people who signed the petition and to the nearly 100 businesses and organizations who joined Austin Outside’s coalition to push for Prop B.
winter 2020 Healthy Streets
Austin Outside leveraged the strength of our coalition of businesses and nonprofits, getting City Council and city staff to implement the Healthy Streets program (previously 'Slow Streets'), which turns selected streets into pedestrian/bicycle-priority, while allowing local traffic, to enable safe exercise during, and possibly after, the COVID-19 pandemic.