[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6679427,"mediaKeyId","2165647-13cfe5b010374dd217e5472efc99fb2c","parentId",2165647,"title","Austin Transit Partnership approves cooperative purchasing, marketing contract funding and extends bond authority; officers elected","audioSeconds",662,"startMs",703000,"endMs",1365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165647-13cfe5b010374dd217e5472efc99fb2c&start=703&end=1365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165647-13cfe5b010374dd217e5472efc99fb2c/thumbnail_703000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6679427/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Transit-Partnership-approves-cooperative-purchasing-marketing-contract-funding-and-extends-bond-authority-officers-elected","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679427-29f25de84a35be8168c2db8a0d1338db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173330&Signature=WizKICMsIFPO7CEdv0g969vZrq-xWNEMAvKvVaDF0zuSxk0XwZeOCZzR0MHrsGtDiGtKdGKTsuuNuIKsOVcZAEgLjllUfst6JB2DBljN8Z4oWG8zM8MwQL-NTCK~xCTJ41I1kVF-D2Z~o0djhU9EzucVqfnpxZqKHZH98wJ6HSLPNYcoo84rsVoR5WRD1dX5fn3C~E1epqmolbJQpLco8MRfLrHC8lW9RQm5Eh6AkhGAgGLI7Oq9YfoFUBfy~icyfX91ElWS5yRCTTaqGgIRqoQy8X5S~0PaIYo66jE1FJlbCWrzmaIrxPKWWK6tzEOUmwqNCT90X40McpaU0f20TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin Transit Partnership board on Jan. 29 approved a set of administrative and financial actions — including joining a statewide cooperative purchasing program, approving additional funding for marketing and communications contracts and extending delegated authority to issue up to $150 million in contract revenue bonds — and selected its officers for the next two years.

The approvals were made by voice vote during the meeting at ATP headquarters, and board leaders later noted Mayor Watson was absent for the roll call on several items; the board recorded the financial actions as passing with the affirmative votes of the members present.

Board actions and key details

Interlocal cooperative purchasing: The board approved entering into an interlocal agreement to join the Texas Share Cooperative Purchasing Program administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. \"This allows us to leverage competitively procured contracts so we don't have to run every procurement ourselves,\" Casey Burack, ATP executive vice president for business and legal affairs, told the board. The agreement requires no exchange of funds; it permits ATP to use contracts already procured by the cooperative. Board members noted the agreements typically are structured for one-year terms subject to appropriation and emphasized giving consideration to qualified local firms during procurement.

Marketing and communications contracts: The board approved a contract modification to fund the remainder of the marketing and communications contracts previously awarded to Butler Creative, ECPR and Buoy Communications. ATP had previously approved $2,750,000 for the first year; staff said the total contract value for the full term is $4,500,000 and the board approved funding to complete the term. Staff described the firms as partners in branding, media relations and public information/graphic design work.

Bond authorization extension: The board extended delegated authority related to the issuance and sale of Austin Transit Partnership Local Government Corporation contract revenue bonds, up to $150,000,000, and authorized related documents and payment of issuance costs with a sale to occur no later than Jan. 29, 2026. Brian Rivera, ATP chief financial officer, said the extension primarily buys time while ATP works through a validation suit; he told the board the documents remain the same as those approved in February 2024 and the resolution permits amendments if required by the court process.

Staggered terms for community expert directors: As required by ATP's articles of incorporation, the board implemented staggered initial terms for its community-expert director seats. General counsel administered a random drawing (colored marbles) to assign a two-year, three-year and four-year initial term to the three community expert directors. The results recorded on the record were: Veronica Castro Barrera (three years), Juan Garza (two years) and Cammie Horn (four years).

Officer elections: The board appointed Veronica Castro Barrera as chair, Mayor Watson as vice chair (Mayor Watson was absent but had agreed to serve), Brian Rivera as treasurer and Brandon Carr as secretary; each appointment is effective immediately and runs through January 2027 according to the board's announcement.

Motions, movers and outcomes

- Approval of Dec. 18, 2024 minutes: moved by Board member Trebilian, second by Board member Garza; approved by voice vote (unanimous among members present).
- Interlocal purchasing agreement (Texas Share Cooperative Purchasing Program): moved and seconded on the record; approved by voice vote (unanimous among members present).
- Marketing and communications contract modification (Butler Creative, ECPR, Buoy Communications; total contract value $4.5M, year-one funding previously $2.75M): moved and seconded on the record; approved by voice vote (unanimous among members present).
- Extension of bond authorization (up to $150,000,000; sale by Jan. 29, 2026): moved by Board member Horn, second by Board member Garza; passed with the affirmative votes of members present (board noted Mayor Watson absent for the vote).
- Implementation of staggered terms for community expert directors: administered on the record by general counsel; terms assigned by random draw.
- Officer appointments (chair, vice chair, treasurer, secretary): nominations and votes were taken on the record; appointments approved by voice vote.

Executive session and next steps

The board entered executive session under Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code to discuss personnel matters related to the executive director and chief audit executive performance reviews. After returning to open session the board said it might bring actions related to the appointees' terms of employment at its next meeting.

Public comment and materials

No speakers signed up for public comment; the board acknowledged receipt of a letter from Barbara Gibson on behalf of the neighborhood plan contact team that was included in the meeting packet and distributed to members.

Ending

Board leaders emphasized continuing procurement and outreach work as ATP moves toward project delivery and federal processes. The meeting adjourned after the executive session at 5:55 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Austin Transit Partnership Board Meeting - Jan 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Austin Transit Partnership board on Jan. 29 approved a set of administrative and financial actions — including joining the Texas Share cooperative purchasing program, authorizing additional funding for marketing and communications contracts and extending delegated authority to issue up to $150 million in contract revenue bonds — and selected its officers for the next two years.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6679423,"ATP outlines Project CONNECT progress: airport extension preferred, outreach continues and RFIs set to begin",386,137000,523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165647-13cfe5b010374dd217e5472efc99fb2c&start=137&end=523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165647-13cfe5b010374dd217e5472efc99fb2c/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6679423/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/ATP-outlines-Project-CONNECT-progress-airport-extension-preferred-outreach-continues-and-RFIs-set-to-begin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679423-b9a4655dd4c63f4b0fcf7ddf92756c5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173330&Signature=GJx9P9sU0ACsn6sxosSJoPtCqq6uQVB2ztk1lIFnWr9GE~ls4w5Uj8X-2hysjZ5mjzqUNjMd3DTO9fvld3NqMh-XX1a~R0fTd8BmJ4anVWgU1coNfoH97wyeQQmYZiQk~3MFESM6t3w2T5pV8bL0kKyWa42UYsaTXcUvFD4AxsC6jr0Y2izNB0bQV6~f93qIlKsz4FNa1X0Ox4O2LZ-uknq1yIx-fSRlHpBLzQYGPxUf-a1LlJrJjTmU2hi20f7PN~MAU7WolUmQSTtAXOKQWqztArMBqWARIOO43ayLAzIR7JyxyfN2FSlsjFinAece73TBUe6rovIWsxQWGFV0sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin Transit Partnership’s executive director said Jan. 29 that the agency has named an airport extension its preferred Project CONNECT light-rail extension and is preparing preliminary engineering work to \"future-proof\" construction while coordinating with Texas Department of Transportation projects on State Highways 183 and 71.

Greg Canale said the airport extension is “really now our preferred extension,” and that ATP will pursue preliminary engineering so future work can be integrated with road projects and avoid reworking new infrastructure. Canale said ATP will also work with TxDOT partners to align schedules and designs.

Canale summarized recent public engagement: ATP staff held four open houses to update the community on the draft environmental impact statement for Austin Light Rail and reported more than 600 community members attended those events. The formal comment period on the draft environmental impact statement remains open through March 11, 2025; Canale reminded the public that comments can be submitted on ATP’s public input site.

Staffing and procurement milestones

Canale said ATP will release a request for information (RFI) the week following the meeting for a large light-rail civil package, with procurement work for the operations and maintenance facility targeted for April 2025 and a light-rail vehicle procurement targeted for May 2025. He said a Feb. 26 industry event will focus on the light-rail civil package and that ATP expects additional industry engagement events as procurement advances.

Advisory group and community participation

Canale reminded the board that ATP has opened an application process for a seven-member Austin Light Rail advisory group, intended to provide community advice on planning and delivery; staff said it plans to bring appointment recommendations to the board at its March meeting. Board members and staff emphasized recruiting applicants with finance, engineering, community engagement and sustainability expertise.

Ending

Canale framed 2025 as a year focused on synchronized procurement, federal review and community engagement as ATP moves closer to construction. He noted the agency’s intention to balance industry outreach with community involvement while moving contracting and engineering work forward.

","ATP staff said the airport extension is now the preferred Project CONNECT extension, described preliminary engineering and coordination with TxDOT, reported four public open houses with more than 600 attendees and announced a schedule for upcoming RFIs and an advisory-group application process.","actionData","errors"]

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Austin Transit Partnership approves cooperative purchasing, marketing contract funding and extends bond authority; officers elected

ATP outlines Project CONNECT progress: airport extension preferred, outreach continues and RFIs set to begin