ISSUE
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IN THE
WINTER 2020 EDITION AUSTIN, TX
WORKS WELL-MAINTAINED
WELL-BEING FOR ALL
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E WHAT’S HAPPENING AT AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS View issues digitally at issuu.com/atxpublicworks
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WELL-BUILT
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AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS:
page 2 // IN THE WORKS, 2020 Winter Edition
ESSENTIAL WORK CONTINUES DURING COVID-19 Despite a uniquely challenging year, Public Works is comprised of some of the Cit y ’s most resilient employees. While each division plays a par t to keep things moving, our essential workers are the heroes who overcame adverse circumstances while continuing to provide critical ser vices to our cit y.
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The public ’s needs have not slowed down during the pandemic and neither have our essential workers. When bad weather hits, our Street and Bridge crews are at the call of dut y to set up barricades, repair potholes, and remove debris from public spaces. Not all of these employees are shown or featured in this newslet ter, but ever y one of them deser ves to be recognized for their dedication and reliance during tr ying times. Thank you essential workers!
Thank you
Our Street and Bridge workers are the hear t of this organization who overcame unprecedented challenges to continue delivering essential ser vices to the Austin communit y. Not only have these frontline workers adapted to new safet y protocols during the pandemic, but they accommodated schedules and helped other divisions in need. Our Engineering Construction Coordinators continued to suppor t capital deliver y needs and saw construction projects through completion. I extend my gratitude to these employees for their resilience and look for ward to another year with an outstanding workforce. Richard Mendoza, Public Works Director
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2020 Fall Edition, IN THE WORKS // page 3
OUR CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF STAFF THAT PASSED AWAY THIS SEASON: F TRENIECE WALLACE CHAMBERS, Crossing Guard, Safe Routes to School F ROBERT MATA, Crossing Guard, Safe Routes to School F CHUCK WEBB, Forestry Inspector, Urban Forestry
NEW FIRE AND EMS FIRE STATIONS
“BL ACK AUSTIN MAT TERS ” MUR AL
Public Works is delivering five high-priorit y Fire/EMS stations to help improve emergency response times throughout the communit y. Last summer, we completed construction of the Del Valle station in Southeast Austin and also started construction on the Travis Countr y station in Southwest Austin near 290W and Mopac.
Central District assisted with a community -led mural along part of Congress Ave. downtown. They loaded large dump trucks with dolomite on the evening of Monday, June 15, and formed a three block barricade while local artists painted “Black Austin Matters” in the street. This kept artists and those on-site safe while the mural was painted.
BRIDGE REPAIR AT AL AMEDA DRIVE
SAFET Y OFFICE WINS SECOND NATIONAL AWARD
Patti Moreno, from the Office of the Cit y Engineer, along with her support team, Eddie Cooper, Randal (R J) Jansky and Raul Lira completed a creative repair on a pedestrian bridge at Alameda Dr. Using reclaimed 100- year wood and old bike racks for handrails, they redid the bridge to look original and to last another 50 years!
For the second year in a row, Austin Public Works received the “Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traf fic Safet y Award” from the National Safet y Council. The award recognizes transportation safet y leaders who show an outstanding commitment to keeping their employees safe on the roads.
page 4 // IN THE WORKS, 2020 Winter Edition
MONTOP OLIS RECREATION CENTER VIRTUAL OPENING Public Works recently finished construction on the new Montopolis Recreation and Communit y Center in East Austin. For the health and safet y of residents, the building will remain closed to the public until it is safe to open. To celebrate the completion of this facilit y, a video with inter views showcasing the recreational areas, public health ser vices, and educational uses is available on the Public Works Vimeo at vimeo.com/austinpublicworks. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Building entrance/ exterior during construction; Project Manager Audra Biediger of the Architectural Project Management Division doing an interview for the virtual opening video; the gym space during construction
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERING PROGR AM
Highlights
ABOVE Justin Norvell (far right) of the Office of the City Engineer shoots a right-of-way public service announcement with the City’s ATXN video crew
RIGHT OF WAY MARKETING CAMPAIGN Public Works is asking Austin residents to do their part in maintaining trees and vegetation that grow into sidewalks, streets and alleys. Public Affairs Office is supporting the Office of the Cit y Engineer in communicating this shared responsibilit y to the public.
Through notifications to Council and neighborhoods, social media, advertising, media releases and other means, Public Works is spreading the word about clearing the right of way. Learn more about this effor t at austintexas.gov/clear therow.
TOP Drury Lane Grackle Green Pocket Park BOTTOM Cook Elementary Gaga Pit & Park Improvements NOTE: These community projects were completed earlier this year. However, due to COVID-19, their openings have been delayed.
SOUTH DISTRICT SP OTLIGHT South District daytime and nighttime crews continue to do what they do best— responding to customer ser vice requests, pothole repairs, utilit y cuts, and maintaining downtown infrastructure, to name a few. One ser vice request involved responding to a “rut” on Teri Rd. This is t ypically caused when large vehicles use the street frequently, resulting in erosion underneath the sur face. After sur veying the area and securing a permit, the crew set up traffic control and began the process of sawing and tearing out the area. After applying the new asphalt, the street looked brand new!
Work doesn’t stop for South District. While the cit y sleeps, the nighttime crew is hard at work power washing common areas downtown like 6th St. and Congress Ave. They also clean graffiti and repair sidewalk bricks and pavers. They keep things safe and ready for the next day.
page 6 // IN THE WORKS, 2020 Winter Edition
EMERGENCY OPER ATIONS
OVERL AY APPRECIATION
ASSISTANCE
FROM FORMER COUNCIL
Throughout the COVID-19 period, Street and Bridge assisted the Emergency Operations Center with behind-the -scenes logistics. These ser vices included power washing a testing facility, setting up traffic control at various testing sites, and engineering hand washing stations when resources were scarce. Crews continue to provide support at various COVID personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution events.
Overlay work crews received praise from former District 1 Council Member, Ora Houston, for their street resur facing work on Manor Rd. in East Austin. She drove by several times, honking and yelling “thank you” to the crew. She even called to express her gratitude for their great work. Another job well done for the Overlay Work Group!
MEMBER
SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SUPP ORTS NEW REMOTE WORK ENVIRONMENT Systems and Information Management (SIM) stepped up to the plate and began preparing employees to work remotely just before restrictions related to COVID-19 hit Austin. SIM helped employees get laptops, routers, and remote connectivit y soft ware. They put in the work and were able to develop and deploy a fully vir tual IT suppor t model. They continue to accommodate new requests for sof t ware, hardware, and telephones and are working closely with partners at Communications and Technology Management (CTM) to prioritize and expedite these requests on a daily basis. Their process to get employees resources is quick and contact-less to help ensure ever yone’s safet y.
R AINEY STREET OVERL AY Due to lower traffic volumes during Stay at Home guidelines, Pavement Operations was able to work in areas that are usually crowded and busy. This crew applied a mill and overlay on Rainey Street and River Street—a project they have been planning to do for the last t wo years. They completed the project in just four days.
FORESTRY CLEARS THE RIGHT OF WAY Spring is the busiest season for Urban Forestr y. The team responded to 18 customer ser vice requests in just one day! Many of these calls were emergency requests due to a heavy storm that caused broken limbs and entire trees to fall and obstruct sidewalks and roads.
CAPITAL METRO R AIL STATION The Capital Metro rail station located downtown at 4th and Trinit y is under construction, expanding to t wo tracks to accommodate the high volume of passengers. Beau Tinsley, Engineering Construction Coordinator II, said, “It’s not a complicated project, but it is complex due to underground utilit y work. The depth of the utilities had to be extended so that they did not absorb the downward pressure of the trains. We are working with absolutely ever y utilit y you can think of.” The rail station is a Capital Metro project and involves Public Works, Austin Water, Austin Energy, Watershed Projection and many others.
With the exception of t wo of the requests, Urban Forestr y was able to handle most of these on their own!
2020 Winter Edition, IN THE WORKS // page 7
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN TX PERMIT NO. 2015 CIT Y OF AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767-1088
IN THE NEWS For more photos and stories of colleagues and events, check out these other Public Works communications: FACEBOOK (facebook .com/ atxpublicworks), FLICKR (flickr.com/photos/atxpublicworks) and our IN THE WORKS E-NEWSLET TER delivered straight to your inbox!