City: Yes to boardwalk; no to terminal

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council approved the $21.7 million Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk in what was shaping up to be a busy Thursday at City Hall.

Boardwalk project is designed to close the 1.2-mile gap on the hike-and-bike Trail. Since the contract is now approved, construction could begin next month. If that happens, the boardwalk is expected to be complete by February 2014.

At 9 p.m., the council decided to not approve the plan to build a temporary terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to handle travelers from oversees coming for the Formula One race weekend in November.

On the boardwalk project, voters two years ago approved a $14 million bond that would make this project a reality, but it was up to City Council to give the green light to the contractor.

The project will be constructed mostly on the water between Congress Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard to the east.

Right now, trail users have to exit the path near the Austin American-Statesman building and take the sidewalk along Riverside Drive, crossing over Interstate 35 to reconnect back onto the path.

And this project is costing more than originally thought.

Voters approved a $14 million bond, and the Trail Foundation raised $3 million -- meaning the city had to come up with an additional $5 million in funds.

City officials said they will pull money from a 2000 voter-approved transportation bond that went unspent.

Update at 7:30 p.m .: Council authorized city staff to move forward with the purchase of a new helicopter for APD.