Message from the City Manager

Marc A. OttCity ManagerCity of Austin, Texas

Austin is evolving, and the Public Works Department is evolv-ing along with it to meet the growing needs of our dynamic city. Charged with maintaining transportation infrastructure, establishing standards for work performed in the right of way, delivering major Capital Improvement projects and keeping Austin connected via streets, sidewalks, and trails, the department is looking ahead and planning for the future.

This year’s Annual Report outlines how the Public Works Department used the public funding it received and demonstrates the perfor-mance of its various divisions over the past year. It also highlights the tenets of innovation, transparency, and economy that the Depart-ment continues to embrace.

From installing new protected bike lanes, to managing the con-struction of public spaces such as the Central Library, to keeping hundreds of miles of roadways in good repair, the Public Works De-partment enhances the quality of life for all of Austin, making it one of the best managed cities in the country.

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Howard S. Lazarus, PE, PWLFPublic Works DirectorCity of Austin, Texas

Public Works Annual Report

The members of your Public Works Department are proud to present the third edition of our An-nual Report to you – our residents, businesses, and “shareholders.” The past 12 months were filled with delivery of long-awaited projects, improvements to our transportation and utili-ties infrastructure, and enhancements to our neighborhood-oriented services.

The Annual Report, which provides visibility and insight into the more than $400 million you have entrusted us with, is organized by service delivery area for the fiscal year stretching from October 2012 through September 2013. This report also serves the purpose of meeting our reporting requirements as specified within the City Code.

On the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) side, FY 2013 saw the completion of the African American Cultural & Heritage Facility, the Aus-tin Asian American Resource Center, the Barton Springs Bypass Tunnel, the Barton Springs Road Cycle Track, and numerous street improvement projects. Significantly, we also broke ground on the New Central Library and the related trail, bridge, and road improvements. Progress con-tinued on the signature projects of the Waller Creek Tunnel, Water Treatment Plant 4, and the Ladybird Lake Boardwalk. All three of these projects are scheduled for completion in the coming year.

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Our operations activities also continued at a high pace, with an eye focused on improv-ing and maintaining the quality of our streets, sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and bicycle facilities. During 2013, the multi-modal focus has been evident on streets throughout Austin, includ-ing the installation of protected bicycle lanes on Barton Springs Road and Pedernales Street support of Bus Rapid Transit; and improved pe-destrian connections.

While we are proud to have “public” as part of our name, our success is reflective of the larger “public works family” within city government. We work with an exceptional team of internal and external partners and outreach staff to ensure that services are delivered efficiently, seamlessly, and transparently. We thank you again for your trust and support, and look for-ward to continuing to “Connect You All Around Austin!”

Photo courtesy Michael Knox

contentsDEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION06DEPARTMENT AWARDs08FINANCIAL OVERVIEW10sUPPORT sERVICEs13

CAPITAL PROJECTs DELIVERY15

CAPITAL PROJECTs MANAGEMENT FUND14

CAPACITY EXPANsION20

CHILD SAFETY FUND28CHILD sAFETY INITIATIVEs AND HIGHLIGHTs30

TRANSPORTATION FUND31INFRAsTRUCTURE AND AssET MANAGEMENT 32ROADWAY MAINTENANCE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTs34

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NEIGHbORHOOD CONNECTIVITY22

NEIGHbORHOOD PARTNERING PROGRAM26

EMbRACING THE THREE R’s: REDUCE, REUsE AND RECYCLE35

Transportation Fund

Revenue

Transfers In

Requirements

Capital Projects Management Fund

Revenue

Transfers In

Requirements

Revenue

Requirements

Child Safety Fund

2011-2012ACTUAL

2012-2013APPROVED

Full-Time Equivalents (FTE’s)

Full-Time Equivalents (FTE’s)

Full-Time Equivalents (FTE’s)

$53,544,660

$410,000

$52,281,758

$1,605,000

$1,851,612

$2,454,878

$81,247,553

$23,463,500

$0

$24,620,470

$38,835

264

193

7

$52,975,637

$1,875,385

$47,587,127

$1,725,025

$1,723,205

$3,272,926

$77,329,256

$24,605,147

$0

$23,235,798

$1,510,200

257

190

4

Expense Refunds

Total Budget

Grant Requirements

+

80

80

2009

2010

2011

2012

Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor

Total Lane Miles

2013