Protect the Historic Barton Springs Bridge ‌+ ‌Post-Trial Update in Voter Petition Lawsuit

The City of Austin is considering a permit to build a new highway style bridge (double the size) across Barton Creek at Barton Springs Road.
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The Barton Springs Bridge, first built in 1926 and expanded in 1946, is part of a larger, largely intact network of Art Deco-era creek bridges built across Austin between the 1920s-1940s. 

Despite claims from City Staff that the bridge is beyond repair, experts have debunked these assertions, showing that only minor maintenance is needed, not the costly $40 million demolition and replacement proposed. Further, arguments that the bridge is unsafe for traffic or pedestrians are unsubstantiated, as recent safety improvements have been successful, and the bridge poses no significant danger. Restoring the existing bridge would support the historic fabric of Zilker Park, while avoiding the unnecessary environmental harms that come with ripping out the existing bridge and putting in a new one. 

​Here's how to speak out:
The Historic Landmark Commission will hear this case Wednesday, Feb 4 at 6:00 p.m. You can attend in person at City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. The agenda and backup materials are available HERE.

• Register to speak in advance (remote OR in person) at this link
• Virtual/teleconference registration closes at 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting, and in-person registration closes at 5:45 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Speakers must complete all required sections of the form, and enter Opposed to Item #8
• For questions, contact [email protected]

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SAVE AUSTIN'S SOUL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Post-Trial Update

Austin United PAC’s legal team, led by Save Our Springs Alliance public interest attorneys Bill Bunch and Bobby Levinski, laid out the law and evidence to support reversing the Austin City Clerk's rejection of AUPAC voter petition to call time out on the City's $5.6 billion, 32-year debt-financed convention center project and redirect public spending to support cultural and outdoor tourism that benefits visitors, locals, our creative economy, and our water and parks. If the petitioned ordinance advances and gets approved, these funds would be more equitably spent across the City--rather than just downtown. 

Judge Mangrum took the case under advisement. AUPAC has requested the Court to order the Austin City Clerk to certify the petition as valid in time for the Austin City Council to place the petitioned ordinance onto a special May 2026 ballot. 

Key points of the legal argument included:

1. The Clerk’s wrongful disqualification of ETJ and Limited Purpose District voters
2. The Clerk’s wrongful rejection of voters they were able to find on voter rolls based on technicalities 
3. The City's and City Clerk's extreme efforts to mislead the public and the court and to hide critical information from the public, AUPAC's attorneys, and the court.

The City Clerk, Erika Brady, was notably absent from the trial proceedings. Deputy City Clerk, Stephanie Hall, represented Clerk Brady. The Defendants’ legal team was led by Austin attorney Paul Trahan.

READ MORE HERE