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AURA is an all-volunteer grassroots urbanist organization focused on building an Austin for everyone by improving land use and transportation through policy analysis, public involvement, and political engagement.

We are dedicated to a vision of an Austin where everybody is welcome and everybody’s interests matter: young and old, rich and poor, renter and homeowner, healthy and sick, citizen and immigrant, lifelong resident and new arrival. The greatest asset our city has is its people, and our city is at its best when it facilitates connections between all.

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Land Use, Housing, and Affordability

Austin is a popular place. Thousands of people move here every month from across Texas, the country, and the world. Some move here for Austin’s famous culture, some move here for our vibrant economy, and some for the city’s beauty. Still others stay here, or return home, due to their family roots and rich history. As long as there are people who want to make Austin their home, for whatever reason, we strive to provide enough homes for all of them. To do this, we need abundant housing of all types, from smaller apartment buildings and garage apartments in established neighborhoods to downtown skyscrapers to single-family housing.

Transportation and Walkability

Austin’s not full, but the roads that lead to it are. To solve that we need a transportation system where people can get from A to B without a car. That means adding more buses, bike lanes, side-walks, and high-capacity transit like urban rail and rapid buses.

Blog

Austin City Council Candidate Questionnaire 2024

AURA submitted five questions on Austin housing and transportation issues to candidates in the City Council races for Districts 6, 7, and 10. District 6 Mackenzie Kelly Did not answer. Krista Laine District 7 Edwin Bautista Gary Bledsoe Did not answer. Pierre Nguyễn Did not answer. Adam Powell Todd Shaw Mike Siegel District 10 Marc …

Council wants you to weigh in on allowing more homes near transit and small lot homes

On May 16, Austin City Council will take public input and vote on housing reforms aimed at making Austin more walkable, transit-friendly, affordable, and sustainable. These changes are: Council is billing these as “transit-supportive” changes because these changes are partly meant to support access to transit, increase ridership, and strengthen Project Connect’s application for federal …