Great news for the city of Austin!! Love this town:)










QuestBack software firm considers HQ move to Austin - Austin Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2013/11/questback-software-firm-considers-move.html)

"We're expecting to move quickly and have about 50 people [in Austin] or up to 75." Can't Austin do better than that?

"We're expecting to move quickly and have about 50 people [in Austin] or up to 75." Can't Austin do better than that?I would assume certain tech companies would not have very many employees. This is good for Austin, although I'd rather have it here in OKC.

"We're expecting to move quickly and have about 50 people [in Austin] or up to 75." Can't Austin do better than that? Well, since you want to know. How about this for more proof!



Austin retains ranking as No. 1 economy in the U.S. - Austin Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2013/11/austin-retains-ranking-as-no-1.html)

Austin is an amazing city and a true boomtown. I wouldn't mind living there myself though I prefer Dallas or Houston. The question is though, even though they have a great job market is it still near impossible to land a good job there? A few years ago, even with the stellar job growth it still wasn't enough to keep up with the influx of people. The number of applicants to open job ratio was so high that it was far easier to land a job in places with statistically much worse economies. I would imagine that is still the case.

OKC on the other hand I would imagine has a relatively low job seeker to open position ratio making this an easy place to open doors that may not be available to you elsewhere.

Austin has been atop of every economic development poll out here for the last few years, Austin is a different animal, so much growth and economic development, but 15 years ago, it was at the bottom, nonetheless Austin continues to grow and dominate in every fashion.

OKC could just as easily experience an Austin type boom or larger in the next 5-10 years

Austin has been atop of every economic development poll out here for the last few years, Austin is a different animal, so much growth and economic development, but 15 years ago, it was at the bottom, nonetheless Austin continues to grow and dominate in every fashion.

Part of the reason Austin is doing so well is its media hype and positive national perception. Austin is a place people WANT to live and get excited about. It offers more than a great job market. It offers a great quality of life with a cutting edge arts/cultural scene and progressive atmosphere. It's a great place to be single even if you are in your late twenties and early thirties. It also offers great suburbs and family life for those looking for that. The hill country also offers excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation that you aren't able to find in Dallas, Houston, or OKC. Austin is an all around great city seemingly with something for everybody.

It's really not that complicated, there is only one thing that keeps Austin booming, professional high-tech paying jobs. After that, comes everything else...

It's really not that complicated, there is only one thing that keeps Austin booming, professional high-tech paying jobs. After that, comes everything else...

Wow. Disagree. It's first and foremost the quality of life and the availability of a highly educated work force. People want to live in Austin. High tech, high-paying employers tend to locate where they have access to a high quality talent pool.

It's really not that complicated, there is only one thing that keeps Austin booming, professional high-tech paying jobs. After that, comes everything else...


Wow. Disagree. It's first and foremost the quality of life and the availability of a highly educated work force. People want to live in Austin. High tech, high-paying employers tend to locate where they have access to a high quality talent pool.
Both are actually true, it is a chicken/egg argument at this point because they have the momentum. Right now there there are way more job seekers than jobs in the tech industry because of the changing landscape of tech and the influx of people moving there without a job. Some love it and eventually find something and some move onto some other place. Tech is still a pretty hard industry to get into because of the surplus of talent available. A friend who moved there from OKC in 1988 worked in the semiconductor industry for a lot of years until it closed up shop. They moved back to OKC for awhile and then back to Austin, he just got a job at the Samsung plant after trying to get out of the tech sector for awhile.

When I moved there in 2003 (to get married) it took me two years to find a job (did contract work in the interim) because of the tech bust that happened in the post Y2K era and the drop off in development. One firm I interviewed with had over 100 resumes for a position and I was one of four interviewed. When I did get a job it was because the development started ramping up again.

Wow. Disagree. It's first and foremost the quality of life and the availability of a highly educated work force. People want to live in Austin. High tech, high-paying employers tend to locate where they have access to a high quality talent pool.

I agree. It's a catch 22. Young, educated professionals want to live in Austin and due to the talent surplus there its a very attractive place for jobs to locate. There are some places people move for jobs alone and there are others people move to for the lifestyle. Austin is one of those places people move to for the lifestyle and it just so happens to have a great job market. The quality of life down there is the envy of many cities including OKC. It's a place that is so attractive people will spend their life savings to move there without a job.

I agree. It's a catch 22. Young, educated professionals want to live in Austin and due to the talent surplus there its a very attractive place for jobs to locate. There are some places people move for jobs alone and there are others people move to for the lifestyle. Austin is one of those places people move to for the lifestyle and it just so happens to have a great job market. The quality of life down there is simply leaps and bounds beyond OKC (or any smaller city in the Midwest). It's a place that is so attractive people will spend their life savings to move there without a job. Compare that to OKC where headhunters sometimes have educated recruits turn down positions once the city is revealed because they cannot see themselves living here. I think it will be difficult for OKC to ever see the type of boom Austin is experiencing as long as the national perception (boring, backwards, country) persists.

Jesus. I can't agree with you even when I agree with you. Is everything so black and white? Your posts are depressing.

Is it possible for you to acknowledge that while Austin enjoys a favorable impression that is the envy of most cities, that OKC's, while behind, is improving?

Both are actually true, it is a chicken/egg argument at this point because they have the momentum. Right now there there are way more job seekers than jobs in the tech industry because of the changing landscape of tech and the influx of people moving there without a job. Some love it and eventually find something and some move onto some other place. Tech is still a pretty hard industry to get into because of the surplus of talent available. A friend who moved there from OKC in 1988 worked in the semiconductor industry for a lot of years until it closed up shop. They moved back to OKC for awhile and then back to Austin, he just got a job at the Samsung plant after trying to get out of the tech sector for awhile.

When I moved there in 2003 (to get married) it took me two years to find a job (did contract work in the interim) because of the tech bust that happened in the post Y2K era and the drop off in development. One firm I interviewed with had over 100 resumes for a position and I was one of four interviewed. When I did get a job it was because the development started ramping up again.

I agree that it takes more jobs to sustain Austin's boom, but it was the quality of life and educated workforce that happened first. Austin didn't just go out and start bribing major employers to locate there. That's not what happened.

Jesus. I can't agree with you even when I agree with you. Is everything so black and white? Your posts are depressing.

Is it possible for you to acknowledge that while Austin enjoys a favorable impression that is the envy of most cities, that OKC's, while behind, is improving?

Edited it. OKC is improving and within the next five years, as the developments currently being announced get completed, will completely change the feel here.

The key is any creative enterprises, not just zoning in on tech.

When I moved there in 2003 (to get married) it took me two years to find a job (did contract work in the interim) because of the tech bust that happened in the post Y2K era and the drop off in development. One firm I interviewed with had over 100 resumes for a position and I was one of four interviewed. When I did get a job it was because the development started ramping up again.

For all of the honey and sunshine emulating from Austin these days, I have to wonder if they have diversified their economy enough to avoid the ugliness from 2001-03. There seems to be a growing consensus that tech is in a pretty big bubble and its bound to pop in the next 2-3 years.

As far as non-IT employment is concerned, I've heard that Austin is a black hole, largely because it it a place so many move to without employment. I actually knew of someone who moved down there because he read in Forbes/Fortune/etc. how jobs are falling from the sky and what a cool party town it was with hot babes and live music on every corner. Long story short, after months of couch surfing and no prospects, he's now back in OKC with a job with Chaparral.

I actually knew of someone who moved down there because he read in Forbes/Fortune/etc. how jobs are falling from the sky and what a cool party town it was with hot babes and live music on every corner. Long story short, after months of couch surfing and no prospects, he's now back in OKC with a job with Chaparral.

That's actually a common story. Because Austin is so popular, the job seeker to open position ratio is way out of whack and many people who move there actually end up underemployed. The same thing is also happening in Portland, Oregon, which is pretty much Austin's west coast sibling. Austin is a very attractive place for the culture and the lifestyle but it isn't all sunshine and roses. The media won't tell you that for every open position there is likely hundreds if not thousands of resumes submitted. Hopefully if the tech market crashes again they have diversified enough that it won't be as bad for them as it was during the early 2000s recession, a time when a lot of people were leaving Austin because it was so bad.

Quality of life is alright in Austin. It all depends on what you are looking for. Me personally, I would choose OKC over Austin any day. I might have said this before and I will say it again, in the end, I will end up here in OKC because that is my hometown. I would like to play around in LA for a few years and maybe experience some Euro living but I love this town.

I have been to Austin a few times and never really saw how it's quality of life is that much above OKC. Austin is an awesome city with a lot to offer, has grocery stores like Kroger's, Tom Thumb, HEB, Costco etc., an awesome bike network, and some awesome residential towers. Austin also has nightmarish traffic and I believe is now ranked as bad or worse than LA. Austin may be in a tier above OKC though.

But lets take a look here: Kroger's will likely be coming to OKC in the coming years(or less) as well as other quality grocers, OKC will likely get a few new high-rise residential towers in the coming years with C2S, our bike network is expanding fast, there are tons of new urban neighborhoods that are emerging throughout the city, growing tech scene with GE choosing OKC over Austin, an amazing highway network served by 3 interstates, new fairly expansive streetcar system and much more amazing districts with great restaurants and retail stores. Also, if this rumored Costco development by St. Anthony's comes true, then OKC will really be closing in on the gap. One might even say OKC is about on the same level as Austin, but if that stretches it too far for you, then know that OKC is only a tier below Austin and that will change very quickly.

Quality of life is alright in Austin. It all depends on what you are looking for. Me personally, I would choose OKC over Austin any day. I might have said this before and I will say it again, in the end, I will end up here in OKC because that is my hometown. I would like to play around in LA for a few years and maybe experience some Euro living but I love this town.

I have been to Austin a few times and never really saw how it's quality of life is that much above OKC. Austin is an awesome city with a lot to offer, has grocery stores like Kroger's, Tom Thumb, HEB, Costco etc., an awesome bike network, and some awesome residential towers. Austin also has nightmarish traffic and I believe is now ranked as bad or worse than LA. Austin may be in a tier above OKC though.

But lets take a look here: Kroger's will likely be coming to OKC in the coming years(or less) as well as other quality grocers, OKC will likely get a few new high-rise residential towers in the coming years with C2S, our bike network is expanding fast, there are tons of new urban neighborhoods that are emerging throughout the city, growing tech scene with GE choosing OKC over Austin, an amazing highway network served by 3 interstates, new fairly expansive streetcar system and much more amazing districts with great restaurants and retail stores. Also, if this rumored Costco development by St. Anthony's comes true, then OKC will really be closing in on the gap. One might even say OKC is about on the same level as Austin, but if that stretches it too far for you, then know that OKC is only a tier below Austin and that will change very quickly.

Austin's traffic problem is due to the fact it only has one Interstate running through it. The city was never designed to become as massive as it has become. Traffic was bad back in 2007 last time I was there. I can only imagine how bad it is today.

Austin is ahead, significantly, as far as retail/grocery as you mentioned, but those things aren't why somebody would choose to live in Austin. Austin is attractive due to the arts/cultural scene and the outdoor recreation. It's live music scene is one of its biggest assets. It's attractive due to the focus on urban development and walkability in their core. Its attractive due to the progressive politics and reputation for being very tolerant of diverse cultures and lifestyles. It's attractive due to a stronger focus being placed on intellectualism than in many other cities. It's really the model example for many cities, including OKC, in our own downtown gentrification. Another area where Austin is great is single life as the prime age for marriage there, as is the case in most progressive cities, a few years later than it is here in OKC. It however, Austin is not for everyone and it does have its disadvantages.

Personally if I was going to live in Texas Houston would be my top choice followed by Dallas and then Austin. Austin though is a great example though of what kind of city is attractive to the up and coming generation.

I disagree that Austin is that far ahead and I think OKC will catch up extremely fast in the next decade or less.

If I were to live in Texas again, I would choose were I lived before, Dallas, followed by Houston, Corpus Christi and then Austin.

I agree that it takes more jobs to sustain Austin's boom, but it was the quality of life and educated workforce that happened first. Austin didn't just go out and start bribing major employers to locate there. That's not what happened.
They have had several booms in various sectors of technology, the "quality of life/jobs" pretty much happened concurrently. One doesn't really happen without the other. They have always had a large student base which helped attract employers at first but most of the people relocating there now are post-graduate. There are just people from schools all over the country that there are probably more with no connection to UT there now than those who do. Austin was always known for a burgeoning music scene when Willie Nelson moved back to Texas after a stint in Nashville. Music was why my friend moved there in 1988 playing in several bands, in the 90's he got a "real job" in a semiconductor plant. It has always been the case of some people moving there because of lifestyle and some moving because of jobs, I had co-workers of both persuasions. One moved from DC because her boyfriend got a job in Austin so they relocated. One relocated to Austin from Chicago win no job to be closer to his ailing mother in Monterrey, Mexico, he has since moved back to Chicago. Some went to school at UT or Texas State from other parts of the sate and never left the area (like my wife did for 20+ years). Some relocated from elsewhere because they found a job first (like I did moving from Austin to Denver).

In the 70's you had IBM locate there which was really the start of the tech boom, you had many other companies locating there because of the IBM manufacturing facilities. The Domain is the brownfield redevelopment of former IBM and Tokyo Semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Motorola had many fabs there (later spun off into Freescale). 3M located a large R&D center there and at one time threaten the State of Minnesota with relocating their HQ there leaving St. Paul. In the 80's Dell exploded in size and software development started taking hold, that started the movement of companies there servicing Dell and others. AMD had a large presence there and Intel a sizable one. The 90's also had a tech/telecom boom, when the telecom bust happened it was another down cycle. All of the very large companies had some sort of incentive (outside of Dell which started in Austin) from the state to locate large facilities there. In many cases that led to the others locating to service those companies without incentives. Boxx Technologies relocated from the Phoenix area because of Dell and the suppliers who were local to Dell so it made it easier for them to make their specialty PC business work better.

I still say it is a chicken/egg argument because both jobs and quality of life are so intertwined, without one the other would suffer and would ultimately be unsustainable.


Austin's traffic problem is due to the fact it only has one Interstate running through it. The city was never designed to become as massive as it has become. Traffic was bad back in 2007 last time I was there. I can only imagine how bad it is today.

Austin is ahead, significantly, as far as retail/grocery as you mentioned, but those things aren't why somebody would choose to live in Austin. Austin is attractive due to the arts/cultural scene and the outdoor recreation. It's live music scene is one of its biggest assets. It's attractive due to the focus on urban development and walkability in their core. Its attractive due to the progressive politics and reputation for being very tolerant of diverse cultures and lifestyles. It's attractive due to a stronger focus being placed on intellectualism than in many other cities. It's really the model example for many cities, including OKC, in our own downtown gentrification. Another area where Austin is great is single life as the prime age for marriage there, as is the case in most progressive cities, a few years later than it is here in OKC. It however, Austin is not for everyone and it does have its disadvantages.

Personally if I was going to live in Texas Houston would be my top choice followed by Dallas and then Austin. Austin though is a great example though of what kind of city is attractive to the up and coming generation.
Many Austinites still harbor this notion that Austin should always be a "hippie college town" like it was when they moved there to go to school. That thinking infects the city council every so often and when it does they fight any means of growth. That is the reason why the highway development in the area has been lacking for a long time, some in power at crucial times literally had a "don't build it and they won't come" mentality. You also have constituents/legislators in DFW, Houston and San Antonio who have tended to block highway development in the Austin area as well. The representation of the area in the state legislature is fractured by gerrymandering. The internal and external factions restricting a comprehensive road plan has hamstrung the area as it has grown at the rate that it has.

Austin has no Kroger or Albertson's (left the market while I lived there), HEB dominates the area, Randall's is strong and Fiesta has a few stores.

Good insight on Austin, bluedogok. I have heard more than one person say the growth has ruined it. For years, their skyline was stunted because they would not allow any building to be taller than the top of the capitol dome. I remember a lot of people were against it when they lifted the restriction. "Don't Houston My Austin" was a saying. Now I totally don't agree with those people and imagine Austin is probably far better now than it was 20 years ago, but there is definitely an anti-growth segment of the population there.

I think OKC is improving but has a long, long, long way to go before it's an Austin. I mean we are basically talking about having one of item x or hoping to get one of each of item x y and z in the next few years, but in Austin there are so many choices whether you're talking about groceries or whatever it's unbelievable. The arts culture is unreal. I remember someone posting on this board about how OKC is next level now because we have a food truck party once a month, a cool arts festival once or twice a year, and so on. I remember thinking that person had absolutely no idea what it's like living in Austin where there are a dozen different things going on each and every day. I like OKC don't get me wrong but we are probably still 20 years away from being anything like ATX at our current velocity... Have to be realistic.

One thing I don't care for about Austin is that there really isn't that much natural or historical appeal. The locals always point you to bars or something to go do. Seems like if you want nature you go to New Braunsfels and for history San Antonio. This is why I think city beautification, continuing to fund and maintain The Memorial site, and the Native American museum project, are so important for OKC. It should really be any city's goal to be as diverse as it can be and offer "the total package" for its residents and potential visitors.

Never cared for Dallas when I lived there. It's definitely a big city but there's something very plastic about the place. A friend lives in Houston and says he loves it there.

And before it's said yeah I know about Mount Bonnell and west Austin. But I kind of view that like taking a trip out to the lake or down to Lawton.

I think OKC is improving but has a long, long, long way to go before it's an Austin. I mean we are basically talking about having one of item x or hoping to get one of each of item x y and z in the next few years, but in Austin there are so many choices whether you're talking about groceries or whatever it's unbelievable. The arts culture is unreal. I remember someone posting on this board about how OKC is next level now because we have a food truck party once a month, a cool arts festival once or twice a year, and so on. I remember thinking that person had absolutely no idea what it's like living in Austin where there are a dozen different things going on each and every day. I like OKC don't get me wrong but we are probably still 20 years away from being anything like ATX at our current velocity... Have to be realistic.

One thing I don't care for about Austin is that there really isn't that much natural or historical appeal. The locals always point you to bars or something to go do. Seems like if you want nature you go to New Braunsfels and for history San Antonio. This is why I think city beautification, continuing to fund and maintain The Memorial site, and the Native American museum project, are so important for OKC. It should really be any city's goal to be as diverse as it can be and offer "the total package" for its residents and potential visitors.

Never cared for Dallas when I lived there. It's definitely a big city but there's something very plastic about the place. A friend lives in Houston and says he loves it there.

I agree.

As far as the "natural attractions" it also depends on the age group you are talking to. My twentysomething co-workers who grew up in Austin rarely knew anything outside of Austin except for floating the Comal or Frio, which of course was centered around drinking just like the majority of their in town excursions. Those who grew up outside of the area (Texas or elsewhere) tended to be more adventurous and find excuses to go somewhere else. I guess maybe it was the motorcycle group that I rode with that we traveled all over the Hill Country, only a few "locals" were in that group and most were around my age (40's). We would hit BBQ and small town cafes, the great riding roads and little hole in the wall shops and the motorcycle museum in the middle of nowhere. That is just something most of those still in their prime "drinking age" just don't do there.

Another amazing accolade for the city of Austin! Wow, the business climate in Texas continues to shine and attract out of state headquarters!




Websense selects Austin for expansion, will bring 470 jobs - Austin Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2014/02/28/websense-picks-austin-will-bring-470-jobs.html)

Dropbox to employ 200 workers in Austin by next year, exec confirm

Dropbox to employ 200 workers in Austin by next year, exec confirms - Austin Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2014/05/dropbox-to-employ-200-workers-in-austin-by-next.html)

We had a keynote speaker at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance neighborhood luncheon who was a professor from Texas A&M. The guy had done research on Austin's deterioration in QoL and cited a Dell executive saying it has become more difficult to attract the best and brightest to Austin. Seattle has not had a comparable increase in sprawl and commutes and the political climate isn't as toxic.

We had a keynote speaker at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance neighborhood luncheon who was a professor from Texas A&M. The guy had done research on Austin's deterioration in QoL and cited a Dell executive saying it has become more difficult to attract the best and brightest to Austin. Seattle has not had a comparable increase in sprawl and commutes and the political climate isn't as toxic.

Did he say why?

Austin technology CEOs gave the city's ability to cope with worsening traffic and a tough job market mixed reviews during an Austin Technology Council event Thursday.


http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2014/05/austin-area-technology-execs-give-city-mixed.htm

Given the fact Austin has one of the worst traffic problems for a city it's size and not looking any brighter either. Also our unemployment rate in Austin is at 3.8% and given that Austin is the "it" city to be in drives huge amounts of growth and creates fierce competition with other competitors.

Austin starting to work on it’s traffic woes, we have built new tollroads. ( Yes lots of people use them). The city now is expanding it's B Cycle stations. It recently opened up 40 stations back in February and has exceeded expectations. Our commuter rail is expanding adding extra tracks along the existing route. It also has exceeded expectations as well with nearly 3,000 daily boardings. All in all Austin is doing what it can but with the massive growth going on in the city and metropolitan wise, it's hard to keep up with infrastructure. The 2014 census placed the city population of having 865,504 and 1,926,998 in the metro area.

Some pictures I took 2 days ago.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/14278092072_ce734e61fa_c.jpg

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It's so nice seeing tower cranes across Downtown Austin. Hopefully we can see the same thing over Oklahoma City in the coming years. :-)

It's so nice seeing tower cranes across Downtown Austin. Hopefully we can see the same thing over Oklahoma City in the coming years. :-)Hopefully. These smaller residential developments are nice and exciting, but it's about time we see some real development that really stands out like what's going on in Austin. I really hope OKC gets some light-rail soon as traffic here is just starting to get bad. Took me an hour and a half to get from Kilpatrick to I240 and Shields today. Granted that is a rare occasion but it is happening more and more.

OKC has potential, I wish you guys up there the best.

Did he say why?

In addition to Austin's hideous traffic and infrastructure woes, it is really starting to get quite expensive down there. I know several native Texans who frequent Austin on the weekends but would never entertain moving there because it is such a step down economically, especially coming from Dallas or Houston where its so much cheaper.

With that in mind, I don't expect growth to abate anytime soon. Austin is now the de facto back office of Silicon Valley and there is a definite pipeline of people moving from one to the other. And as so long as a 3 bedroom ranch house will cost you $800K in San Jose people will continue to find value in Austin.

Amazing pictures, Jon. I'm old enough to remember when the Austin skyline was comprised mostly the capitol dome and, well, the sky.

That it has. It's amazing how the media still portraits Austin has inexpensive when it's not. Maybe I should create an ad on tv stating how affordable OKC and Tulsa is. I'll be happy to give you all part of our growth. :)

I remember when Austin was like that as well. But I'm glad it's growing up. Though I'm not to thrilled how expensive it is, but you pay what you get. :)

It is expensive when coming in from Silicon Valley or if you are writer from NYC.

What is Austin going to do about the water shortage? How will they sustain the growth when the water runs dry?

What is Austin going to do about the water shortage? How will they sustain the growth when the water runs dry?If Phoenix can do it, I'm sure Austin will find a way. I might be wrong, but doesn't Austin receive a somewhat decent amount of rainfall? The few times I driven through there, it seems to contain quite a bit of plant life.

If Phoenix can do it, I'm sure Austin will find a way. I might be wrong, but doesn't Austin receive a somewhat decent amount of rainfall? The few times I driven through there, it seems to contain quite a bit of plant life.

I don't know for certain, but Austin is suffering from severe drought and they're on some pretty severe water restrictions, but things are getting worse.

If Phoenix can do it, I'm sure Austin will find a way. I might be wrong, but doesn't Austin receive a somewhat decent amount of rainfall? The few times I driven through there, it seems to contain quite a bit of plant life.

duplicate post, sorry.

If Phoenix can do it, I'm sure Austin will find a way. I might be wrong, but doesn't Austin receive a somewhat decent amount of rainfall? The few times I driven through there, it seems to contain quite a bit of plant life.

Austin yearly average is 32.15". I bet it doesn't go as far as a like amount in central Oklahoma, since 90s and 100s start there sooner and last longer.

Atlanta, which gets more rain, was in the news several years ago over an awful drought, until the rains finally came. I wonder if that city has a plan in place, should the next drought be worse.

While there is a possibility Austin could run out of water, but I highly doubt that will ever happen. Right now the state is building several reservoirs west of Austin and the already completed 4th water treatment plant. This past few weeks Austin and the lakes out west has been getting hammered with rain and with more coming this week.

I don't know for certain, but Austin is suffering from severe drought and they're on some pretty severe water restrictions, but things are getting worse.

LCRA gives outlook on Central Texas lakes and drought (http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/05/28/lcra-gives-update-outlook-on-central-texas-lakes-and-drought/9688701/)

Austin yearly average is 32.15". I bet it doesn't go as far as a like amount in central Oklahoma, since 90s and 100s start there sooner and last longer.

Atlanta, which gets more rain, was in the news several years ago over an awful drought, until the rains finally came. I wonder if that city has a plan in place, should the next drought be worse.

I am not that familiar with the climate of central Texas, but one thing about Oklahoma is you can rarely count on getting the average. Most years are either well above average or well below it. In the Southeast (Atlanta) rainfall is pretty reliable though they do have droughts from time to time. Even the worst droughts out there are nothing compared to droughts out here near the 100th meridian. They need to have a plan in place though because the sheer population and demand could cause a problem that 30 years ago wouldn't have existed under the same weather conditions.

The time that I lived in Austin we would go through 2-3 years of drought then have a month or two of floods then back to 2-3 years of drought. I have seen the Highland Lakes (Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls which are upstream of Lake Travis, Lake Austin and Town Lake) get very low and the Pedernales, Blanco, Frio, Guadalupe and Comal rivers almost dry. If Central Texas keeps growing they are going to modify the LCRA agreements with the rice farmers downstream, the aquifers can get low as well and are not recharging at the rate they are being depleted.

Actually in Austin right now and was really surprised to see that the city is just getting Uber and Lyft now. I mean I will take the 50 free rides, I just kind of assumed Austin would of been one of the early markets.

Actually in Austin right now and was really surprised to see that the city is just getting Uber and Lyft now. I mean I will take the 50 free rides, I just kind of assumed Austin would of been one of the early markets.
The taxi company lobbyists have been busy at city hall and the capitol building.

Might what to be careful, Lyft has already started without the city approval. Not a good way to start operating in a new city. I do hope everything works out between them, Austin needs more transportation opinions.

Might what to be careful, Lyft has already started without the city approval. Not a good way to start operating in a new city. I do hope everything works out between them, Austin needs more transportation opinions.

Worked out well. No one had the big mustache yet, so I am sure the cops weren't looking and got all around the city for free! Lyft and Uber had/have the same problem in Omaha/STL/KC neck of the woods. Lots of talk of impounding and arrests, but I haven't heard of anything like that happening here yet.

Cops here will be citating drivers with the Lyft logo (big mustache) if caught picking up people. But it will blow over soon once the city changes it policy and gives Lyft approval soon. :)

The Lakes at TechRidge

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/14163276777_4994b4a048_c.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/14163099099_9973999c03_c.jpg

http://oxco.reapplications.com/filecabinet/Property/008835/The%20Lakes%20at%20Techridge.pdf

I'm going to start updating this thread with whats going on in the Austin metro area. I would create another sub forum but I don’t see the need for having 2 threads about Austin in here.

I'm going to start updating this thread with whats going on in the Austin metro area. I would create another sub forum but I don’t see the need for having 2 threads about Austin in here.Awesome! I love hearing about things going on in other cities. Later this summer, I might do a dual trip to visit Austin for a couple weeks then go to San Antonio for a couple weeks.

Awesome. Once your here take in the sights, I would recommend a drive through the hill country. :)