Last year, they ferried more than 4.6 million passengers over 13 different routes, linking such areas as the Pickle Research Center in North Austin to Riverside in southeast Austin with the University. 

Thousands of pine seedlings grown at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas are being packed up and shipped for planting in Bastrop County.

Mayor Lee Leffingwell spoke of Austin as being in a “golden era” in his State of the City address.

Security concerns have led event organizers to plan to close some downtown roads for nine days, as opposed to last year's four-day closure period.