Local Officials Expect Briefing On Status Of Austin F1 Track
Commissioners plan to discuss a draft of a letter to circuit officials regarding a mass gathering permit, improvements to several roads surrounding the circuit, and proposed public safety and traffic management plans, according to the meeting agenda.
The items will be discussed in executive session.
A circuit attorney last week told the American-Statesman that organizers plan to apply for the mass gathering permit, which is required under state law and can apply to events in unincorporated areas that attract, or are expected to attract, more than 2,500 people for five hours or longer.
An application for the permit must be submitted to a county judge at least 45 days in advance of the event, with a hearing to be held no later than 10 days before the event.
A Formula One race is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 16 through 18 at the circuit. Officials have said the race may draw 100,000 fans or more.
Steve Manilla, the county executive for transportation and natural resources, said $8 million of road improvements pending on three county roads near the track are only peripherally involved in the wrangling over the mass gathering permit.
He said the county and circuit officials have yet to reach accord on a $6 million plan to widen to four lanes about a mile of Elroy Road on the north side of the track property, “but it’s looking like they’re coming around to agreeing with us on that."
Circuit officials have also said they have been working on a traffic control plan for months. The Statesman
03/27/12 Travis County (Texas) Commissioners this morning are "expecting to get briefed on the status" of the Circuit of the Americas F1 track from venue officials, which could "shed some light on what's next for the project." Assistant County Attorney Tom Nuckols said that the "law requires for business to come up with a public safety and traffic plan for the county before commissioners can give F1 a Mass Gathering permit." Some roads leading to and from the track are reportedly in need of improvements KVUE.com