One Step at a Time

Austin airport's rideshare pickup will move closer to arrivals in 2027

The current walk from the plane to the rideshare is long and even confusing to newcomers.

Photo by KVUE's John Gusky

If you have used rideshare to leave Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), you're likely familiar with the trek between the terminal and the pickup area.

AUS officials said Wednesday, September 23, that the airport’s rideshare pickup area will soon be closer to the terminal’s front doors as part of the planned Arrivals and Departures Hall. The change is expected in 2027.

The new Arrivals and Departures Hall currently remains in the design phase. Previous reporting stated that it could open as early as 2030.

The project is expected to include a new baggage claim area, expanded ticketing and check-in space, a centralized TSA security checkpoint, concessions, a mobility lounge, and a meet-and-greet area. AUS officials said more details will be released as the project moves from conceptual planning to the final design phase.

To make room for the expansion, the airport plans to close and remove the Red Garage in 2027. The garage, which provides short- and long-term parking, sits between the terminal and the current rideshare pickup area.

In February 2025, AUS broke ground on the Yellow Garage, which will replace the Red Garage. The new garage will provide about 7,000 parking spaces and is expected to be complete in 2027. It will include intelligent parking systems, revenue-control technology and roadway realignment intended to improve access around the airport.

Read the full story at our news partner KVUE.com.

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Small Sets

New 3-day Hill Country music experience will only sell 200 tickets

Albert Hotel/Facebook

The Albert Hotel will serve as a welcoming venue to kick off the three days of music, food, and more.

A new multi-day music event coming to the Hill Country will gather small crowds for shows in a beautiful outdoor setting. Called Hill Country Reserve, the new experience will debut November 2-4, 2026, at multiple venues in Fredericksburg and beyond.

The audience for Hill Country Reserve will be limited to 200, a press release says. That's already small for any music festival, but audiences will get even smaller when they're split up for dinner performances by artists including Bri Bagwell, Paul Eason, Zane Williams and Django Walker.

Other artists on the broader lineup include:

Wade Bowen
The Wilder Blue
Josh Weathers
Julianna Rankin
Hayden Redwine
Seth James
Shelby Stone
Alex Lambert
Garrett Mann
Angel White
Stewart Mann
Jack Ingram and Jon Randall (The Marfa Tapes)

Guests will first visit the Albert Hotel, a property that opened in the first few days of 2025 at the site of the historic Albert Dance Hall. They'll be treated to an opening event including dinner, drinks, vineyard views, and of course, live music. Then on the second day, guests can "move at an unhurried pace," a press release says, taking in more music and sightseeing in the "surrounding Hill Country."

On the third and final day, guests will gather at Luckenbach for closing performances, which will be taped for the Texas Music Scene TV show and online archive. The release emphasizes that the tapings serve to bolster a "broader storytelling legacy."

Hill Country Reserve is organized by Forefront Networks, whose portfolio includes Texas Music Scene and the music events Live In The Vineyard Goes Country in Napa Valley and Elevation in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The new Hill Country experience is designed to extend a similar concept to Texas. It is presented by Visit Fredericksburg and supported by Stonegate Pharmacy.

Tickets are not yet on sale, but more information about the schedule is available at hillcountryreserve.com. A newsletter sign-up form can be found at the bottom of the website's home page.

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