Businesses on the trendy South Congress strip are worried about what light rail construction will mean for their bottom lines.

Why it matters: When the planned light rail project — already delayed by politics, inflation and redesigns — finally does break ground, expect lots of construction disruptions.

Catch up quick: In January 2025, transit planners said construction on Project Connect would start in two years.

• As it currently stands, the nearly 10-mile, all-electric train line will run on Guadalupe from 38th Street to downtown, and from downtown to the east along East Riverside and south on South Congress to Oltorf.
• That's a scaled-down plan that once had the light rail reaching the airport.

What they're saying: "It's going to be years of disruption," Brandon Hodge, president of the South Congress Merchants Association and owner of Big Top, a candy store, tells Axios. "They're going to be scraping from our front door to the front door across the street."

Zoom in: Some businesses have cited the project in their decision to close.

• In 2024, Wheatsville Co-op announced the Guadalupe location would close by the end of 2026, in part because Austin's planned light rail will "limit our ability to effectively operate a grocery store at our present location."

The other side: Greg Canally, executive director of the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), charged with implementing the transit plan, said the rail project "will transform how we move around our city as well as bring thousands of jobs to Texas."

• ATP is "engaging with the Austin community, including stakeholders along South Congress Avenue and city staff, to refine design details and keep them apprised of the project's progress," Jennifer Pyne, executive vice president for planning and community at ATP, tells Axios in an email.

Zoom out: The transit plan approved by voters in 2020 depends on the federal government to pay for up to half the $7.1 billion rail project.

• Federal officials gave the light rail project a "medium-high" rating last fall in a funding recommendations report.

What's next: The ATP board meets on June 17 and is likely to hear a timeline update from the construction team.

Just less than a half percent of Travis County households lacked air conditioning in 2023, according to newly released Census Bureau data.

Why it matters: Without air conditioning, Texas summers are practically unendurable.

• Meanwhile, running A/C units is a huge suck on the electrical grid at the height of summer.

By the numbers: 2,250 Travis County households — out of about 561,000 in the county — have no A/C.

• The figure is 0.4% in Hays and 0.2% in Williamson County.
• Not surprisingly, in much of Alaska more than 95% of homes have no air conditioning.

💭 Our thought bubble: The development of air conditioning is as crucial to the trajectory of Texas over the last century as barbed wire once was.

How to help: Family Eldercare distributes free fans in Central Texas — and takes donations.

Pass it on

🛡️ Austin-based defense tech company Allen Control Systems landed a $200 million deal led by Smash, building on more than $120 million in U.S. government contracts for its "Bullfrog" system. (Axios)

🛣️ Dripping Springs officials approved a $3 million road maintenance plan aimed at improving local streets. (Community Impact)

⚖️ A new legal twist in Austin's $1.1 million logo saga could send the dispute back to state court. (Austin American-Statesman 🔒)

Here's what cooking after hours this week.

Monday

🎞️ Learn to produce short animated 16mm films at Film Strip Club. At the Howson branch of the Austin Public Library. Free. 6-7:45pm.

• Check out some of the trippy short films from the monthly workshop here.

Tuesday

🎶 Head to Blues on the Green in Zilker Park for performances by Kylie Hernandez, Aaron Behrens and Alejandro Escovedo. Music starts at 7pm. Free.

• The event continues Wednesday, with Nik Parr and the Selfless Lovers, Mama Duke and Brownout.

Wednesday

🌭 Enjoy $1 hot dogs as the Round Rock Express play the El Paso Chihuahuas at Dell Diamond. Tickets start at $13. 6:45pm.

Thursday

☔️ Dance in your seats to "Singin' in the Rain," showing at the Paramount at 7:30pm. $15.

• The movie, of course, features this legendary performance, though this manic bit might be our favorite.

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Last week we asked you to forecast the number of triple-digit days this summer, and boy y'all are pessimistic.

By the numbers: Dozens of you responded, with a median guess of 40.

What you're saying: "I sense a late hot summer," Christopher B. wrote, with a guess of 30.

🏆 Our favorite guess: Zero triple-digit days, from Caleb H.

• How great would that be?

What's next: Federal forecasters are suggesting this summer's temperatures are likely to be above normal in Central Texas.