Both the bike/walk trail system committee and the downtown as a destination committee within Vision 2020 have made visible signs of progress in the past month.

The city of Austin’s sign department on Nov. 5 painted portions of the bike trail in town to clarify transition points where the trail joins roadways and to improve safety. The bike/walk trail committee identified the need for the symbols and worked with City Engineer Jon Erichson to move the low-cost project forward.

New, metal holiday decorations will go into the large pots in downtown Austin this week.

The downtown as a destination committee wanted to find new decorations to unite Fourth Avenue and Main Street year after year. In past years, the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Project, as well as businesses, would buy greenery and other decorations that would then be discarded at the end of the season.

The committee was able to work with Austin High School career and technical education teacher Ryan Stanley to develop steel cut-out decorations. AHS students cut the steel with a plasma cutter at the school shop. The committee then painted the four-feet-tall decorations, which will be installed this week. Designs include Christmas trees, snowmen, snowflakes and stars. The Main Street Project paid for the materials.

Steve Kime is chair of the bike/walk trail committee. Stephnee Leathers is chair of the downtown as a destination committee.