Best Grassroots Group

AURA

Everyone knows Austin’s aura is huge. Now its AURA – formerly Austinites for Urban Rail Action, now just an evocative acronym – wants to make sure our civic vision, creativity, and public spirit stay focused on the core of that violet crown. AURA originally took up the cause of urban rail planning; it has since expanded to organizing around various urbanist issues, from helping rewrite our land development code in connection with CodeNEXT to encouraging affordable urban density via such techniques as limiting historic preservation, making it easier to live car-free, and limiting sprawl by keeping overzealous environmental regulations in check for the urban core. AURA also specializes in public outreach, encouraging Austinites to jump on the planning train as it rolls on.

AURA
www.aura-atx.org