News

The City of Amarillo (COA), in partnership with Amarillo City Transit (ACT) and the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC), is launching the Amarillo Ride-Share Voucher Pilot Program designed to help eligible residents access essential services safely, affordably and reliably. The Amarillo Ride-Share Voucher Pilot Program is a voucher-based transportation pilot program that provides curb-to-curb rides within city limits for non-emergency needs such as medical appointments, pharmacy visits, grocery shopping, employment-related trips and access to social services. The six-month program begins February 16. Riders pay $1 per trip. “Amarillo City Transit welcomes this opportunity to provide needed transportation in Amarillo,” said ACT Director Chris Quigley. “This is really a unique and beneficial program that helps serve the community in many ways.” Residents must complete an eligibility intake and screening process. Call Amarillo City Transit (ACT) at (806) 378-6919 on Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ACT staff will review eligibility and enroll approved participants.Approved riders may schedule trips using subsidized vouchers.All rides must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Residents may also receive in-person assistance by visiting the Amarillo Multimodal Transfer Station at  509 S Bowie St. Participants may have six subsidized trips per person per week for non-emergency purposes. Other essential trips may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eligibility requirements for Amarillo residents are age 65 and older, individuals with disabilities, clients referred by medical providers, social service agencies and/or workforce centers and women with dependent children, referred through Region 16’s Head Start Program. For more information, go to: www.amarillo.gov/rideshare-voucher-program/

Now is the time for residents with outstanding warrants or citations with the City of Amarillo (COA) Municipal Court to voluntarily resolve their cases as the COA Municipal Court Compliance Campaign begins Monday (February 9). “Individuals with active warrants are encouraged to voluntarily resolve their cases before enforcement actions begin, and the Court Compliance Campaign is a convenient method,” said COA Director of Court Services/Court Administrator Donna Knight. Key information for the COA Municipal Court Compliance Campaign: February 9: Warrant postcards are mailed to individuals with active warrants. February 9 – March 6: Voluntary compliance period to resolve warrants. Week of March 9: City Marshal’s Office begins serving outstanding warrants. Residents will have from February 9 to March 6 to voluntarily appear and address active warrants. There are options once a warrant is issued. Depending on the individual case, solutions include trial before a judge or jury, payment plans and community service. Options vary by case and are determined by the court. Residents can check for active warrants here: amarillo.gov/municipal-court/warrants Contact information for the COA Municipal Court is: Phone: 806-378-3082Email: citycourt@amarillo.gov In person: 201 S.E. Fourth Ave. Amarillo, TX 79101By mail: Amarillo Municipal Court, P.O. Box 1366, Amarillo, TX 79105-1366 Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. When the court is closed, a night drop box is available for cashier checks and money order payments in the Amarillo Police Department lobby at 200 SE Third Ave. For information on the COA Municipal Court, including the online citation payment portal, go to: amarillo.gov/municipal-court.

Traffic patterns on Fulton Drive are temporarily adjusted as part of the new addition to the Ridgecrest neighborhood development. Fulton Drive just east of Bell Street is temporarily closed between Holiday Drive and Harmony Street. Eastbound traffic will be detoured at Holiday Drive and westbound traffic will be detoured southbound at Harmony Street. The temporary closure is to allow for installation of a water main serving the new development and is expected through Friday (February 6). The temporary traffic adjustment is intended to safely route vehicles around the construction zone while minimizing public disruption. Motorists are encouraged to follow all posted signage and exercise caution traveling through the area.

Travelers at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (RHAIA) now have another convenient option for parking their vehicles. A new prepaid parking program is available in the long-term parking area at RHAIA. Travelers can secure a parking spot online – including dates and times for the duration of their trip. The link to the parking lot reservations web page is available at: www.fly-ama.com Additional information (including parking rates and FAQs) is provided at the above link. RHAIA has many parking options available, including Outdoor/Long-Term Parking (489 spaces), Preferred Parking (245 parking spaces with close proximity parking to the lower level of the terminal building) and a Parking Garage (650 covered spaces closest to the terminal entrance.) Public parking at RHAIA is operated by Laz Parking. For more information contact Laz Parking at (806) 335-1921.

COA Crews Address Water Main Breaks, Streets, Unhoused Population and Animal Safety The first significant cold spell and snowfall of the winter season had several City of Amarillo (COA) departments working around the clock to make sure the Amarillo community stayed safe and warm. “This first weather event of the winter season mobilized city departments to respond to and address any issues that occurred due to the extreme cold and snow,” said COA Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper. “The city is constantly monitoring weather conditions and preparing in advance to protect the Amarillo community and keep city infrastructure operating as efficiently as possible no matter the weather conditions.” Here is a breakdown of how several city departments responded to the recent weather event from January 23-January 26: For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.