Early‑morning regulars on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike‑and‑Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake say their once‑quiet stretch of waterfront has turned into a low‑key industrial zone. Strollers, runners, and dog walkers report a constant mechanical hum from a cluster of battery‑charging equipment parked at the former Austin American‑Statesman site at 305 S. Congress Ave. Footage shared online shows rows of portable charging units and fuel trucks, and several people have told local reporters the sound is loud enough to derail conversations and phone calls. The grumbling has turned this part of the lakeside trail into a surprisingly hot neighborhood dispute between trail users and the companies running the chargers.
Video Shows Generators as Uber Insists Setup Is Temporary
Video posted by a trail user appears to show an Apollo Energy Resources propane truck refueling an array of portable L‑Charge generators that are powering Waymo robotaxis, according to the Houston Chronicle. L‑Charge describes itself as a mobile “charging as a service” provider for fleets, and the Chronicle reports that its units have been stationed at the lakeside lot for several months. An Uber spokesperson told the paper the generator field is a temporary workaround while the company builds a permanent, grid‑connected site, and said custom sound barriers were installed in an effort to muffle the noise.
Waymo's Growing Fleet and Local Impact
Waymo began carrying riders through the Uber app in March 2025 and has expanded quickly across Austin, with local reporting putting the fleet at roughly 300 robotaxis and climbing. That growth, and the need to stage and charge dozens of electric vehicles overnight, is pushing operators to secure nearby lots and temporary charging solutions, as covered by TechCrunch. Local outlets have also been tracking crash tallies and other neighborhood complaints tied to the rising robotaxi presence.
Why the Chargers Are at the Old Statesman Lot
The charging operation sits on the 305 S. Congress property that once housed the Austin American‑Statesman, a high‑profile parcel whose redevelopment has been bogged down by litigation and zoning fights. The site has been leased out for interim industrial uses, including temporary battery manufacturing and logistics, while plans for a 19‑acre mixed‑use project remain in limbo, according to reporting by the Austin American‑Statesman. Advocates for the lake say that pause in redevelopment has opened the door to short‑term operations that, in their view, are not always great neighbors for the trail.
City Measurement and the Noise Rules
A city code inspector responding to a complaint measured mechanical noise from the generators at about 61 decibels on April 6, 2026, a level the Houston Chronicle reports is within the permitted range for mechanical systems. Austin's broader noise ordinance allows higher ambient sound limits depending on land use, but neighbors say a steady, low‑frequency hum can feel louder and more intrusive than a single decibel reading suggests. City officials say they will keep monitoring complaints while the companies work toward permanent grid hookups for fleet charging.
Officials Say Fixes Are Coming; Neighbors Want Quieter Power
In a statement to the Austin American‑Statesman, an Uber spokesperson reiterated that the generators are a short‑term solution while a permanent grid‑connected site is built and said custom sound barriers were installed in May to address noise concerns, as the Austin American‑Statesman reports. Trail users and park advocates counter that the city should require quieter, grid‑tied charging infrastructure before more operations set up in lakeside neighborhoods, and some say they may file additional complaints if the hum does not let up. For now, officials and operators maintain that temporary measures are in place while long‑term plans move ahead.
Legal Background and Timing
The lot's redevelopment won Austin City Council approval in 2022 but has been slowed by lawsuits and appeals, which has allowed interim uses such as charging depots to operate while the property's future is sorted out. That sequence of council approvals, legal challenges and interim tenants helps explain why fleet operators have turned to short‑term chargers at the site, reporting from Community Impact shows.
