Transportation department reports on safety and funding

Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department secured more than $230 million in federal grants during its first full year of operation in 2024, according to a new report. The department completed nearly 57 miles of sidewalks and urban trails, reduced high-risk speeding through the Barton Springs Road safety pilot, and installed new bikeways and traffic calming features. The city also completed its first corridor safety lighting project and leveraged $15 million in federal funds to enhance road safety. Federal grants included $105 million for the Interstate 35 cap project, $48 million from the Environmental Protection Agency for climate pollution reduction, and $32 million for the Barton Springs Road bridge under the USDOT Bridge Investment Program. A pilot sustainability project on West 25th Street introduced Flexi-Pave—a porous material made from recycled tires—demonstrating a shift toward environmentally sensitive construction. The report also highlighted a 21 percent decrease in serious traffic injuries and a 4 percent drop in fatalities. City staff noted that 95 percent of the 2016 mobility bond funds have now been spent, with newer bonds from 2018 and 2020 continuing to fund transportation and safety upgrades across the city.