The city’s Vision Zero program has received $1.3 million in federal funding via the Texas Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. The money will be used to install new traffic signals, which are historically shown to reduce vehicle crashes by 35 percent. The new signals will be installed on Harris Branch Parkway at Giles Lane (in District 1) and at South First Street and Ralph Ablanedo Drive (in District 2). Since 2020, Austin has received nearly $7 million in HSIP funding to improve traffic safety. According to the latest Vision Zero dashboard data, the city has seen 32 traffic fatalities in 2024, with 5,231 total crashes.
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written... More by Chad Swiatecki