The Planning Commission recommended a new plan for the city’s downtown streets with several amendments during a meeting on March 11, joining the Urban Transportation and Design commissions and including some of their respective recommendations for the plan. The document in question, called the Austin Core Transportation Plan, was prepared by the city’s Department of […]
Transportation and Public Works Department
Posted inTransportation
Under threat of a federal freeze, city staff says they’re staying the course on infrastructure grants
City staff made the case against panic to City Council’s Mobility Committee during an update on the state of Austin’s pending federal infrastructure grants, which some believe may be threatened by President Donald Trump’s executive orders to freeze all federal grants, during their regular meeting on Feb. 20. Richard Mendoza, director of the city Department […]
Posted inTransportation
Disability committee questions scooter safety amid improvements by Lime
Ongoing concerns over the safety of electric scooters and the issues they pose to Austin’s disabled community were front and center at a recent meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities. The meeting saw a presentation from e-scooter company Lime, which gave an update on its initiatives to ensure compliance with Americans With […]
Posted inRoads
Living Streets Program updates include new funding and street closure modifications
Dirty Sixth may be reopening to car traffic, but a growing number of neighborhoods across Austin are moving in the opposite direction thanks to the city’s Living Streets Program. Back from its holiday break, City Council’s Mobility Committee took to the dais last week for an update on the program, which closes roads to through […]
Posted inCity Council
Downtown Commission questions scope, cost of core transportation plan
The city has identified improvements to several east-west streets through downtown as priority projects in a new plan to address mobility in the area. Last month, the Downtown Commission got the first look at portions of the Austin Core Transportation Plan, which was developed by the Transportation and Public Works Department as a complement to […]
Posted inRoads
Ambitious proposal for Congress Avenue includes pedestrian plazas, bike lanes
At its meeting last week, City Council’s Mobility Committee learned the details of a proposed ambitious redesign and reconstruction plan for Congress Avenue, which would convert the avenue into a more pedestrian-focused area over a number of possible phases. The project could fully transform Congress Avenue from Riverside Drive to 11th Street, creating pedestrian plazas, […]
Posted inRoads
Living Streets Program plans to expand operations
In an effort to build community and address equity across the city, Austin’s Living Streets Program is working to reenvision local streets as spaces where residents can walk, bike, gather and connect. Community members can apply by Oct. 4 for three different types of resident-led street activations: Neighborhood Block Parties, Healthy Streets and Play Streets. […]
Posted inTransportation
Audit: City needs better data to improve e-scooter rules
The city of Austin does not have enough information to ensure it can make and enforce rules governing electric scooters, according to an audit report presented to the City Council Audit & Finance Committee on Wednesday. The audit also indicated that the city has failed to include relevant parties in making those rules. Audit Manager […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin to Manor Trail now complete, linking suburb to citywide trail network
Lee esta historia en español The missing link in a 5.5-mile trail from Austin to Manor is now complete, connecting the fast-growing suburb with Austin’s expansive network of public paths. “It helps with quality of life,” Manor Mayor Christopher Harvey said while taking an afternoon stroll along the final section of the Austin to Manor Trail. […]
Posted inRoads
Vision Zero’s improvements to protected left turns cut traffic injuries and fatalities in half
In May, the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department and Vision Zero program announced that its Barton Springs Road safety pilot program – which reduced the road to one lane in each direction between Azie Morton Road and South Lamar Boulevard, added lanes at intersections and relocated bus stops to places with crossings – has […]
Posted inTransportation
Work to build ‘wishbone’ bridge begins, 18-month detour ahead
Construction starts today on a pedestrian bridge that will stitch together the biggest gap in the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake. Dubbed the “wishbone” bridge – the first of its kind in Austin – the $25 million project will complete a missing link in the city’s most popular trail. But it […]
Posted inBicycles
Bike Advisory Council urges city to protect ghost bikes
The Bicycle Advisory Council is calling on the city to protect ghost bike installations after a cycling safety group reported four bikes they put up in the last few months were removed. Volunteers with the Austin Ghost Bike Project have placed at least 10 ghost bikes – painted white and attached to a nearby sign […]