A representative from Austin’s Transportation Department appeared before City Council’s Mobility Committee Tuesday to give an update on Vision Zero, the city’s goal to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. While traffic fatalities have been on the rise over the past few years, serious injuries have been trending downward. Nevertheless, early evidence shows that Vision […]
Transportation Department
This city department is responsible for municipal transportation planning including roadways and bikeways.
Posted inBicycles
City reaches halfway milestone on bike network buildout
This month marked a big milestone for cycling in Austin: The city’s All Ages and Abilities Bicycle Network reached its halfway completion point, making getting places by bike more comfortable and convenient. So far, the AAA network includes 215 miles of bike lanes, 100 miles of which have been built since 2018. Though the build-out […]
Posted inBudget
Transportation budget includes post-pandemic rebound in parking fees
The Transportation Department’s $152 million budget was made possible in part by a rebound in parking revenue after a steep decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which drastically reduced single-passenger vehicle use for much of 2020. In a presentation to the Urban Transportation Commission earlier this month, Transportation Department Director Robert Spillar said parking revenues […]
Posted inRoads
Renteria opposes Red River extension into Rainey Street, MACC area
Council Member Pio Renteria has come out against a proposal to create a new roadway through the Rainey Street district that would require using some of the land provided by the city for the creation of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. An extension of Red River Street south and then east has […]
Posted inDevelopment
New street impact fee will make development more predictable, ATD says
The Austin Transportation Department updated members of the City Council Mobility Committee last week on the city’s new street impact fee, which developers will pay to offset impacts from increased car trips to and from new buildings. Council adopted the fee last December, but it doesn’t go into effect until next June because of an […]
Posted inRoads
Red River extension into Rainey neighborhood draws concern from MACC backers
The city’s Transportation Department is circulating the latest plans for a southern expansion of Red River Street, which would create a new thoroughfare through the Rainey Street neighborhood to address growing traffic concerns. While the heaviest public comment on the proposed plan will take place this fall, department officials have started discussing the project with […]
Posted inRoads
Living Streets petition urges city to allow resident-led streetscape changes
Earlier this year, neighbors living along the city’s Healthy Streets – a program that blocked through traffic and slowed cars on selected streets – had an idea: Why not use paint, barrels, picnic tables, and other materials to invite people to gather and play in the street? What followed was “amazing,” Adam Greenfield, president of […]
Posted inPlanning
As temporary Healthy Streets close, permanent version prepares to open
As Austin’s Healthy Streets program winds down, with less than four miles of the temporary slow streets remaining, the city is preparing a new pilot program for 10 permanent Healthy Streets. The pilot will “test the application of our Healthy Streets principles – calming traffic, opening up street spaces to people walking, biking, driving, parking, and […]
Posted inTransportation
Big changes coming to Airport and North Lamar with reallocation of 2016 bond funds
Complete makeovers to two prominent streets have moved up the city’s to-do list. North Lamar Boulevard between U.S. Highway 183 and Rundberg Lane and Airport Boulevard between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and U.S. 183 are slated for reconstruction by 2024 – earlier than expected – through a $65 million reallocation of 2016 mobility bond […]
Posted inTransportation
Bonds to fund new transportation staff
On Thursday City Council approved the release of bond funding from the 2020 transportation and safety bond. The funding will allow the Transportation Department to hire an additional 27 employees and the Public Works Department to hire eight new employees and give the two departments authorization to begin work on $460 million in local mobility […]
Posted inRoads
Updated: Reversible lanes may be coming to South First
The Austin Transportation Department’s plans to install reversible travel lanes on South First Street, in order to decrease travel delays on one of Austin’s busiest commuter thoroughfares, are being studied. The project area surrounds a new development at the former Hooters site called RiverSouth, which is currently under construction. It is located at the intersection […]
Posted inTransportation
Construction imminent for Longhorn Dam bridge
The Austin Transportation Department has decided on Longhorn Dam’s new bike and pedestrian bridge, which is designed to increase safety on Pleasant Valley Road and connect trails and parks in the area. The bridge’s design is “wishbone style” and will be located near Guerrero Park on Pleasant Valley Road. After removing the current pedestrian bridge, […]