Transportation contributes more to local air pollution than any other economic sector and will soon be the largest source of local greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet. Yet three-quarters of all work commutes in Austin are still made by private car. In one small effort to resist this trajectory, the city has teamed up with Capital […]
Transportation Department
This city department is responsible for municipal transportation planning including roadways and bikeways.
Posted inRoads
New changes to Congress Avenue mark step toward permanent street redesign
Austin Transportation is installing the first of many temporary safety and mobility additions to Congress Avenue this week as the interim step toward the city’s complete redesign project launched in 2017. During the four- to six-week phased installation process, the city plans to add dedicated right-turn lanes, shorter pedestrian crosswalks, protected pedestrian intersections, simplified lanes […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves SAVES resolution to rescue vital businesses
City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday night directing the city manager to bring back viable funding options by Oct. 1 to help sustain the city’s service sector through the ongoing economic pressures of Covid-19. All the Council members, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Mayor Steve Adler joined as co-sponsors of the Save Austin’s […]
Posted inCity Hall
After ‘damaging’ diversity training, city won’t use company again for similar workshops
A diversity training described by city of Austin employees as “hurtful” and “emotionally and professionally damaging” has prompted the city to prevent an employee assistance company from doing this type of training for staff again. In August 2019, the Austin Transportation Department required its employees to attend the one-hour diversity and inclusion training. In all, […]
Posted inAustin
Tiered-rate parking payment system to free up parking spots, decrease use of parking tickets
Over the next month and a half, the Austin Transportation Department will be updating on-street parking meters to a more flexible “pay-by-plate” system that will make it easier for drivers to add extra time to a parking session. The new tiered-rate system will further the city’s ongoing effort to increase turnover at on-street parking spots […]
Posted inTransportation
New online dashboard tracks traffic crash trends in Austin
The Austin Transportation Department has unveiled a new tool for the public to track the number of traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in the city. The Vision Zero Viewer allows people to see where the most crashes are happening and how the numbers this year compare to years past. “This is a continuation of our efforts […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin Transportation announces plans for three new Healthy Streets for safe active mobility
Over the next two weeks, the Austin Transportation Department will set up sawhorses and signage for three new Healthy Streets corridors for the second batch of the program, adding to the city’s five existing street segments for socially distanced active transportation. The five miles of new Healthy Streets include Avenue G between 38th and 56th […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Parks advocates push $750M bond proposal to add sidewalks, trails throughout city
Parks and transportation advocates hope to put a $750 million bond proposal on the November ballot that would fund many construction projects centered around “active transportation” found in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. The effort, led by the group Austin Outside, is focused on the call to improve sidewalks, bike lanes, urban trails and safety […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin Transportation promises more community engagement with new Healthy Streets
The Austin Transportation Department is reviewing six new Healthy Streets candidates for the program’s second batch of streets open for safe, socially distanced bicycling, walking and rolling. Since the program’s rollout, the department’s Director Robert Spillar said the Healthy Streets team has learned the value of a broader notification process that engages residents and business […]
Posted inPublic Safety
City could see sharp decline in traffic fatalities after speed limit reductions
City Council recently made a decision to decrease speed limits to 25 mph on most residential streets. Now it’s up to the Transportation Department to implement the new limits, educate the public and partner with the Austin Police Department to enforce them. Eric Bollich, Transportation’s managing engineer, said the department is working on a deployment […]
Posted inBicycles
New bikeways earn Austin a spot among best bike cities in 2020
Austin has landed a spot in the top 20 best cities for bicycling in a recent survey by the U.S-based bike advocacy group PeopleForBikes. The city received an overall score of 3.0 out of 5, tying with Los Angeles, Detroit and New Orleans while securing the 20th spot on a list of 567 North American […]
Posted inTransportation
Garza suggests color-coded speed zones to slow car traffic
At least in the short term, the Austin Transportation Department is hanging its hopes of reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries on a proposal that would drop most downtown and residential streets to a 25 mph speed limit while coordinating with the Austin Police Department to educate residents and enforce those reductions. The concept earned […]