Despite a 50 percent decrease in driving as a result of the city’s Stay Home, Work Safe order, traffic fatalities are up nearly 26 percent this year compared to last year – which also saw a sharp increase (about 19 percent) in deaths compared to 2018. The steady rise, according to Eric Bollich, assistant director […]
Transportation Department
This city department is responsible for municipal transportation planning including roadways and bikeways.
Posted inRoads
Austin Transportation updates citation process to change driver behavior
In an effort to address the city’s road safety crisis, the Austin Transportation Department has come up with a way to make drivers understand the consequences of violating traffic laws. As of yesterday, drivers charged with failure to yield will now be required to appear in court if the violation causes a crash resulting in […]
Posted inBicycles
Austin Transportation updates enforcement to keep bike lanes clear of cars
At least in theory, the Austin Transportation Department has long been able to ticket drivers for illegally parking in bike lanes. In practice, however, such enforcement has been inconsistent. The Austin Transportation Department started making hires this week in an effort to change that. The department plans to address several weaknesses in the enforcement process […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin backs off plans to stabilize Shoal Creek slope after impasse with landowners
The city is abandoning efforts to stabilize a part of the cliff that runs along the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail near Pease Park after landowners up the hill refused to grant property easements needed for the work. Heavy rain in May 2018 caused a significant landslide on the cliff. The backyards of four […]
Posted inTransportation
City studies higher fines and fees for parking
Around 30 percent of Austin’s downtown traffic congestion can be attributed to drivers circling in search of a parking space. In order to solve that problem, Austin Transportation Department’s Parking Enterprise division has launched an effort to address the specific policies that are leading to worsening traffic and driving up carbon emissions in the process. […]
Posted inTransportation
Transportation Department releases Rainey Mobility Study
The Austin Transportation Department published a report this week analyzing the traffic impacts of future mobility scenarios for downtown’s Rainey neighborhood. “The popularity of the Rainey Street entertainment district has led to mobility challenges and concerns over interactions between pedestrians, bicyclists, people riding scooters and people driving vehicles, with residents expressing frustration at increasing congestion,” […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin Transportation makes strides for transparent project data
The Pedestrian Advisory Council is asking the city for more public updates on mobility projects as the Austin Transportation Department continues developing its online interactive database. Last Monday evening, the advisory board unanimously passed a recommendation drafted by chair Adam Greenfield calling for a more concentrated effort at updating the public via social media posts, […]
Posted inTransportation
Downtown walk signals get a safety upgrade
The Austin Transportation Department took a big step for safety this week by reprograming downtown traffic signals to give pedestrians more time to cross before motorists enter the intersection. “Leading pedestrian intervals,” as the signal timing tool is called, give people on foot a head start of between five and seven seconds before car traffic […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Activist-led transportation bond vision adjusted and finalized
The team behind the Wheel Deal, a community-led concept for a 2020 transportation-focused bond, released its final plan Wednesday after making several adjustments to its initial plan based on public input. While the group sharply cut proposed funding in a number of areas, including the active transportation and improved local bus service components, new estimates […]
Posted inTransportation
Parking pilot to free up on-street parking, create parking solutions for construction site personnel
The Austin Transportation Department is pursuing a multiyear parking pilot to reduce the impact of parking during construction at downtown sites. In a Jan. 2 memo, Transportation Director Robert Spillar said the Downtown Construction Workers Parking Pilot is partially based on a similar program that surveyed construction workers and employers about their commute and parking […]
Posted inTransportation
No cars, but bikes and scooters will be allowed on Rainey Street during weekend closure
Beginning tonight, Thursday, Rainey Street will close to vehicle traffic three nights a week as part of a pilot program to ease congestion. Initially, bikes, scooters and pedicabs were going to be banned during the closure, but staff from the Austin Transportation Department decided to reverse course. “After receiving feedback from (the City Council) Mobility […]
Posted inTransportation
Parks board member ‘completely opposed’ to meters in parks
Last week, the city of Austin changed the prices on its parking meters for the first time in nearly 30 years. Prices jumped from $1.20 inside the city’s downtown core – $1 outside of that core – to $2 an hour at all metered stations. Jason Redfern with the Austin Transportation Department told the Parks […]