UTC backs Austin Core Transportation Plan with amendments to preserve Red River bicycle connection and add short-term fixes

The Urban Transportation Commission on March 4 recommended that City Council adopt the draft Austin Core Transportation (ACT) Plan, with amendments focused on maintaining an on-street protected bicycle connection on Red River Street, adding short-term "quick-build" improvements, more street trees and a coordinated parking-management strategy.

The UTC’s recommendation, passed unanimously, endorses the ACT Plan’s goal of creating an integrated downtown mobility network that supports transit, bicycles, pedestrians and freight while coordinating with Project Connect light rail, the I-35 Capital Express project and other major projects. Cole Kitten, division manager for systems development at the City’s Transportation & Public Works, briefed the commission on the plan and its public engagement.

"This is a continuation of our series of presenting the draft plan to boards and commissions as we make our way to council, this spring," Kitten said. He told the commission the ACT Plan is intended to be adopted by council as a small-area mobility plan attached to the ASMP…