Austin officials outline safety, traffic and transit plans for spring festival season ahead of South by Southwest

Mayor (name not specified) and city officials told a press briefing that Austin is prepared for the spring festival season and urged residents and visitors to plan for street closures, parking restrictions and heavier transit use as South by Southwest approaches.

The newly created Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment, represented by Director Angela Means, said the Austin Center for Events has been coordinating with multiple city departments to review festival permitting and safety plans. “We are committed to transforming how our community experiences special events, making sure they are memorable and safe for everyone,” Means said.

Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis reviewed public-safety reminders for attendees and drivers, emphasizing compliance with barricades and street-closure signage. “Do not ignore them,” Davis said when describing marked orange-and-white barricades and park-patrol units. She added that South by Southwest street closures will begin at 12:00 p.m. and continue into the early morning hours, and that officers and traffic-control personnel will be highly visible downtown.

Richard Mendoza, representing Austin Transportation and Public Works, encouraged alternative travel modes and reminded people about the city’s parking ticket waiver program for people who choose a safe ride home after drinking. “If you are going to be drinking, please make a plan to get home safely,” Mendoza said; he said the waiver forms are available at austintexas.gov/gethomesafely and that the waiver is intended for drivers who leave their car overnight and can show a ride receipt.

Capital Metro said it will expand service to meet festival demand. “Cap Metro is prepared, ready, and excited to help get people around town,” said representative Tawan Cole, noting rail service will be extended until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays during South by Southwest weekends and until midnight on other festival nights. Cole also said the local bike-share network has 75 stations in the downtown area and encouraged people to download trip-planning apps.

A South by Southwest representative described the festival footprint as similar to last year and said organizers expect attendance numbers to be comparable. “Our footprint's gonna be very similar to what we saw last year,” the representative said, adding that venues will extend into the East Side and include multiple theaters and the convention center.

City staff said public-assembly code enforcement teams will be active throughout the season to check permitting and safety standards. Officials urged patience from Austinites, reminding residents that residential parking restrictions and tow-away zones will be strictly enforced in some neighborhoods.

Officials closed by encouraging festivalgoers to plan ahead for travel and rideshare pickup points, obey pedestrian signals and follow directions from officers and traffic-control personnel to reduce congestion and improve safety.