Living Streets program expands pilot activations, eyes permanent shared-street conversions

Living Streets organizers and city staff told the Mobility Committee on Jan. 23 that the temporary street-activation program has expanded its reach and is testing new equipment and pilot layouts to improve safety, equity and neighborhood buy-in.

The presentation showed the program now combines neighborhood block parties, healthy streets and play streets under the Living Streets banner, and city staff said quarterly rollout and renewal cycles let them scale installations while supporting application processing.

"There is less traffic, and it is slower," said Kate Ainsworth, organizer of the South Austin expansion, describing resident perceptions of the program and citing increased participation at neighborhood events. "People feel safer." The presentation included a recorded child comment played for the committee that said, in part, "I like the healthy streets because it's a lot safer for us to cross the street." The recording and resident surveys are part of staff outreach to people who cannot attend meetings in person.

Matt Majaj, a presenter for…