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Living Streets program reports 114 installations and plans to pilot more permanent shared‑street designs
Summary
Austin Transportation and Public Works reported year‑to‑date 114 Living Streets installations (Healthy Streets, Play Streets, Neighborhood Block Parties), preliminary data showing speed and collision reductions on a small sample, and plans to transition interim equipment to longer‑lasting planter‑based curb installations and pilot 5–8 shared streets.
Austin Transportation and Public Works presented a year‑end update on its Living Streets program, reporting substantial program growth, early safety data and a phased plan to move from interim equipment to longer‑lasting shared‑street improvements.
"Year to date, we have done a 114 installations across Healthy Streets, Play Streets and Neighborhood Block Parties," the Living Streets presenter said, and staff added that of those activations 40 were unique healthy/play‑street locations drawn from 74 applications. Staff described preliminary field data (a small sample) showing around a 9% reduction in speed, a 10% drop in vehicular volume and a 62.5% reduction in vehicular collisions on healthy/play streets.
Program evolution: Staff said earlier installations used nine pieces of interim equipment (including orange cones and signage) but residents found the initial setups visually cluttered. To address that, ATPW plans a phased equipment redesign to cut the interim equipment count by about 30% while procuring planter‑based curb treatments and better signage for longer‑term installations. The department will pilot the updated configuration on roughly 5–8 streets, run focus groups with applicants (including Kate Haynesworth, who spoke during public comment), and present final layout proposals for procurement and broader deployment.
Community context: Kate Haynesworth, a Healthy Street organizer who addressed the committee during public comment, described neighborhood events and community cohesion that grew from the program, including monthly picnics, kid‑led activities and volunteer efforts. Staff said the program has seen repeated renewals from residents and is expanding in equity analysis zones where sidewalks and connectivity are lacking.
Next steps: ATPW will continue pilot testing, refine designs based on focus‑group feedback, use remaining fiscal year funds to procure equipment and seek to sustain the program next year through planned buys and budget requests.
Ending: The program briefing closed with an invitation to council and applicants to attend a community gathering and an indication staff will return with pilot results and a procurement plan.
