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City presents citywide curb management framework, final plan due July
Summary
Austin staff told the Urban Transportation Commission on June 2 that a citywide curb management framework — not a new policy — will guide how curb space is allocated, recommending data-driven pricing, nine curb typologies and pilot work in study areas with a final deliverable due in early July 2026.
On June 2 the Austin Urban Transportation Commission heard a presentation from Transportation and Public Works staff about a citywide curb management framework that will provide operational guidance for how curb space is allocated, regulated and adapted over time. Lewis Leff, assistant director, said the document is “not a policy document” but an operational framework to implement the policies already adopted in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.
Joseph Vohadry, Parking Enterprise Division manager, said the plan scales a typology-based approach across the city and is intended to give staff “process and tools for staff to consider when changing curbside regulation.” He described nine curb types focused on four primary drivers and said the framework is intended to be flexible: “every block with unique conditions and effective curb management still relies on professional judgment,” he said.
The presentation summarized existing conditions the team identified through data collection, including time-of-day imbalances and a mismatch between curb regulations and demand. Staff noted that unrestricted or free parking often shows the longest dwell times, indicating vehicle storage rather than access. Leff described pricing as a tool to encourage turnover and maintain access: “When we have that ability to manage the parking through effective pricing…that gives us the chance to really promote the access that we're trying to promote,” he said, adding that the team generally targets about 85% occupancy as a signal to consider changes.
Staff outlined management strategies that include price calibration (time-of-day or dynamic options), curb reallocation to create dedicated loading/pickup zones, simplifying complex signage and regulations to improve enforcement clarity, and piloting proof-of-concept interventions in study locations such as East 7th and Red River. Joseph said the project team plans continued stakeholder reengagement, additional data collection and a phased rollout; the plan’s deliverable is expected in early July 2026, with pilot changes and broader implementation to follow.
Commissioners asked how the framework will be applied locally and whether rollout would be driven by mapping or community requests. Staff said the approach will be data-driven but also responsive to qualitative neighborhood input and conflict reports, and may require adjusting typologies for specific locations. The commission did not take action on the curb management plan at the meeting; staff said they will share a draft with the commission as the project moves into the final-review stage.
