Austin City Council members discussed a vision for a more pedestrian-friendly, multimodal conversion of Congress Avenue on Oct. 17, which includes plans for the reconstruction of Seventh to 11th streets into four blocks of public plaza space.
The big picture
With planning efforts dating back to 2017, the entire The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative is intended to revitalize the “historic street” and enhance Congress Avenue’s role as the city’s “Main Street,” drawing inspiration from the transformation of the Texas Capitol Mall, according to a news release from the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department on Oct. 9.
The city currently has funding for two of the plaza blocks outlined for Phase 1 of the project, which totals $22 million and will come primarily from the 2020 Austin Mobility Bond.
“I’m very excited about this. I think this is a really fantastic initiative,” council member Paige Ellis said. “I’ve seen a lot of other communities implement these types of pedestrian plazas, and they’ve been very successful. They create more business for the storefronts that are in that area.”
What else?
The entire initiative outlines further multimodal improvements along Congress Avenue south of Seventh Street to Cesar Chavez Street, including:
- Improved bikeways, built up and out of the street way
- Dedicated turn lanes at the 100 and 500 blocks
- Conversion of existing parking to usable pedestrian space
- Rain gardens
- Shade structures and trees
- Intersection safety improvements
City documents state the project will create a multifunctional street with a dynamic public realm that contributes to Austin's downtown evolution featuring mixed use and supporting the city's unique identity.
Staff informed council members that the estimated cost for comprehensive improvements along the entire stretch of Congress Avenue—from Riverside Drive to the State Capitol—is approximately $130 million.
What you need to know
Vehicle traffic on Congress Avenue would end at Seventh Street; however, cross traffic will still flow east and west on Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, 10th and 11th streets.
City officials debated “the real trade-off” in a reduction of parking, weighing their importance to local businesses against pedestrian amenity zones.
Austinites are able to weigh in on design plans for the plaza and the full Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative through the project’s virtual open house, which closes Nov 24.
City staff will evaluate feedback and is expected to report back to the public by the end of 2024.
Community members may also attend two in-person open house events this month, in which the project team will be available for questions at the Downtown Austin Space Activation at 506 Congress Ave.:
- Oct. 22, from 4-7 p.m.
- Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The first phase of construction is expected as early as mid-2025 but is not expected to shut down Congress Avenue. The second phase, involving full reconstruction of specific blocks, will require periodic closures and detours.
This phase of full reconstruction is expected to begin in 2026.
