City officials are seeking further reporting on public safety trends along East Sixth Street downtown after its reopening to vehicles on weekends, and as private development aimed at reviving some of the corridor takes place.

The big picture

Given persistent safety concerns, city officials advanced a pilot program to reopen Sixth Street late last year. Several blocks that were traditionally opened to pedestrians on busy weekend nights are now blocked off with fencing, rubber curbs and other barricades to allow vehicle traffic in the roadway alongside widened sidewalk areas.

City staff including police Chief Lisa Davis has promoted the update as a success, and early data suggests the changes have reduced arrests and police uses of force in the area.

“You can see that bringing a little bit of structure to it has changed the way that the fights and violence are breaking out," police Cmdr. Mike Chancellor told City Council in March.

The new street management plan will remain in place as more permanent barriers for several blocks are considered, as well as the potential for further streetscape and pedestrian improvements in the future. With that work underway, city leaders are also seeking to continue monitoring safety impacts along the corridor.

What happened

Officials approved a resolution from council member Zo Qadri, who represents downtown including the Sixth Street Historic District, calling for continued public safety monitoring in the area. The unanimous vote for Qadri's measure April 10 will require reporting on:

• Data on trends like crime rates, pedestrian safety, code violations and local business impacts
• Improvements to local traffic and pedestrian circulation, potentially including new parking areas and ride-hail pickup and drop-off zones
• Review of concepts like a code enforcement team to respond to unlicensed clubs and other issues, and a vacant building team to help property owners fill empty spaces

The city will provide updates on that work, to involve local business groups and relevant city commissions, on a quarterly basis starting later this month.

Quote of note

“The historic Sixth Street district has long served as a vibrant cultural entertainment hub for residents and visitors alike. But, the district has also experienced serious challenges related to public safety, particularly during peak weekend hours. And we need to be honest that the status quo is unacceptable, inexcusable and something that must be dealt with," Qadri said. "The city needs to take this opportunity to add new tools, new data and new revenue so that we can revitalize the area and curtail the incidences of violence, underage drinking, overserving and safety hazards that put patrons, workers and first responders at risk."