New parking signs in downtown Austin will update number of available spaces for 3 lots in real time

Austin drivers will notice new signs on Cesar Chavez Street, which will show the number of available parking spaces in three downtown lots: Austin City Hall, Austin Central Library and Seaholm.

The two signs, which update in real time, face eastbound traffic at the San Antonio Street and Sandra Muraida Way intersections, said Jeff Stensland, a senior public information specialist with the Austin Transportation Department, in an email.

The signs are expected to be connected to power the week of Sept. 27, and testing will begin thereafter, Stensland added.

The city expects to implement additional signs facing westbound traffic but does not have a date for when those will be installed.

“This is a new downtown wayfinding pilot project, so installation of the dynamic wayfinding signs is limited to Cesar Chavez Street for right now,” Stensland said. “Plans call for three more signs to be installed along Cesar Chavez Street for a total of five dynamic wayfinding signs.”

According to an ATD news release, the signs are a part of the Downtown Austin Wayfinding Project, which aims to make it easier to find destinations and attractions downtown.

The five signs cost $655,000, which includes the cost of counting devices and the counter signs at each garage. It was funded by the transportation user fee from monthly utility service bills, Stensland said.