Austin declares March 9 as ATX Detour Day to help alleviate traffic congestion on first day of SXSW

The city of Austin is asking residents to rethink their commutes Friday, March 9, one of the most congested days of the year as South by Southwest Conference and Festivals officially begins. The annual cycle of thousands of people arriving in Austin for SXSW and others departing for spring break has led the Austin Transportation Department to declare March 9 as ATX Detour Day. Residents are also encouraged to try an alternate commute March 9 and through the next week while SXSW is underway. “It’s almost a perfect storm of things where we said to ourselves, ‘Let’s get this to the forefront of people’s minds,’” said Jen Samp, a spokesperson with the transportation department. Two years ago, Mayor Steve Adler asked residents to avoid the downtown area altogether when former President Barack Obama was in Austin for a keynote speech during SXSW. In May 2016, he again asked drivers to avoid commuting alone during the peak period. Both days were successful in mitigating traffic congestion, Samp said. With ATX Detour Day, Samp said it is the same concept but with a different message. “We wanted to support the employers so if they can flex their hours to avoid peak [periods] or compress the work week or bike or walk to work,” she said. “There are better ways to get to downtown.” The transportation department recommends commuters try several options to avoid driving alone during peak periods:

• Telework: Work from home or a nearby library to reduce your commute. The department reports teleworking one day a week could make a positive difference on your health, the environment, traffic and productivity.
• Try a flexible work schedule: If your employment situation allows it, try working a nontraditional schedule, such as 7 a.m.-4 p.m. instead of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., to avoid the most congested hours. Compress your work week: If your schedule allows it, try working fewer days with more hours per day, such as four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days.
• Bike to work: Get in your exercise and commute at the same time. You can take advantage of Austin’s growing bikeway network and bike-share program with Austin B-cycle. Find an ideal bike route with the city’s interactive bike network HERE.
• Take public transit: Ride the bus, such as the Express commuter routes in Leander and Northwest Austin, or take MetroRail to work and have time to check email, read a book or listen to a podcast. Check Capital Metro’s trip planner and the CapMetro App for more details.
• Walk to work: If you are able, put your legs to good use during your commute.
• Carpool with coworkers: Ride together with others who live along the way to work. Sign up for myCommuteSolutions to find a trip match.
• Ride in a vanpool: Groups of five or more people can share transportation to work. Capital Metro’s MetroRideShare program offers a month-to-month lease option for vanpool groups. To start or join a vanpool, register with Enterprise or call 512-477-7433.
• Join a bikepool: Ride in a cycling group to make your commute more social and safer.

For more information, visit http://austintexas.gov/ATXDetourDay.