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Frequently Asked Questions
Local Area Traffic Management
LATM does provide a process for addressing cut-through traffic. However since this process is so new and the process to evaluate cut-through traffic is so lengthy, LATM is not addressing cut-through traffic issues at this time.
If a request does not meet the criteria to progress through the process, you will receive written notification, by letter or email. Periodically throughout the process, a list will be posted of projects that are eligible for the program and projects that are funded. These lists will be posted on the Austin Transportation Department website and the Community Registry website.
The types and locations of devices are based on engineering principles and judgment. Only in unique or special circumstances will location or selection of devices be reconsidered.
1. You may drop off your request at:
505 Barton Springs Road, Suite 800
2.You can also mail your request to:
Local Area Traffic Management
Austin Transportation Department
505 Barton Springs Rd., Suite 800
Austin, Texas 78704
1. You may drop off your request at:
505 Barton Springs Road, Suite 800
2. You can also mail your request to:
Local Area Traffic Management
Austin Transportation Department
505 Barton Springs Rd., Suite 800
Austin, Texas 78704
At this time, only hard copy applications are being accepted.
This is a two-part answer:
This first part is that the street must be eligible. For a street to be eligible, it must meet several criteria, including:
• It must be a City of Austin street
• It is not a major arterial
• If a minor arterial, it must have 60% front facing residential, schools or parkland
• The measured 85 percentile of traffic exceeds the posted speed by 3 miles per hour
• The requester must live along street/segment
• It has a speed limit of 40 mph or less
• It must be paved
• It can not be a duplicate request
• Any previously installed devices have been in place for at least 2 years
• It is not an alley
• It has no more than one lane of moving traffic in each direction. A continuous center turn lane is not considered a travel lane for this evaluation.
• The measured 85 percentile of traffic exceeds the speed limit by 3 miles per hour.
The second part of the answer is that not all eligible requests will be funded. All eligible requests will be compared to identify the most needy cases. This comparison is based on the following weighted criteria:
• Speed Factor – number of cars exceeding speed limit +5, and not less than 35 mph
• Truck Traffic
• Number of auto crashes in the last 12 months
• Institutional (school or park) proximity
• Number of Auto/Pedestrian and Auto/Bicycle Crashes in the past 12 months
• Absences of sidewalks
• Residential Land Use
• Bicycle Route
• Front Facing Residential
• Evidence of Support (petition)
• Whether the street is within an Environmental Justice area
• Diversion of traffic
Each eligible request will be ranked for funding according to the criteria above. The higher the ranking for funding number, the more likely a request is to be funded.
If a request is eligible but not funded, it gets put back into consideration with the new and older unfunded projects, and ranked according to its ranking for funding score. An unfunded project will be reconsidered for funding for up to 4 more funding cycles, or for an additional 2 years.
After 2 years, an unfunded request expires. A new request may be submitted at that time.
Parking
For all questions regarding parking citiations, please visit the City’s Municipal Court website at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/court/parking.htm
To report a malfunctioning parking paystation or single space meter, call 3-1-1 for assistance.
To report an issue with a taxicab, pedicab, or other type of vehicle for hire, you may call 974-1551, or fill out a complaint form: www.austintexas.gov/transportation/complaint_info.cfm
Over the last ten years, drivers have expressed a lack of available on-street parking, especially in the downtown area. On-street parking is meant for convenience of drivers making shorter visits. When parking hours are not limited, on-street parking becomes crowded with long-term parkers, spaces are harder to find, and traffic congestion occurs as drivers circle to find parking.
While there are about 3,000 on-street parking spaces downtown, there are over 14,000 off-street parking spaces in surface lots and garages, as indicated in this map. On-street parking spaces north of 10th Street will remain free to the public after 6 p.m.
Yes. If you have a disabled hang tag or license plate, you don’t have to pay the parking meters, and there is no time limit on the time zones.
Drivers can buy additional time into the next day the night before by pressing the yellow "next day purchase" button on the paystation. Place the pay station receipt on your windshield showing pre-payment.
For every $1 spent, $0.40 goes toward downtown improvement projects including sidewalk improvements, street reconstruction, and other transportation initiatives. To help ensure safety of citizens in the evening, a portion of remaining funds will pay for parking enforcement officers who will provide enhanced security in coordination with the Austin Police Department.
Yes, if you have a disabled hangtag or license plate you don’t have to pay the parking meters and there is no time limit on the time zones.
If you choose to leave your car overnight and forget to buy extra hours, you could have your ticket dismissed with proof of receipt that you chose an alternate mode of transportation home (e.g. bus or taxi). Contact Parking Enterprise at 3-1-1 by 4 p.m. the following day to take advantage of this offer.
On-street parking is intended for visitors seeking short-term convenient parking. Time limits are set to encourage turnover of these parking spaces in order to allow other visitors an opportunity to find convenient parking.
Drivers are restricted from “feeding” the meters and are encouraged to park off-street if a longer visit is anticipated. Moving long-term parkers into off-street parking allows patrons to enjoy convenient parking for shorter-term trips.
Public Parking Locations (pdf)
Parking costs $1 at all City parking meters
Parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside of downtown. Parking meters in the downtown area (IH-35 to Lamar Boulevard, and Lady Bird Lake to 10th Street) operate Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 Midnight, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 Midnight.
Parking meters are not enforced on City Holidays.
Special Events
You will be required to contact and get approval from the following City agencies. Each agency has specific requirements and costs:
- Austin Police Department Special Events
- Austin Fire Prevention 512-974-0160
- EMS Special Events 512-972-7266
Any closures in or around the Capitol will require approval from:
- The State Preservation Board
- Department of Public Safety/Capitol 512-463-3199
- State of Texas Facilities 512-463-8848
Any road closure will require a sealed, engineered traffic control plan reviewed and approved by Austin Transportation Department. Barricades for road closures must be contracted through a licensed and bonded traffic control company.
- Trash Plan is required
- Portable Toilets are required for most events
- Recycling is strongly encouraged
- Storm drains must be covered in street
- Street sweeping after event may be required
- Sound Permit – for any amplified sound
- Health Permit – for any food products
- Alcohol Permit - Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission – for sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Park Permits – Any activities that take place in a city park
- Temporary Use Permit – Any activity that changes the use of the property (i.e. – parking lot into a festival venue)
- Tents
- Temporary Structures
- Events held in a structure with 49 or more attendees
No. Traffic control must be contracted through a licensed company. Only certified, competent persons trained in traffic control may set traffic control devices.
You will be required to mail notification letters to all affected businesses and residences inside and along street closures. The City of Austin will provide you with a mailing list, but you must print out the required documents and provide the postage. Affected persons do have the ability to object to a particular closure and if 20% or more object within one block of the closure, you may be required to change and/or modify the route/event or possibly cancel the event.
A special event means an event or parade that requires the full or partial closure or occupation of a public right of way or an area adjacent to the public right of way for non-construction and non-parking related use. Special events on park property must go through the Parks and Recreation Department's Special Events Office.
Applicants can start the process by applying online through ROWMAN no more than a year in advance.
Once your ROWMAN is complete, you will be emailed an application packet. Applications are due no later than 180 days prior to the event along with the nonrefundable application fees. Please review Ordinance 14-8 for all requirements.
Make an appointment with the Special Events Office to attend a Special Event Team Meeting - 974-6501 or SpecialEvents@austintexas.gov. Meetings are scheduled every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78704.
Application Fee: $250.00 (non refundable)
Safety Inspection Fee: $76.00 (minimum)
Sound Permit Fee: $ 33.00 per day (if required, non refundable)
Permit Fees: $100.00 per block per day ($1500.00 max per day)
Security Deposit: $2000.00 (refundable upon written request)
Plan Fee: $1500.00 (Engineered and sealed)(Non refundable) any changes will incur hourly fee charges of $125.00/hour.*City engineered plan is not required
Fee Paid Event: Gate Receipts Payment (Due to the City no-later than 30 days after event)
- $1.00 - $3.00 per person 2 ½ % of admission fee
- $4.00 - $6.00 per person 3% of admission fee
- $6.00 – and over per person 4 ½% of admission fee
- Name of your event
- Date of your event
- Type of event (i.e.: Run, parade, festival, political march)
- Time frames, including set-up and breakdown, for your event
- Location(s) of your event
- History (if possible) of the venue and your event
- Does your event have any sponsors? If so, who are they?
- Is it a ticketed or free event?
- Is alcohol being served? Compliance with ordinance requirements is required.
- A scaled electronic map of the closure area, or layout of your event
- Expected crowd capacity
- Map or layout of your event
- Is there a professional company or agency organizing your event?
- Main point of contact for your event and their contact information
