Sidewalk Program
The Sidewalk Program is responsible for the City of Austin's sidewalk and shared streets network. The work of the Sidewalk Program is guided by the Sidewalks, Crossings, and Shared Streets Plan. The Plan includes the City of Austin Transition Plan for sidewalks, as the Americans with Disabilities Act is a driving factor in making sure that the right-of-way along Austin's streets is safe and accessible for all.
A new program to make some neighborhood streets without sidewalks safer and more comfortable for walking, bicycling, and rolling.
Shared Streets
The Shared Streets program uses traffic calming and pedestrian-centered design to accommodate all travel modes, ages, and abilities. Shared Streets are environments where people walking, bicycling, and driving share the same space, prioritizing the safety and comfort of pedestrians while allowing the movement of bicycles and motor vehicles.
The Shared Streets program aims to make neighborhood streets without sidewalks safer and more comfortable for walking, bicycling, and rolling. The goal is to improve safety and mobility for people of all ages and abilities by encouraging slower speeds, slowing turning movements, and reducing crossing distances for people walking. Shared Streets can also incorporate green spaces and create opportunities for placemaking.
Click on the corresponding image to learn about Shared Street projects.
Purpose
There are approximately 1,500 miles of missing sidewalks in Austin. At the current funding rate, it would take almost 100 years for the City of Austin to build sidewalks along all its streets. Shared Streets are a more flexible option with fewer impacts on existing trees and landscaping than installing sidewalks, and they cost less to install. Shared Streets, plus sidewalks, improved street crossings, and urban trails could help the City complete the pedestrian network more quickly.
Pilot Projects
As part of the 2023 Sidewalks, Crossing and Shared Streets Plan, the concept was tested using temporary materials in locations across Austin. The City worked closely with residents along potential pilot streets to describe the purpose of the pilots, assess support, and identify street design options. The pilot projects will remain in place for approximately 6 to 12 months and will be evaluated before and after street design changes to determine how well they worked. If pilot projects produce the desired outcomes and continue to have the support of residents along the street, the design changes will remain in place for longer than six months.
Locations
To identify potential locations for these pilot projects, the City looked for residential streets without sidewalks in areas with relatively high walking activity and low vehicular traffic volume. Pilot projects will only be installed along streets where residents express strong support for Shared Streets.
- Avenues G and H from East 51st to East 56th streets
- Ullrich Avenue and the Arroyo Seco area
- Princeton Drive and Ware Road off of Burleson Road
- Gloucester Lane and Edgedale Drive near Pecan Springs Elementary
Contact
For questions about this program, email SharedStreets@austintexas.gov
Related Programs
Austin's Bicycle Program works to make Austin an even greater city for biking. Our work is guided by the 2023 Austin Bicycle Plan.
Austin's Bicycle Program works to make Austin an even greater city for biking. Our work is guided by the 2023 Austin Bicycle Plan.
Austin's pedestrian program is focused on expanding our sidewalk network, developing pedestrian crossings, and implementing other programmatic efforts to improve the comfort, safety, and connectivity of our city’s pedestrian network.