Item 2: Austin Planning Great Streets Presentation — original pdf
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Great Streets Program Update Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Austin Planning | April 10th, 2026 Alignment with the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilites The Great Streets Program advances accessibility by prioritzing inclusive, pedestrian-friendly street design that aligns with the Committee's mission to improve mobility and access for people with disibilities. ▪ Accessible Seating Options ▪ Combination of two-seat and single-seat benches support users with different mobility and comfort needs. ▪ Clear Zones (Pedestrian Through Zones) ▪ Sidewalks are designed to maintain unobstructed pathways wide enough to allow two wheelchair users to pass comfortably. ▪ ADA-Compliant Design Features ▪ Incorporation of ramps, smooth pavement materials, and curb cuts to improve navigation for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges. 2 Great Streets Overview: History ▪ Early 2000s ▪ City Council adopted the Downtown Design Guidelines, Great Streets Plan Standards, and Great Streets Development Program. ▪ 2003 ▪ City Council dedicated a portion of the parking meter revenue to Great Streets. ▪ 2014 ▪ City Council established Great Streets as a Downtown Density Bonus Program gatekeeper requirement. ▪ An Update to the Great Streets Plan and Standards is needed. ▪ The Update includes an existing conditions analysis. 3 Existing Conditions Analysis ▪ Completed inventory of Great Streets elements ▪ Condition of Great Streets elements ▪ Highest scoring streetscape elements ▪ Light poles ▪ Bike racks ▪ Trees ▪ Lowest scoring streetscape elements ▪ Benches ▪ Trash receptacles ▪ Recycling receptacles Top Scoring Great Streets Element: Trees Low Scoring Great Streets Element: Trash Receptacles 4 Great Streets Update Goals ▪ Align the program with other initiatives ▪ Holistic conversations around right of way ▪ Focus on the entirety of the Central Business District experience ▪ Modernization and clarification of the standards ▪ Create champions for the program ▪ Work flexibility and conflict resolution into the standards ▪ Ensure continued and consistent funding and accountability 5 Community Engagement Overview ▪ July 2025 to April 2026 ▪ Gather feedback from residents, employees, and visitors about how they experience downtown streets and what they would like to see moving forward ▪ Our outreach included: ▪ Online survey - 328 participants ▪ Open house - 75 attendees ▪ Stakeholder meetings ▪ Imagine Austin Speaker Series Event ▪ Almost 1,000 comments from all engagement ▪ This input will form the recommendations for the Update and define the priorities, challenges, and shared values that will guide future enhancements. 6 What We've Heard: Emerging Themes ▪ Over 600 open-ended survey comments were analyzed and grouped into recurring themes that reflected what survey respondents value most about downtown streets. ▪ From these patterns, Urban Design distilled 20 community themes into six core values: ▪ People first ▪ Vibrant public life ▪ Shade and comfort ▪ Safety and inclusive design ▪ Seamless connectivity ▪ Clean and enduring design 7 Great Streets Update Schedule Feedback Production Fall 2025 – Fall 2026 Fall 2025 – Summer 2026 •Compiling Feedback •Draft Plan Review •Draft Deliverables Reviews and Approval Winter 2026 •Commission Review/ Public Review •Hearings •Planning Commission •Urban Transportation Commission •Downtown Commission •Design Commission •Review and Potential Approval by Council Analysis •Existing Conditions •Review of Relevant Plans Community Engagement Summer 2025 – Fall 2026 •Community Advisory Group Meetings •Briefings for City Boards and Commissions •Community Survey •Public Meetings •Technical Advisory Group Meetings • Design Workshops with Development Community and Design Professionals 8 Questions? 9 Contact Information Jill Amezcua PLA, ASLA Principal Planner Urban Design Division Austin Planning, City of Austin 512-978-1702 jill.amezcua@austintexas.gov 10