Draft Recommendation 20260306-02 — original pdf

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RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL College Student Commission Recommendation Number 20260306-02: 6th Street Design WHEREAS, 6th Street serves as a key connection between the University of Texas area, downtown, and transit services frequently used by college students, and functions as a late night transportation corridor and entertainment district; and WHEREAS, 6th Street experiences sufficient pedestrian activity to have been closed to vehicular traffic on weekend nights (Thursday through Sunday). This indicates significant non-automotive travel particularly during evening and late night hours; and WHEREAS, the nearest active transportation counter at East 4th Street and Waller Creek recorded 521,445 pedestrians and cyclists in 2025, signaling substantial travel along this general downtown corridor; and WHEREAS, college students are disproportionately reliant on walking, biking, and micromobility for affordable transportation, shown in increased micromobility use around UT Austin and downtown. This is often due to lower rates of personal vehicle ownership. College students are therefore uniquely impacted by the design of 6th Street; and WHEREAS, 6th Street’s role as a nightlife district increases the importance of safe, non-automotive transportation options for students, as students traveling late at night face higher injury risk; and WHEREAS, the lack of clear separation between pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility users increases collision risk and reduces safety and comfort for everyone; and WHEREAS, protected bike lanes support students using bicycles, e-bikes, and micromobility devices, including dockless scooters and services such as CapMetro’s Bikeshare, reducing the need for these devices to operate on sidewalks that are regularly crowded with pedestrians, as on 6th Street; and WHEREAS, safe and accessible transportation options contribute to student well being, campus connectivity, and overall quality of life in Austin; and WHEREAS, in Recommendation 20251201-007, the Bicycle Advisory Council and Pedestrian Advisory Council jointly recommended Alternative 1 and opposed Alternative 3; and WHEREAS, the 6th Street Survey Results and Public Engagement Report found that 63% of 3,723 respondents supported Alternative 1, which included bicycle and scooter lanes with curb insets for vehicle access, while only 27% of 3,706 respondents supported Alternative 3, which included no bicycle or scooter lanes and vehicle curb access on only one side; and WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that Austin Transportation and Public Works advance Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 for the 6th Street Mobility and Revitalization Project, while City Staff recommended advancing Alternative 3 to final design; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the College Student Commission, in alignment with the Urban Transportation Commission, recommends that Austin Transportation and Public Works (ATPW) advance Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 as the preferred street design for the 6th Street Mobility and Revitalization Project. These alternatives best support safe, accessible, and reliable transportation for college students who rely on walking, biking, and micromobility to travel; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the College Student Commission emphasizes the importance of maintaining protected space for bicyclists and micromobility users on 6th Street in order to reduce conflicts with pedestrians. This is particularly important during evening and late night hours when student travel volumes are high and the risk of injury is greater; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should Alternative 3 be adopted by the City of Austin, the College Student Commission supports the Urban Transportation Commission’s recommendation that ATPW add additional safety interventions to mitigate risks to students and other non-automotive users traveling along 6th Street; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the College Student Commission urges the City of Austin to continue centering student safety, mobility, and quality of life in decisions related to 6th Street, recognizing the corridor’s role as both the center of a major entertainment district and a critical transportation route for Austin’s college student population. Date of Approval: Motioned by: Seconded by: Record of the vote: Attest: _______________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)