02 Living Streets Update — original pdf

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Living Streets Program Briefing Urban Transportation Committee – 9/3/2024 Matt Macioge, Capital Improvements Program Manager, Living Streets Program Manager Transforming Streets, Building Community Agenda: 1. Living Streets Background and Overview Types of activations: Neighborhood Block Parties Healthy Streets Play Streets 2. Initial Activations 3. Lessons Learned 4. Transitions to Permanent 5. Program Demand and Public Response 6. FY 2025 Living Streets Program Schedule 2 Living Streets Program Background and Overview Resolution No. – 20211021-02 Council directs the City Manager to create the "Street Programs” - Living Streets Living Streets Program is a resident-led process. Uses "soft" closures to reduce vehicle speed, improve safety, and create connectivity and community. 60% of the residents of a proposed street must approve with a signature to support an activation. Either single day or 3-6 months with an option for renewal. Address equity issues by making Living Streets accessible 3 Living Streets Program Living Streets Program Background and Overview Neighborhood Block Parties Play Streets Healthy Streets Block Parties are one-time closures of a single block to allow residents to hold small, locally-focused events. Permits are valid for the day of the event only. Each new event requires a new permit. Play Streets provide space for children and adults alike to gather and play in a local street by allowing residents to partially close a single block to motor vehicle traffic for a few hours per day several days per week. Healthy Streets provide space for people to walk, bike, roll, exercise, and build community within the public right-of-way by discouraging motor vehicle traffic along several local streets. 4 Living Streets Program Initial Activations Healthy Streets Support 69% supportive 6%6% 9% 19% 60% I am very supportive I am somewhat supportive I am neutral I am very opposed 3% 21% 41% 35% 62% supportive Note: The surveys were sent out to all parcels within approximately 1 block of each activation. This varied based on the street network and neighborhood connectivity. First Activation Installations First round of resident led Healthy and Play Streets launched in February 2024 Neighborhood Block Party is fully integrated into the Living Street Portfolio From December 2023 to present: 4 of 7 Play Streets were extended 42 Neighborhood Block Parties (current FY to date) 5 Play Streets Support I am somewhat opposed 7 of 10 Healthy Streets were extended How do you use a Healthy Street? *Respondents could select multiple options Why are you using a Play Street? *Respondents could select multiple options For physical activity and/or mental… I live on a Healthy Street To get to retail, restaurants or… For essential trips to work or school 46% 25% 23% To get or deliver food or other… 14% I am not currently using a Healthy… 10% To get to places of worship or… 5% 64% I am not using a Play Street 50% To ride a bike To socialize 34% 34% To play other games in the… 22% To walk 13% To play sports To color the street using chalk 9% 9% Other 12% N= 225 Other 6% N= 32 “Choose three words to describe how you feel when you’re using a”… Healthy Street Play Street Living Streets Program Initial Activations 6 Living Streets Program Lessons Learned Play Streets The resolution sets forth that “a Play Street is intended to be a recurring, complete street closure that may occur for several hours, multiple times per week;” “complete street closure” has the appearance of exclusion rather than inclusion. Control plans include residents at the control points to allow traffic through. In most cases this means three adults for each time slot need to be present – 1 at each closure and 1 facilitating and monitoring the activities. More investigation needs to be done to develop real solutions. 7 Kenbridge Dr Play Street Did not renew Prioritization: 6.0 Signatures: 17/27 Living Streets Program Lessons Learned Play Streets Prioritization Play Streets have two goals: community building and recreation Prioritization is based on: Prioritization Value * Resident Support = Approval Rank Updates • Play Streets have different goals than Healthy Streets that should be reflected in the prioritization methodology • Removed all destinations from scoring • Added points to reflect where Play Streets would be easy to monitor • Adjusted parks scoring methodology to better prioritize areas of the city without recreation space 8 Living Streets Program Lessons Learned Healthy Streets Prioritization Healthy Streets have three goals: community building, recreation, and connection to destinations Prioritization is based on: Prioritization Value * Resident Support = Approval Rank 9 Updates • Added additional destinations to reflect where people • Adjusted parks scoring methodology to be more in could use a Healthy Street to get to line with PARD • Added “Food Access” category to better capture how residents can use Healthy Streets to access Austin’s food scene • Added additional types of parks for data completeness Living Streets Program Lessons Learned Layout and Equipment The closure system is required to meet TMUTCD standards and are required for safety. The amount of equipment creates clutter and results in increased maintenance Though Orange cones mean temporary, we are conditioned to assume they are associated with Construction not recreation. 10 Properly installed Disorganized Living Streets Program Transitions to Permanent Healthy Streets to Shared Streets Living Streets staff and Shared Streets staff are collaborating on moving the temporary activations of a Healthy Street to the permanent installation of curb and gutter as a Shared Street. The team is piloting South Austin now and in the design phase of the community feedback process. Other Healthy Streets have expressed interest and are being evaluated. South Austin Healthy Street Prioritization: 6.0 Signatures: 70/93 11 Activations and Council Districts Mapped Applications Submitted and Viable Living Streets Program Demand & Response l a v o r p p a r o f y d a e r – i d e w e v e R n o i t a c i l p p A 4 3 7 d e w e v e R i ) I O E ( t s e r e t n I f i O n o s s e r p x E 52 21 73 d e v o r p p A n o i t a c i l p p A 7 4 11 Interests, Applications, and Installations First round of applications had the option to renew and align with the City’s Fiscal Year and budget cycle Next round of applications are due October 4, 2024. Initial activations coupled with a successful outreach campaign have helped to inform the public Initial Cycle had a 40% completion rate from EOI to completion l a t o T d n a r G 63 28 91 Healthy Streets Play Streets Grand Total Council District Healthy Streets Play Streets Grand Total 1 16 4 20 2 2 1 3 3 13 1 14 4 15 7 22 5 6 6 12 6 7 12 0 50 0 17 8 4 1 5 9 8 7 15 10 2 5 7 115 total applications submitted 12 Living Streets Program Program Schedule Two consecutive application and renewal tracks allow staff to maximize capacity and address back log of applications Applications not completed in time for review will roll over to the next cycle 4 2 0 2 FY24 Q2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec FY26 Q1 FY25 Q1 5 2 0 2 Q3 Q4 Q3 Q4 Q2 Application/Renewal Installed activation Application/Renewal Application/Renewal Installed activation Application/Renewal Installed activation Application/Renewal Application/Renewal Installed activation Application/Renewal Application Deadlines Every 3 Months Today 13 Insert Nice Photo or graph n o i t a c i l p p a e g n S i l n o i t a c i l p p a e g n S i l k c a r t l a w e n e r d n a k c a r t l a w e n e r d n a Thank You! Questions? https://www.austintexas.gov/LivingStreets LivingStreets@AustinTexas.gov 14