Downtown At A Glance

January 1996

• Destination Downtown Arts & Entertainment Map
  The map, produced by the Downtown Austin Alliance, is available in over 100 locations in Austin, including arts venues, restaurants, hotels, the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and the offices of the Downtown Austin Alliance.

• Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) Great Streets Program
  The Second Street project is nearing completion.

• Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities
  This new report covers a time period from November 1, 1995 to December 31, 1995, and reports Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities.

• Downtown Development Initiatives
  City Council work sessions with the consultant are expected to begin in late February, 1996.

• Downtown 'Dillo Routes (Capital Metro)
  The route of the #88 / Old Pecan Street 'Dillo has been extended east to Robert J. Martinez Street.

• Downtown Electrical Distribution Network Conversion
  Completion of remaining conversion phases requires completion of the Seaholm 35kV Substation (estimated completion is March 1996).

• Downtown Litter Removal
  The Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with the City of Austin Urban Youth Corps, starting December 1, 1995, to perform litter removal from sidewalks, curb, and gutters in the Downtown Austin Public Improvement District.

• Downtown Mobility Action Plan
  The Downtown Mobility Action Plan (DMAP), sponsored by Capital Metro, is designed to draw together planning efforts carried out by several governmental agencies so that downtown transportation investments can be coordinated. DMAP is scheduled for completion of a draft plan in early February 1996. Public participation for DMAP is targeted to existing boards and commissions. Meetings will be held beginning in February 1996.

• Downtown Parking Plan
  The purpose of the plan is to simplify and make downtown parking more user friendly. The mechanical parking meters will be replaced with electronic meters. The current parking fee structure of eight different hourly rates will be simplified to one hourly rate city wide. The number of time limits will be reduced from six to two. Free Saturday parking will be implemented. A five minute grace period will be implemented allowing parking customers to park up to five minutes over time before a ticket is issued. Meter feeding enforcement will be implemented to increase short term turnover. Free parking Time Limited zones will be replaced with parking meters. A prepaid parking program for utility franchise service vehicles will be implemented exempting the service vehicles from meter feeding enforcement.

  A Request for Proposal (RFP) for an electronic parking meter system has been advertised. The Law Department is drafting ordinances to implement the program. Award of the RFP is anticipated in March 1996. The conversion to electronic meters will be over a two to three year plan. The first phase of installation is expected to be complete by June 1996. The ordinance amendments required to implement the plan will be completed by June 1996.

• Downtown Public Improvement District (PID)
  On November 30, 1995, the City Council approved the 1996-97 Service Plan and Budget submitted by Downtown Austin Alliance. The approved fiscal year budget is for $779,476.

• E. Fifth Street Roadway Amendment
  This amendment to the Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan (AMATP) will add East Fifth Street from IH 35 to Chicon Street as a maximum of a four lane undivided roadway with a right-of-way width of 80', but with the final cross-section to be based on final design determination. Adoption of the amendment will support the development of the East Fifth Street corridor, which includes the proposed light rail/fixed guideway and Intermodal Facility adopted in the AMATP, Plaza Saltillo, and Rambla East. It will enable East Fifth Street to be eligible for state and federal matching funds for improvements. The City Council will hold a Public Hearing and consider the amendment on February 8, 1996.

• Holly To Seaholm Transmission Line
  Foundation construction began November 1, 1995. Construction projects should be completed in March 1996, with clean-up and restoration activities concluding in April 1996.

• Lamar Boulevard Bridge
  The draft preliminary engineering report to identify alternatives is in progress. The public input phase is planned to begin in spring 1996.

• New City Hall
  The downtown business group presented the final report at a City Council Work Session in December, 1995. Four options (lease space, purchase of an existing building, City build and private build) were discussed.

• O. Henry Museum Restoration - Phase I
  Phase I reached substantial completion (98%) in November, 1995. Museum staff has moved back into the museum.

• Reconstruction of Congress Avenue
  The construction schedule will be determined following completion of the contract review and the bus route plan for the downtown area.

• Shoal Creek Flood Repair
  Construction is underway; the project is 25% complete.

• South 1st Street
  The project will be constructed in five phases. Phase I has been completed, and Phase II started December 14, 1995. The total project should be completed by July 1996.

• Street Reconstruction and Overlay
  Congress Avenue: The contract has been awarded; construction is on hold. Colorado Street: The design is essentially complete; bidding is on hold. Brazos Street: The design is on hold pending completion of Capital Metro's bus route plan for the downtown area. 2nd and 9th Streets: The project is currently under construction. San Jacinto Street: The design is in progress; construction is scheduled for June, 1996.

• Waller Creek Flood Management and Water Quality Improvements Study
  The Draft Report was completed in November, 1995; the Final Report is due in January 1996.