Austin accepting next round of 'living streets' project applications

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Transportation and Public Works Department is accepting applications for the next round of its Living Streets Program activations, an initiative to enhance mobility and gathering spaces in city neighborhoods.

Austin City Council adopted the Living Streets Program back in October 2021 with the resident-led program broken into three separate styles of street activations:

• Neighborhood block parties: Provide one-time closures of an individual block for residents to host "small, locally-focused events"
• Healthy streets: Enhance spaces for people to walk, bike, roll, exercise or engage with community members along the public right-of-way via limits to motor vehicle traffic access
• Play streets: Partially close a single block to vehicular traffic for a couple of hours daily for a few days a week to allow residents to gather and play in the street

Beyond the short-term block parties, the other Living Streets Program initiatives operate on a three-to-six-month basis with the opportunity to extend those.

In a program update last week, city officials said there have been 42 neighborhood block parties and extensions to seven out of 10 healthy streets and four out of seven play streets since December 2023.

As of Monday, a Transportation and Public Works Department spokesperson said there are currently 80 applications being processed by the city. Officials estimate there will be a similar number of activations within the first cycle, with about 30 activations at any given time.

"The City also plans to open another round of applications, which would allow for those who did not meet the October 4 deadline to continue to complete their application and submit," the spokesperson added.

More details on the program are available online. Those with feedback or questions on the Living Streets Program can contact program leaders via email at LivingStreets@AustinTexas.gov.