Shared Streets Pilot Program
Avenue G and Avenue H between East 51st Street and East 56th Street
Welcome
To request a copy of this webpage by mail, please email SharedStreets@AustinTexas.gov or leave a voice message at (512) 974-2300.
A rendering of various users sharing street space
Introduction
Shared Streets are neighborhood streets with low amounts of traffic, low speeds, and no or few sidewalks. Shared Streets will use traffic calming devices, such as traffic circles, pinch points, signs, paint, or curb extensions to make residential streets more comfortable for people walking, biking, or rolling.
There are over 2,000 miles of missing sidewalks in Austin. At current construction rates, it would take over 100 years for the City of Austin to build out all of its missing sidewalks.
The City is exploring Shared Streets as a less costly, more flexible option with fewer impacts to existing trees and landscaping than installing sidewalks. Shared Streets, plus sidewalks on busier streets, improved street crossings, and urban trails would help the City complete the pedestrian network more quickly.
Pilot Project
As part of the ATX Walk Bike Roll plan update process, the City of Austin will be testing the Shared Street concept using temporary materials along Avenues G and H from East 51st to East 56th streets. The City has worked closely with residents living on these streets to describe the purpose of the pilot, assess support, and identify street design options. Based on community input and staff's safety recommendations, the below shared street design will be installed in the coming weeks and will remain in place for approximately six months. Upon installation of the Shared Street, the existing Healthy Street on Avenue G from 38th Street to 56th Street will be removed.
Over the six month pilot period, the project will be evaluated based on a number of factors, including comfort, use, speed, volume of motor vehicles and support by residents. If the pilot project produces the desired outcomes and continues to have the support of residents along the street, the design changes will remain in place. If the pilot has not produced the desired outcomes or lacks resident support, it will be removed.
Design Plan
This pilot project will install semi-permanent traffic calming devices at regular intervals on Avenues G and H between East 51st and East 56th streets.
Shared Street Sign
- Throughout the project area, there will be new Shared Street signage indicating to all street users that they will be sharing the street with people walking, biking, rolling, and driving, and to be aware of their surroundings.
- At East 52nd Street, there will be new traffic circles installed.
- At East 53rd Street, new pedestrian crossing islands and enhanced crossing markings will be installed to provide safer crossings to access the neighborhood.
- At East 54th and East 55th streets, bulb outs will be installed to slow turning movements and shorten crossing distance.
- On East 56th Street, chicanes will be used to slow traffic entering and exiting the neighborhood from the north.
An aerial view of the shared street project limits. ( View in Greater Detail )
The colored lines in the map below are the extent of the pilot project limits.
Below you will see details of the traffic calming devices' approximate locations. For the exact location of devices, please download the aerial view document from the resources section.
