City reports fewer crimes, stable crowds in the pilot of the Sixth Street

The data from the city's efforts to revitalize the sixth street entertainment district show that the incidents for violent crime and public security are reduced, according to a new memo that summarizes the results of a pilot program that started at the end of last year.

In a recently carried out memo from the management of the development services to the city council, a modest but remarkable decline in the serious incidents along the Sixth Street and a stable pedestrian activity after the reintroduction of vehicle traffic during the weekend evenings was given. The pilot also received positive feedback from business owners and stakeholders to the outdoor seating and improvement of the atmosphere.

The pilot program, which was initiated last autumn, reopened parts of the sixth street for vehicle traffic at the weekend, demonstrated the designated Wahnholzonen with bicycles, extended seating outdoors for bars and restaurants and supported a number of temporary public spatial activities. Temporary barricades were used to manage the pedestrian flow and access to the vehicle. The city developed a data collection and reporting process in order to pursue security, transport and business. The employees found that early indicators are encouraging, continued evaluation and adjustments are required to refine strategies against long-term infrastructure and guidelines.

The data of the Austin Police Department mentioned in the memo supports the results and show that the use of Force incidents in the Sixth Street between January 1 and February 11, 2025 has dropped by 50 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. The arrests in the immediate area decreased by 34 percent, and the overall crime against people decreased by 21 percent. Officers also reported a significant decline in fighting and disorders in the region.

The traffic management plan was identified as a key factor for the positive results as well as the visibility of the officer, the changes in management in the city center of the police sector, improving the traffic enforcement and greater cooperation with bar owners in order to deal with chronic harassment questions.

The coordination of the parking and transport means could be seen in the pilot program, whereby the city worked with private owners and the downtown Austin Alliance to develop new Valet strategies and to improve upward movement. The expansion of the affordable parking program for workers and musicians in the city center in the city center was examined and plans for a potential tangible parking model, with which the congestion and the improvement of the accessibility are to be reduced. The memo recognized the need for a better enforcement of parking and loading rules and an continued evaluation of the safety measures of pedestrians in relation to charging zones and alleys.

The employees worked closely together with the Austin, Austin and Ems Austin-Travis County fire department, to monitor security concerns at peak times, while the team of the public assembly code enforcement (pace) expanded its role in compliance with the regulations for occupancy, fire protection and alcohol service. City leaders rate the personnel needs and the financing required to make the expanded presence of the Pace team a permanent, year-round function.

The work for recommendations in connection with an entertainment license for companies that serve alcohol after midnight and a potential program for free real estate to remedy continued free and unused structures along the corridor.

In a resolutions of the city council adopted in April, it was found that the infrastructure improved, improves strategies for public security and that the transport improvements as part of a broader plan for safety and resuscitation of Street Street coordinates the transport improvements. This solution also indicated that the employees continue to collect detailed security, transport and economic data during the duration of the pilot and to submit additional recommendations for medium-term and long-term improvements, including cost estimates, schedules and potential sources of financing.

The next steps include continued surveillance and data acquisition in the coming months, additional stakeholder engagement for relevant bodies and commissions as well as the development of a medium-term plan to lead further changes to the layout of the street, business regulations and public space design. The city's employees expect them to submit more detailed recommendations to the city council later this year, whereby quarterly updates and formal progress reports will be continued by the end of 2025.

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