AUSTIN, Texas — The Living Streets Program is a resident-led program throughout the city of Austin that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's designed to reduce traffic cutting through neighborhoods, but the program has received some mixed reviews as the years have gone on.
Right now, only 15 streets within Austin are currently implementing the program. It allows residents to ask the city for permission to have a street designated as a "Living Street," where the city will install extra cones and signs informing drivers to be aware of pedestrians.
Part of the program, called "Play Streets," goes one step further and allows for a full street closure several days a week at a few hours a time, to allow children to play safely.
Councilmember Paige Ellis helped to bring the idea to fruition and said neighbors must get signatures showing at least 60% of the street agrees before the city will look at approving it.
"People can still access their homes, deliveries can still come through, but you need to be mindful of the people that are trying to activate their street in a way that makes sense for them," Ellis said.
She said residents who live along the streets, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks are allowed through during Play Street hours.
But residents in one neighborhood – located on Gault street in North Shoal Creek, near the North Austin Optimist baseball field – told KVUE they feel like their area is a Living Street fail.
Resident Alex Corbin said there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood, so the cones and signage are actually getting in the way of pedestrians. He and other neighbors also expressed how some drivers have been frustrated when trying to cut through.
"I kind of understand what they're doing here, but it's kind of having an inverse effect," Corbin said. "It makes it really hard to walk my dog."