Mobility
Mobility Outcome: Getting us where we want to go, when we want to get there, safely and cost-effectively.
The Mobility Outcome
strategies focus on making our city and transportation network accessible and
reliable for all members of our community. With an emphasis on collaboration,
sustainable funding and effective planning for the future, these strategies
address our goals of providing equitable and safe access to a multi-modal
transportation network. This reduces harmful emissions, meets the needs of our
growing community, and connects Austin to the world.
The Mobility outcome, overseen by Assistant City Manager
Gina Fiandaca (Left), is comprised of six departments and offices, including the Austin
Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Aviation Department,
Corridor Program Office, Fleet Mobility Services and the Project Connect
Office.
Collectively, their primary focus is to make our city and transportation
network accessible and reliable for all members of our community. With an
emphasis on collaboration, sustainable funding, and effective planning for the
future, their ultimate goal is to provide safe and equitable access to a
multimodal transportation network, while simultaneously meeting the needs of
our growing community and connecting Austin to the world.
Over the last year, Mobility efforts have focused on investments
in infrastructure throughout the community. By implementing traffic calming measures,
including the installation of over 100 dynamic speed display devices that
reduced speeds on arterial street segments, and redesigning major intersections,
we aimed to lower the number of crashes resulting in serious injury or death.
Through the Corridor Program Office, we increased the total
number of pedestrian hybrid beacons to 100, distinguishing Austin as a national
leader in pedestrian safety. Additionally, Public Works initiated construction on four new urban trail segments – Northern Walnut Creek
Trail Section 2A, Violet Crown Trail North, Copperfield Connector Trail, and
MoKan Trail – which will enhance Austin’s existing network of over 60 miles of
urban trails and further our goal of connecting communities.
The City’s Project Connect Office provided the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) and CapMetro with
technical assistance to support the design and construction of Project
Connect infrastructure. This year, staff coordinated the City’s participation
in design reviews, utility coordination, permitting, and environmental
processes connected to two Metro Rapid Bus projects – the Expo Center and
Pleasant Valley Metro Rapid Bus lines – which broke ground in early 2022. City
staff also worked with ATP and CapMetro to enhance the MetroRail Red Line by
incorporating double tracking for higher frequency service and incorporating
quiet zones; designing a grade separation near the Crestview Station; and breaking
ground on the new Broadmoor and McKalla stations. In support of light rail, the
City’s Project Connect team is participating in focus groups to evaluate the
technical feasibility of design optimization and cost saving ideas. Lastly, from
a policy perspective, the City’s PC Office secured approval of an ordinance
that lays the foundation to support the permitting and construction of Project
Connect and, in partnership with ATP and CapMetro, will present to Council in
December 2022, an Equitable Transit Oriented Development study to consider
future transportation investments.
This year also saw increased demand in air travel to and
from Austin. A record-breaking 2,021,747 passengers passed through the airport
in May, making it the busiest month on record. With special events like SXSW,
ACL, and Formula 1, Austin has become a premier destination for both domestic
and international travel. To meet growing demand, Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport launched nonstop flights to 15 brand-new destinations and
welcomed two new airlines, Virgin Atlantic and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in 2022,
making more nonstop flight options available to Austinites than ever before.
As we close out 2022, we are motivated by the strides we have
made to ensure Austin has a resilient, sustainable transportation network. We
look forward to continued engagement with the community as we build out
multimodal transportation routes to destinations around our neighborhoods and
beyond.
The following highlights are
additional efforts made by departments within the Mobility outcome over this
past year.
Browse each department's accomplishments:
Austin Transportation
- FY2022 Approved Budget: $85.2 million
- Full-time Employees: 397.5
Accomplishments
- Reduced crashes resulting in serious injury or death by 31 percent at 13 redesigned major intersections. Installed high visibility signage at 40 high-risk curve locations, and reduced speed limits on 45 arterial street segments.
- Reduced permitting barriers for Neighborhood Block Parties in underserved communities, providing multi-lingual applications, loaned equipment, and new locations. Restructured Special Event fees to align with event size, lowering fees for smaller events. Staffed 31 special events for barricade and crowd safety, assisting APD officers.
- Reduced micro-mobility devices ending up in waterways with scooter company accountability. Implemented a new micro-mobility pilot on Congress Avenue.
- Completed 13 traffic calming projects, installed over 100 dynamic speed display devices (DSDDs), and hundreds of speed limit reductions signs, delivering on various voter approved bond safety projects. Also constructed 13 traffic signals and eight Pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHB). With 100 PHBs now in the city, Austin is a national leader in deploying PHBs for pedestrian safety.
- Connected communities along and across Pleasant Valley Road over the Longhorn Dam bridge with higher comfort shared use pathways, pedestrian signals and new left turn lanes for people walking, bicycling, and driving.
Awards
- The Texas Institute of Transportation Engineers (TexITE) nominated “Austin Vision Zero program: Innovative Tools to Reduce Traffic-Related Injuries” project/paper for the 2022 Transportation Achievement Award in the Safety category.
- “Vision Zero Equity Analysis ‘Safe for All’” published in the December 2021 ITE Journal (Institute of Transportation Engineers)
- City of Austin named Top Ten Bicycle City for 2022 by “People for Bikes” and 16th most bike friendly City by “Anytime Estimate”
Accomplishments
- Welcomed a record-breaking 2,021,747 passengers in a single month, making May 2022 the busiest month ever during what is expected to be the airport’s busiest year ever.
- Received a Finding of No Significant Impact from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Airport Expansion and Development Program’s Environmental Assessment, denoting federal approval to proceed with Journey With AUS airport improvement projects.
- Launched nonstop flights to 15 brand-new destinations and welcomed two new airlines, Virgin Atlantic and KLM, making more nonstop flight options available to Austinites than ever before.
- Secured funding for the Journey With AUS program through a $400 million airport revenue bond sale and $15 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Awards
- Ranked number 6 in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best – 10 Best Domestic Airports” list.
- Ranked number 15 and above the industry average in the J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
- Level 3+ Carbon Neutrality designation for Department of Aviation operations by Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program.
Corridor Program Office
- FY2022 Approved Budget: $1.4 million
- Full-Time Employees: 15
Accomplishments
- Maintained the schedule to have all projects completed or under construction by the end of CY 2024, in keeping with the 2016 Mobility Bond Contract with Voters.
- Began the procurement process on over $120 million in construction projects. Notable projects include: Slaughter Lane from MoPac to Brodie Lane; South Lamar from Barton Springs Road to US Hwy-290; and Burnet Road from White Horse Trail to US Hwy-183.
- Moved approximately $200 million in construction projects to completed or in progress, including large design-bid-build construction projects on Slaughter Lane, Airport Boulevard, and Burnet Road. Other projects completed or in progress include traffic signal, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements on East Riverside Drive, Guadalupe Street, North Lamar Boulevard, Slaughter Lane, and William Cannon Drive.
- Launched a community outreach campaign to build awareness and receive feedback on the pre-design phase of Our Future 35 (also known as Cap and Stitch). Held an Open House in August and an online survey in September to hear the community’s vision and goals for proposed construction locations. Engaged a Community Steering Committee of nominated individuals to drive conversations about Visions, Goals, Opportunities, and Constraints.
Fleet Mobility
- FY2022 Approved Budget: $64.4 million
- Full-Time Employees: 238
Accomplishments
- Deployed Smart City Vehicle Telematics system across 4,850 units among 73% of departments. The new system supports Vision Zero by increasing visibility into driver behavior, helps monitor and reduce accident and workers compensation claims, provides real-time driver coaching, and optimizes vehicle health to reduce long-term fleet expense
- Expanded the Cities Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) fleet, meeting 82% of the initial Program goal of 330 units. The BEV Program:
- Reduced carbon output by 5,600 metric tons by replacing gasoline units and reduced fleet maintenance and fuel expense costs well ahead of the $3.5M 10-year cost savings target
- Provides 137 level 2 charging stations supporting the BEV initiative
Awards
- Received Career & Technical Association of Texas’ Business Education Partnership Award for our work with youth in our automotive internship program
Public Works
- FY2022 Approved Budget: $132.2 million
- Full-Time Employees: 626.25
Accomplishments
- Completed pedestrian safety and sidewalk enhancements in the Red River Cultural District, in partnership with Economic Development Department.
- Began reconstruction of E. Stassney Ln., a key arterial that has seen significant damage due to flooding and usage. This is the first major road reconstruction project made possible by the voter-approved Proposition G in the 2018 Bond.
- Started construction on four new urban trail segments all around Austin – Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 3A, Violet Crown Trail North, Copperfield Connector Trail, and MoKan Trail – which will add to Austin’s existing network of over 60 miles of urban trails.
- Removed all sidewalk gaps along Exposition Blvd, creating a safer route for students to walk or bike to nearby Casis Elementary School and O. Henry Middle School. Improvements also feature safer access for nearby neighborhood day care centers, libraries, churches, stores, and parks.
Awards
- American Public Works Association (APWA – Texas Chapter) Equipment Skills “Roadeo” Competition – 2nd Place
- National Safety Council 2022 Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traffic “Award Recipient” Safety Award