Austin asks residents to vote on future of Sixth Street

Light vehicle traffic travels on 6th street on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 in Downtown Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

Austin officials are asking the public to weigh in on three design alternatives for a revamp of Sixth Street, one of the city’s most iconic entertainment corridors.

The initiative, known as the Sixth Street Mobility and Revitalization Project, focuses on the nine-block stretch between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35, an area listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to dozens of bars, clubs and live-music venues.

3/14/2013 - Jay Janner/American-Statesman - A band is on the move on the corner of Sixth Street and I-35 at SXSW on Thursday March 14, 2013.
Jay Janner/Austin American-State

City leaders say the goal is to make the street safer and more welcoming for pedestrians while maintaining its role as a hub for nightlife. A preliminary engineering study is underway to evaluate infrastructure needs, including right-of-way limits, underground utilities, and possible additions such as wider sidewalks, bikeways, trees, café seating zones and parking.

Each of the three proposed designs would keep Sixth Street one-way westbound for vehicles but handle pedestrian space, curb access and bike or scooter lanes differently. All are intended to expand space for people on foot while preserving vehicle circulation.

Officials expect to complete the preliminary work by the end of this year. Design work is scheduled to begin in 2026, with construction anticipated to start as early as 2027.

Community members can review the design concepts and share feedback through the city’s virtual open house and survey portal.

Three options for a new Sixth Street

The options involve different combinations of bike lanes and curb access designs.

Sixth Street redesign option 1: features bike lanes on both sides and curb insets for vehicle access on side.
Courtesy of the City of Austin

Option one would add bike and scooter lanes on both sides of Sixth Street, with curbside pull-ins for drop-offs and loading on one side.

Sixth Street redesign option 2: features one westbound bike lane and vehicle curb access on the other side.
Courtesy of the City of Austin

Option two would add a westbound bike and scooter lane, with curbside space for drop-offs and loading on one side.

Sixth Street redesign option 3: no bike lanes, but has vehicle curb access on one side.
Courtesy of the City of Austin

Option three would remove bike and scooter lanes, keeping curbside space for drop-offs and loading on one side.

Detailed schematics of each option are available on the voting website.

Where can you vote?

Residents are able to vote at www.speakupaustin.org. The poll will be open through through Oct. 19.

Along with asking residents to weigh in on designs, the survey also gathers feedback on how people use and travel the street, how often they visit and collects basic demographic information.

What upgrades has Sixth Street had?

In August, Austin replaced water-filled barricades on the 300 to 500 blocks of East Sixth Street with permanent concrete barriers, part of a push to curb violence in the entertainment district. The change followed earlier fencing and temporary barriers meant to keep weekend crowds out of the roadway.

Officials said the barriers have cut down on fights and police altercations, and the Downtown Austin Alliance planned to decorate them with murals as the city pursued broader improvements for the corridor.