Hot Off the Presses: Austin's Draft Street Design Guide

Austin has mostly been planning, designing, and engineering its streets the same way for 20 years. A new Street Design Guide would pave the way for a new era.

1 minute read

June 22, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Austin Pedestrians

GSPhotography / Shutterstock

Syeda Hasan reports on the new draft of the Austin Street Design Guide [pdf], released earlier this week.

"The guide takes into account some key considerations to try and make Austin streets more uniform and consistent, including the community surrounding a street, the number of lanes and different modes of transportation options, like bikes and public transit," writes Hasan.

"The new guide divides each street into three sections – pedestrian zones, bicycle zones and motor vehicle and transit zones; it recommends dimensions for each of those features. It also categorizes streets by their context, like urban, suburban or industrial," adds Hasan.

The article includes soundbites provided by Annick Beaudet, a manager with the Austin Transportation Department, and Liane Miller, a project manager with the Austin Transportation Department. Both provide insight into how the guide will update the city's existing transportation plan.

Though the city's transportation plan hasn't been updated in 20 years, the city did earn acclaim for its 2014 complete streets policy

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 in KUT

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

4 hours ago - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

5 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business