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We want Austin to be the absolute best version of itself. It’s crucial that we—along with other city and community entities—guide and shape our city’s growth in a way that’s responsible to current and future Austinites.

Our team’s deliberate planning, urban design expertise and enthusiastic collaboration address both present needs and our hope for the future. People who live, work and visit downtown benefit immediately from our daily services. On an ongoing basis, the whole of the city will see wide-ranging and long-term benefits from important partnerships and transformative projects.

People & Places

The Downtown Vision calls for a growing and ever-evolving tapestry of complete, vibrant and walkable neighborhoods and districts that express Austin’s authentic character. As downtown’s steward, not only are we at the center of all active district planning projects, but we also ensure all parties have a holistic view of how the districts will work together to enhance downtown’s vitality.

I-35 Cap and Stitch

As the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) considers changes to this major north-south thoroughfare that has divided our community for decades, the Downtown Austin Alliance is partnering with the City of Austin and a diverse group of Austin leaders to co-create a shared vision that builds on this investment to ensure the best outcomes for all Austinites.

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Palm District Planning Initiative

The Palm District Plan will tie together initiatives that support the completion of Waterloo Greenway, address connectivity and community need in the Rainey Street area, preserve the Palm School and Red River Cultural District, enhance the Fifth Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and build upon Austin’s Innovation District, Convention Center expansion and Brush Square renovation projects.

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Cypress & Shoal Public Space Strategy

We are partnering with the Shoal Creek Conservancy to enhance the Cypress & Shoal gateway—a key connection between the heart of downtown and the Seaholm District.

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Innovation District

Austin’s Innovation District capitalizes on the talent and vitality of our city to create a one-of-a-kind neighborhood. The Downtown Alliance is proud to be one of the founding entities of the District—a place where innovators, incubators and businesses co-locate and discover new ways to build inclusive economic growth.

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Congress Avenue

Congress Avenue is arguably Austin’s most prominent street—a hub for retail, restaurants, bars, offices and people. Through the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative, we hope to capture this spirit and build on it. With an eye towards multi-functional use and using human-centered design, we'll refine and foster the identity of Austin's main street.

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South Central Waterfront

Across the lake from downtown is Austin's South Central Waterfront area. We’ve been involved in the planning of this district for years and will have a seat at the table as this district comes to life with new mixed-use developments, housing, waterfront parks and other amenities.

Our Austin Story

Learn the story of Austin through the lens of our historic squares and Congress Avenue. This project documents the stories of the people and places who shaped these civic spaces and offers an important historical perspective for today's Austin.

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Urban Greenbelt

Great cities have great parks—places where people can stroll and picnic and enjoy the beautiful Austin weather. We’re collaborating with a number of partners to develop a connected urban greenbelt that wends its way between major and smaller parks, creating a walkable and accessible park system for everyone.

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Mobility & Parking

Mobility is the lifeline of a healthy, thriving downtown. With Austin’s population projected to double by 2040, we need wide-ranging, forward-thinking transportation solutions to keep our urban core accessible. As we navigated the immediate challenges of the pandemic and planned for recovery, we also continued our work on the large, long-term infrastructure projects that will transform downtown.

Project Connect

This new transit plan includes a new rail system, a downtown transit tunnel that makes everyone's trip faster, an expanded bus system and a transition to an all-electric fleet. The Downtown Alliance is partnering with the project team to make Project Connect both a world-class transit system and series of places that are a source of pride for our entire community.

Downtown Mobility Framework

With major infrastructure and transportation projects on the horizon, we partnered with consultants at Arup to develop a framework that re-envisions a future for downtown mobility where everyone can access downtown when and how they want.

Review Report

Downtown Parking Strategy

Our team conducted the first-ever downtown parking inventory and developed a Downtown Parking Strategy with 19 recommendations for improving parking and mobility.

Download the Report

SOCO Parking Study

The City has contracted with the Downtown Alliance to coordinate the SOCO Parking Study. From the data collected, actionable solutions will be designed to address the parking challenges in the area, reduce the burden on residents caused by increased parking demand and ensure the continued economic prosperity of local businesses.

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Austin Core Transportation Plan

The Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACT) ensures transportation and mobility options into, within and through downtown meet future demands, needs and modes in light of major transformative mobility projects. We partnered with the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) to engage downtown stakeholders and a working group of local experts to guide the progress of the ACT.

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Getting Around

Downtown Austin is a major transportation and mobility hub for commuters, visitors and residents alike. Learn how you can get to, around, and out of downtown more efficiently using our compiled resource guide.

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