AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Transportation and Public Works (ATPW) staff would like to thank everyone who provided their input on safety and mobility concerns on Montopolis Drive earlier this year. This update provides a summary of what we heard, how we’re using this input, and an implementation timeline for critical safety improvements on Montopolis Drive between Riverside Drive and US 183.
Key findings from community input
The initial phase of public engagement, which ran from late April to early June, collected input on the community’s safety and mobility concerns. This phase included a project web page, block walking, two in-person listening sessions, tabling at public events and an online survey which received over 270 responses.
Key findings from the listening phase include:
- About two-thirds of respondents reported feeling somewhat or very uncomfortable traveling on Montopolis Drive today. About 17% reported feeling somewhat or very comfortable traveling on the corridor.
- Top-ranked concerns related to existing conditions were high vehicle speeds, lack of protected bicycle lanes and safe pedestrian crossings, drivers not yielding to pedestrians and a need for safer access to/from side streets.
- Through open ended-responses, people also expressed concerns about traffic congestion, lack of personal safety/security, lack of traffic enforcement, disconnected or inaccessible sidewalks and other concerns.
- Top desired ways to make Montopolis Drive more comfortable included better sidewalk connections, protected bicycle facilities, better separation between the sidewalks and motor vehicles and improving safety at intersections.
- Open-ended responses also included support for improving the street surface and drainage, dedicated turn lanes, improving traffic signal operations and better street lighting.
View the full survey results here.
Implementation of critical safety improvements
Staff used input from the listening phase along with its analysis of crash, speed and traffic data to develop short- and longer-term recommendations to improve safety on Montopolis Drive.
Near-term safety improvements (next 12-18 months)
- Starting in Spring 2026, Austin crews will install traffic signal upgrades, such as retroreflective backplates and audible pedestrian signals, at Fairway Street, Porter Street and Ponca Street. They will then construct accessible ramps and curb bump-outs at eight high-priority intersections (see map below), followed by construction of sidewalks or shared-use paths to close critical gaps between El Mirando Street and the US 183 service road.
- In addition, Austin’s Sidewalk Rehabilitation program staff have completed an assessment of all existing but functionally deficient sidewalks and curb ramps along the corridor and are currently determining which repairs can be integrated into their FY26 service plan.
- ATPW is working with Austin Energy to identify gaps in street lighting along the corridor. New lighting will be added to existing utility poles where feasible, and any necessary new poles or electrical work will be identified for future implementation.
- ATPW has initiated a traffic signal warrant study for the Montopolis Drive/Fairway Street intersection. While a 2017 ATPW study did not recommend a signal at this location, the new study will use more recent crash and traffic data. Should a signal be recommended, funding would need to be identified for future implementation.
- In May Austin crews cleared overgrown vegetation to improve accessibility and visibility in the 500 block of Montopolis Drive in response to several public comments. Additional requests can be submitted to 3-1-1.
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