Looking to enhance, activate or engage your neighborhood?

Austin Transportation and Public Works Department offers the following programs for residents and neighborhoods looking to do more with the spaces where they live, work and play. From arts to activations, revitalization to beautification, fun and play time -- it's all here. Check out the programs below and visit their webpages to learn more. 

Living Streets

The Living Streets Program re-envisions the way we use our streets. It encompasses three types of resident-led street activations:

Healthy Streets

Healthy Streets provide space for people to walk, bike, roll, exercise and build community within the public right-of-way by discouraging motor vehicle traffic along several local streets.

Play Streets

Play Streets provide space for children and adults alike to gather and play in a local street by allowing residents to partially close a single block to motor vehicle traffic for a few hours per day several days per week. 

Neighborhood Block Parties

Neighborhood Block Parties are a fun, easy way to build community and get to know your neighbors. Block parties are one-time closures of a single block to allow residents to hold small, locally-focused events.

Shared Streets

The Shared Streets program aims to make some neighborhood streets without sidewalks safer and more comfortable for walking, bicycling, and rolling. Shared Streets refer to an environment where people walking, bicycling, and driving share the same space in a way that prioritizes the safety and comfort of pedestrians while allowing for movement of bicycles and motor vehicles. Shared Streets may use traffic calming devices such as gateways and signage, chicanes, curb extensions, traffic circles and planters. The Shared Streets program aims to make some neighborhood streets without sidewalks safer and more comfortable for walking, bicycling, and rolling. Shared Streets refer to an environment where people walking, bicycling, and driving share the same space in a way that prioritizes the safety and comfort of pedestrians while allowing for movement of bicycles and motor vehicles. Shared Streets may use traffic calming devices such as gateways and signage, chicanes, curb extensions, traffic circles and planters.

Artbox Program

The Artbox Program provides Austin neighborhoods and business districts the opportunity to enhance Austin Transportation's traffic signal cabinets with community-inspired artwork created by local artists. By enhancing neighborhoods and business districts, encouraging civic pride, and highlighting the unique character of a community, the program enhances a community's beauty, pride and character for others to see, learn and enjoy. The Artbox Program provides Austin neighborhoods and business districts the opportunity to enhance Austin Transportation's traffic signal cabinets with community-inspired artwork created by local artists. By enhancing neighborhoods and business districts, encouraging civic pride, and highlighting the unique character of a community, the program enhances a community's beauty, pride and character for others to see, learn and enjoy.

Banners

The Street Banner Program provides community nonprofits, arts and cultural groups, and other organizations an effective tool to promote events and public information of interest and benefit to Austinites and visitors. Street banners enhance the streetscapes of Austin, by adding a vibrant element that enlivens key corridors and the mobility experience for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers. For Downtown and key districts, centers, and corridors, street banners strengthen a sense of place and district identity. The Street Banner Program provides community nonprofits, arts and cultural groups, and other organizations an effective tool to promote events and public information of interest and benefit to Austinites and visitors. Street banners enhance the streetscapes of Austin, by adding a vibrant element that enlivens key corridors and the mobility experience for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers. For Downtown and key districts, centers, and corridors, street banners strengthen a sense of place and district identity.

Neighborhood Partnering Program

Through the Neighborhood Partnering Program Austin residents can work together to enhance the places they live, work and play. Partner with us to build a project that benefits your community. We can create something new, add to or update what’s already there. Here are a few project examples to get you started, but we’re always open to new ideas and we’d love to hear yours! Through the Neighborhood Partnering Program Austin residents can work together to enhance the places they live, work and play. Partner with us to build a project that benefits your community. We can create something new, add to or update what’s already there. Here are a few project examples to get you started, but we’re always open to new ideas and we’d love to hear yours!

Neighborhood Cost Share

The City helps local groups fund, develop, and construct their projects on City-owned property. In turn, local groups help with "cost-sharing" and project maintenance. Cost-sharing can be made through any combination of cash, donated materials, labor or volunteer hours. 

Adopt-A-Spot

Groups can enter into an agreement with the City to beautify, enhance and maintain a median, roadside, underpass, wall or right of way. This program does not include funding.