Safety & Mobility Improvements on Cesar Chavez Street and Red Bluff Road
Safety & Mobility Improvements on Cesar Chavez Street and Red Bluff Road
The City of Austin is seeking community input on proposed safety and mobility improvements for Cesar Chavez Street and Red Bluff Road. The virtual survey is open until April 27, 2026.
OVERVIEW
The City of Austin is developing safety and mobility improvements on Cesar Chavez Street between Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane, as well as on Red Bluff Road. These improvements include an extension of the Colorado River Trail in the form of a dual-path urban trail between Longhorn Dam and Shady Lane that will eventually tie into the city-wide network of Urban Trails.
In addition to the new urban trail, this project includes safer lane configurations and intersections, new turn lanes, protected bicycle lanes, improved bus stops and transit access, and new pedestrian crossings that support safer access to homes, businesses, parks and other destinations within the project limits.
If you would like to see the full detailed plan, please email MobilityBonds@AustinTexas.gov or call 512-974-2300.
Project Scope Map
LEGEND
Colorado River Trail
Pedestrian Crossing Island
Existing Bus Stop
Proposed Bus Stop
One-Way Protected Bike Lane
On Street ParkingPROJECT FUNDING
The project is partly funded by federal dollars awarded with support from Congressman Greg Casar's office. Additional funding sources include 2018 and 2020 Local Mobility Bonds.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The proposed improvements are shaped by several key planning efforts, including the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, the Urban Trails Plan, the Sidewalks, Crossings and Shared Streets Plan and the Colorado River Corridor Plan—all of which prioritize safe, connected and accessible multimodal infrastructure along this important corridor. Cesar Chavez Street within the project limits is also part of Austin’s High Injury Network, further demonstrating the need for improvements that make the street safer for all users.
trail connectivity
The Colorado River Trail within this project would connect west to the existing Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake via the new Wishbone Bridge near Longhorn Dam. It will also provide connections to the east to current and future trails at and across US 183, facilitated through Interlocal Agreements with Travis County and supported by Parkland Dedication requirements.
Network Connections Map
LEGEND
Colorado River Trail within Project Limits
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail Red Line Trail
Mokan Trail / Southern Walnut Creek Trail 5th Street / US 183 Shared Pathways
Potential Trail Connection to US 183 / Montopolis Bridge All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Bike NetworkWhile some may envision a trail closer to the waterfront, several challenges make this route infeasible in the near term. Most of the land along the waterfront is not publicly owned or controlled, limiting the City's ability to develop infrastructure in that area. Additionally, low-lying areas near the Colorado River are prone to flooding, posing long-term safety and maintenance challenges for the trail.
By building the trail along Cesar Chavez Street, we can create a resilient, connected and community-serving corridor that complements the existing trail system while strengthening access to parks, transit and nearby neighborhood destinations. This approach also helps address longstanding safety concerns, including high vehicle speeds and a history of crashes.
CRASH HISTORY
Cesar Chavez Street within the project limits is part of Austin’s High Injury Network. City of Austin crash data shows that over the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, there were over 100 crashes on Cesar Chavez Street between Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane—approximately one every 16 days. These crashes tragically resulted in over 40 people suffering injuries and one fatality.
Traffic crashes on this segment of Cesar Chavez Street cost our community over $6 million in comprehensive crash costs every year. Comprehensive crash costs are the economic and societal costs—such as medical expenses, long-term care, lost income and more—that are paid by individuals, their families and the community as a result of a traffic crash.
Cesar Chavez Street (Pleasant Valley Road to Shady Lane)
The stretch of Cesar Chavez Street between Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane serves as a key east-west connector in East Austin, linking residential neighborhoods and local businesses. Today, the corridor generally lacks sidewalks, and the few signalized intersections do not provide enough safe places to cross the street, especially near businesses. There are no bicycle facilities, and most of the corridor lacks left-turn lanes, which results in unsafe conditions along the corridor.
Proposed Changes
Recognizing that Cesar Chavez Street is an important motor vehicle connection, the proposed design is expected to maintain motor vehicle capacity while improving safety for all street users and enhancing access for people walking, bicycling, and taking transit.
Proposed changes:
- Provide one vehicle lane in each direction with a two-way left-turn lane between Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane.
- Maintain motor vehicle capacity while adding new dedicated left turn lanes at Springdale Road and Tillery Street.
- Extend the Colorado River Trail and add protected bicycle lanes.
- Introduce pedestrian crossing islands with flashing beacons to help people cross safely.
- Add new bus stops and retain some on-street parking for business access.
Intersection Improvements
Safety and functionality upgrades are proposed at each project intersection.
The project will:
- Upgrade ramps for ADA accessibility
- Shorten crossing distances to make crossing easier and to make people walking and biking more visible to drivers
- Provide protected space for people waiting to cross the street
- Add dedicated left turn lanes for both eastbound and westbound traffic at Tillery Street and Springdale/ Red Bluff Road
- Enhance intersection geometry to promote slower, safer vehicle turning movements
- Analysis is still underway to inform the redesign of Pleasant Valley and Shady Lane intersections
HOW IT WORKS
Motor vehicle congestion typically occurs at traffic signals because each direction of traffic must stop while other directions move. In contrast, a lane between signals can carry about three times as many vehicles as a lane that must pass through a signal. Watch a video about how streets can become safer while still supporting existing motor vehicle traffic.
In the proposed design, the number of vehicle lanes at the Pleasant Valley and Shady Lane intersections would remain the same as they are today. These intersections determine how many vehicles Cesar Chavez Street can carry because traffic signals control how many vehicles move through the intersection at one time.
Traffic analysis shows the proposed changes would have only minor impacts to travel times along the corridor. Travel times are expected to increase by only five to 15 seconds during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Lines of vehicles waiting at the Tillery Street and Springdale Road signals may increase slightly, by five to 10 vehicles in peak periods, but they are expected to clear with each signal cycle, as they do today.
The analysis also considered potential new development and additional traffic along the corridor. Because the proposed changes maintain the existing vehicle lanes at the Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane intersections, overall vehicle capacity of the corridor would remain the same. This means the corridor would be able to handle potential future traffic from redevelopment while providing safer options for people traveling along the street.
Red Bluff Road (Springdale Road to Shady Lane)
The stretch of Red Bluff Road between Springdale Road and Shady Lane is a quiet residential street in the heart of East Austin. Local businesses contribute to its community character, and ongoing conversations about redevelopment may introduce new commercial uses and visitor destinations.
As the area changes, there is a significant opportunity to improve Red Bluff with a safe, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly urban trail. This connection would link residents to nearby parks, the Colorado River and the regional trail system while maintaining the street’s existing residential character.
Proposed Changes
Overall, the project proposes improving multimodal connectivity and comfort by constructing a dual-path urban trail along the south side of Red Bluff Road. Street parking would generally remain on both sides of the street.
For now, the trail will end at the dead end of Red Bluff Road but future planned connections further east would eventually build on these improvements and connect the trail to Austin’s larger trail network.
The graphics below compare the existing and proposed street cross-sections.
PARKING CHANGES
Street parking in the project area is used most heavily on evenings and weekends, when visitors park along Cesar Chavez Street and Red Bluff to access nearby businesses. Many people currently use the shoulder on the south side of Cesar Chavez for parallel parking. The proposed improvements would preserve some of the parking on Cesar Chavez Street, most of the parking capacity on Red Bluff Road, and formalize locations for street parking. The corridor's comprehensive safety and mobility upgrades will also improve access to parking by calming vehicle speeds and providing more frequent, shorter crossing opportunities along Cesar Chavez Street.
We Want to Hear from You!
Take the project survey on the next page to share your thoughts on the proposed design. Your feedback is essential and will help ensure the project meets the community’s needs. For more information or to request a copy of the survey by mail, please email MobilityBonds@AustinTexas.gov or call (512) 974-2300.
Join us at one of our community pop ups!
Wednesday April 8, 2026 from 5-7 pm
Central Machine Works, 4824 E. Cesar Chavez Street
Saturday April 11, 2026 from 9-11 am
Wishbone Bridge Plaza, near Longhorn Dam