Second Street District Streetscape Improvement Project

The vision for the Second Street District Streetscape Improvement Project (SSDSIP) is to enhance the identity and image of downtown Austin as a civic and cultural destination for residents, visitors and businesses while preserving and enlivening Austin’s sense of place.

The project area has been and continues to undergo very positive redevelopment, helping to achieve the City’s vision of a dense, mixed-use downtown as portrayed in the Downtown Austin Design Guidelines, adopted by the City Council in May 2000.

However, the critical missing elements of this burgeoning downtown district have been the inclusion of a critical mass of retail (and other pedestrian-oriented uses) linked by a coherent and uniquely identified, pedestrian environment. When constructed, the reconfigured roadways and streetscape improvements will provide a public-friendly setting, linking two important civic destinations - the new City Hall and the Convention Center Complex – along what will become downtown’s key shopping or “pedestrian-dominant” spine: Second Street.

The SSDSIP will also serve as a model for sustainable development of city streetscapes. While the Downtown Great Streets Master Plan provides guidance on many common streetscape elements, the SSDSIP is conducting further research and technical and design investigation into cutting-edge technology and best practices. Some of the topics which the SSDSIP will address include a strategy and mechanism for the ongoing management of maintenance and services to the District, urban forestry, urban heat island reduction, storm drainage/water quality, reclaimed water usage, recyclables and construction waste management, historic interpretation, and the seamless integration of civic art into streetscape development.

In July 2003 the City selected a design team headed up by Copley Wolff Design Group of Boston, Massachusetts for design and construction documentation of the streetscape improvements. The firm’s principals, John Copley and Lynn Wolff bring to the project innovative ideas and practical expertise in center city streetscape improvements exemplified by their work on the Boston Central Artery’s Surface Boulevards and New York City’s Grand Central District. Barbara Grygutis, from Tucson, Arizona, whose works of art “speak to all about common goals in a shared environment”, was chosen to serve as Design Team Artist/Planner. Knowledge and experience with the Austin environment and construction issues will be provided by design team subconsultants including Binkley and Barfield (civil engineering), Hejl Lee Associates (utility design), WHM Transportation Engineers, Canales, Martinez and Nash (surveying) ASD Consultants (cost estimating) Resource Design (landscape architecture), Emily Little Architects, Sherry Wagner (historic interpretation), Bos Lighting, and fd2s (wayfinding).

The Project is being implemented in two phases.

Phase I: Roadway Reconstruction, San Antonio to Colorado Street – Completed October 2004

Prior to beginning construction of Phase I improvements on Second Street, traffic pattern changes occurred to replace Second Street with Third Street as the one-way, westbound pair to Cesar Chavez. The work was begun in June 2004 and was completed prior to the November 2004 opening of City Hall. With Phase I complete, westbound traffic from Cesar Chavez now follows Brazos, Third, and San Antonio toward MoPac and the entire length of Second Street from San Antonio to Trinity is open to two-way traffic.

Upon completion of Phase I, the western 3 blocks of Second Street now have:

• 18’ wide concrete paver sidewalks on the south side from Colorado to San Antonio Street (built by CSC and City Hall),
• 44’ wide, two-way, two lane, new, asphalt roadway with parking on the north side,
• 32’ wide concrete paver sidewalks with a double row of trees on the north side of the street from Colorado to Lavaca (built by AMLI), and
• 18’ wide temporary concrete sidewalks from Lavaca to San Antonio.

Phase II: Great Streets sidewalks and roadway reconstruction, Colorado to Trinity Street

Street and sidewalk widths in the Phase II area will be the same as in the Phase I area. But Phase II will provide a full build out of the Great Streets Pedestrian-Oriented Streetscape Typology. On the north side of the street, a 32’ wide sidewalk with a double row of trees will provide ample, shaded space for sidewalk cafés next to store fronts. Between the double row of trees, a path of large-size pavers, used to enhance walkability and wheelchair user comfort, meanders like a dry stream bed, inviting a leisurely stroll through the retail district, Where conflicts with underground utilities preclude planting trees, trellises with vines will provide the shade so essential in Austin’s climate. Benches, trash receptacles and bike racks, located in the curbside zone and consistent in design with those installed on other Great Streets projects in the Downtown, will make the street a functional and inviting place. The Great Streets light pole, uniquely designed for Austin’s downtown, will elegantly reduce clutter in the streetscape by consolidating into one system roadway and pedestrian lighting as well as traffic and pedestrian signals, street signs/wayfinding systems and special events banners. The south side of the street will mirror the north side improvements but at an 18’ width.

“Rivers, Streams and Springs”: The Copley Wolff Design Group’s team has identified a unifying theme and developed a schematic design for the streetscape that reflects Austin’s unique relationship to its most precious natural resource - water. The intersections with the north/south streets, named for Texas rivers, will receive special paving treatment in keeping with the theme of the street. Local artists Ryah Christensen, Mark Schatz, Sun McColgin and Jill Bedgood will design medallions for installation in the pavement that interpret the social history and ecology of each river’s watershed. Dallas artists Susan Lamb and Philip Magilow will design a “Spring” sculptural zone including a functioning drinking fountain, to be located between San Jacinto and Brazos streets. A larger-scale “Spring” being implemented in partnership with Austin Water Utility, and designed by Barbara Grygutis, will be located at Congress Avenue, marking the intersection of the Second Street and Congress Avenue Districts. Other public/private partners are being sought for development of additional water-related art opportunities along the street.

Contacts

Sponsor Department Representative: Pollyanne Melton, NPZD, 974-6459
Project Manager: Art Barrow, PWD 974-7232