The Austin City Council adopted a resolution on September 1, 2005 directing the City Manager to convert Cesar Chavez from Brazos St. to San Antonio St. from one-way to two-way traffic flow in accordance with Option 2 (additional turn lanes) and urban design enhancements.

Stakeholder input, as well as previous visions of the Town Lake corridor adjacent to downtown Austin, requested that the City of Austin consider the development of a major esplanade along the Town Lake edge of Cesar Chavez Boulevard. This esplanade is designed to be a maximum of 32 ft. wide and includes a double row of trees and new overlooks. The esplanade area also provides new access routes to the Town Lake Park and Town Lake Trail. The urban design treatment proposes an all weather surface of brick pavers and concrete pavement as well as benches for sitting. New accessible ramps and crosswalks will be provided to enhance pedestrian traffic and pedestrian lighting will provide ground level illumination for use of the corridor in the evening hours.

Construction is slated to begin in January of 2007, and is estimated to last for six months.