Survey Says: Sabine Street Promenade Is A Go!

Another win for Austin and a much needed boost for the neighborhood surrounding E. 6th Street.

Back in September, DAB stopped just shy of begging readers to weigh in on CAMPO’s survey of the public about which projects should be awarded grants; specifically, advocating support for granting funds to Austin bike share and streetscape improvements to Sabine and E 6th Street.  Yesterday, we were excited to learn that CAMPO approved funding for Austin bike share system.

CAMPO has also awarded $2.7 million for the construction of a Sabine Street promenade, that will involve the development of sidewalks, bike lanes and pedestrian amenities between downtown Austin’s 4th and 7th Streets.

This idea was originally framed as part of the implementation of the Waller Creek District Master Plan.  It progressed last year as the mobility bond package was approved by voters, and the Sabine Street promenade was bundled with improvements planned for “dirty 6ixth”, ostensibly to provide connectivity between Waller Creek and Congress Ave by way of Austin’s most historic street.

Here’s the math as I understand it.  Total budget for the project was $3.4MM.  The 2011 mobility bond will provide $700,000 as the requisite matching funds for CAMPO to award $2.7MM.

So, what specifically do we know about the promenade?  Not much and but we’ve reached out to City staff to learn more.

All the while, local businesses are working to improve Waller Creek at 6th Street.  How?  Ping pong.

Full disclosure: I’m an owner at the Sabine On 5th condos.