Prioritize Community Needs on the East Cesar Chavez St. Redesign

Mayor Kirk Watson, Councilman José Velàsquez, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Richard Mendoza (Transportation and Public Works), Dr. Lindsey Wilson (Equity and Inclusion), Roberto Gonzalez (CapMetro), MobilityBonds@austintexas.gov

Using Austin Mobility Bonds, the City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department has proposed safety and mobility improvements on East Cesar Chavez between Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane, as well as on Red Bluff Road. With a projected development of over 1,000 apartment units and their residents accessing E. Cesar Chavez St., we need to keep our two lanes flowing in each direction.

The community urges the City of Austin to ensure that the redesign prioritizes safety, accessibility, environmental resilience, and equitable transportation. While we appreciate the Department’s outreach through surveys and listening sessions, we want to make our collective concerns and recommendations clear before a final plan is developed.

We respectfully call on the Transportation and Public Works Department to:

  • Keep our eastbound and westbound two lane traffic on Cesar Chavez St.
  • New bus stops on the south side of Cesar Chavez St.
  • New pedestrian crossing island beacons to help people cross safely
  • Adjust traffic signals to keep vehicles moving smoothly through intersections
  • ADA-Compliant Infrastructure: Upgrade all sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb cuts to meet federal standards, ensuring dignity and mobility for elders, disabled residents, and families.

We believe that these improvements will better serve the community, a historically underserved and culturally significant part of Austin. The community deserves a transportation plan that enhances safety, respects local input, and supports equitable development.

We urge the Transportation Department to incorporate these requests into the final design.

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To: Mayor Kirk Watson, Councilman José Velàsquez, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Richard Mendoza (Transportation and Public Works), Dr. Lindsey Wilson (Equity and Inclusion), Roberto Gonzalez (CapMetro), MobilityBonds@austintexas.gov
From: [Your Name]

East Cesar Chavez Street is more than pavement—it's the backbone of a proud, resilient, and diverse community. Recent proposals are threatening to redesign this roadway without honoring the people who live here, work here, and visit establishments alongside it. We need to keep our two lanes flowing in each direction.

We're calling on the City of Austin, Austin Transportation Department, and regional planners to embrace inclusive, community-first development. With a projected development of over 1,000 apartment units and their residents accessing E. Cesar Chavez Street, we need to keep our two lanes flowing in each direction.

For our community this means:
• Rejecting a one lane vehicle lane in each direction with two-way left turn lanes between
Pleasant Valley Road and Shady Lane.

• New bus stops on the south side of Cesar Chavez Street

• New pedestrian crossing island beacons to help people cross safely.

• Adjust traffic signal to keep vehicles moving through intersections.

• ADA-Compliant Infrastructure:
Upgrade all sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb cuts to meet or exceed federal standards
ensuring dignity and mobility for elders, disabled residents, and families.

We advocate for mobility justice in city planning processes. We build partnerships that expand mobility options. Mobility must support connection to place, tradition, and community identity.