AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative (CAUDI) is preparing for the first construction phase to redesign Congress Avenue between Cesar Chavez and 7th Streets in downtown Austin.
The goal of the revamp is to refine and develop an urban design that will result in a “human-centric, multi-functional complete street with a clear and attractive identity,” the website said.
Next Tuesday, the CAUDI project will host a community open house to share project updates about the redesign. According to the project website, feedback collected in 2024-25 helped direct the initiative to begin the first phase to expand sidewalks and pedestrian zones, improve tree health, upgrade bikeway barriers and add key turn lanes for traffic operations.
Funding for the revamp is from the city’s 2012 and 2020 bond programs. The city had $22 million available from the 2020 Active Transportation and Safety Board to cover portions of the first phase of work.
In January 2025, Austin City Council members supported the proposal to revamp Congress Avenue between Riverside Drive and 11th Street. According to previous reporting, that project was expected to cost around $130 million.
According to the website, funding for the first phase is estimated at $13 million and construction is expected to start in early 2026 through 2027.
The open house for phase one will be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 506 Congress Avenue.
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