AUSTIN, Texas — Beginning this weekend, westbound East Sixth Street in Austin, an entertainment district, will remain open to vehicle traffic at night Thursday through Sunday.

What You Need To Know

  • Beginning Thursday, East Sixth Street in Austin will be open to vehicle traffic on weekend nights

  • Previously, the street was closed to vehicles, allowing people to congregate in the street

  • The city says people in the entertainment district will be safer on sidewalks 

  • There are safety concerns following the New Year's Day truck attack in New Orleans 

North and southbound traffic at Sixth Street intersections with San Jacinto, Trinity and Neches streets will remain closed Thursday through Sunday.

The City of Austin in a news release said that the closures allowed massive crowds to gather in the street and that the change will make the popular attraction safer.

In the wake of the New Year’s Day Bourbon Street truck attack in New Orleans that killed 14, not everyone thinks opening Sixth Street is a good idea.

“People utilizing a vehicle as a weapon is definitely something that we shouldn’t have to think about, but now we do,” said Ernie Villarreal, owner of Meat & Bread, a downtown Austin sandwich shop. 

The city has installed rubber curbs and white flex posts between Red River and Brazos to separate widened sidewalks from vehicle lanes and to prevent traffic from crossing into pedestrian areas, the news release says. Fencing has been installed behind the rubber curbs to prevent pedestrians on the sidewalk from entering the street in areas between intersections.

Still, Villarreal is not entirely convinced.

“I know the barricade they’re putting up — I just don’t know how durable it is,” he said.

Despite concern following the tragedy in New Orleans, Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis at a news conference on Wednesday said that people are safer on the sidewalk than in the street.

“These officers that do this every weekend — you can talk to them — what they say is they put these barricades up and they get to work on what they need to do, and they pray nothing happens. It is safer to have pedestrians on a sidewalk, a sidewalk that is wider, a sidewalk that is managed,” Davis said. 

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson concurred with Davis’ assessment.

“Sixth Street should be a place that is vibrant at all hours, that has ample walking space, and restaurants, bars and retail that appeal to a wide range of people,” Watson said. “Most of all, Sixth Street must be safe.”

The city said that in December a “soft launch” to open Sixth Street to vehicle traffic on Thursday and Sunday nights took place and that no incidents occurred then.

“This brings us to where we are today, opening Sixth Street to vehicular traffic on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights,” Davis said. “If you are driving, make sure to maintain a slower speed and be aware of pedestrians. Also, please be aware of new signage in the area relating to parking, street closures, and more.”