Austin’s Red River Street May Be Getting a Makeover. Here’s What You Need To Know.

Red River Cultural District officials outlined a plan for the downtown street in the next five years, including a wish-list of safety improvements, new murals and signage, and greenery.

The district’s "Soundtrack to the Future” plan comes just two weeks after the district announced it contributed $2.3 billion to Austin’s economy over the last five years.

“This district has helped shape Austin’s cultural identity for decades, and protecting it will require real coordination, investment — both public and private — and a shared commitment to the venues, small businesses, artists, and community spaces that make it matter,” said Nicole Klepadlo, Executive Director of Red River Cultural District.

Part of the plan calls for making Red River Street more walkable and visually cohesive, officials say. Some of the changes the district wants to make include:

• Solar-powered lighting from 10th to 15th streets
• New trees
• Adding directional signage and district banners
• Public murals
• New trash cans
• Adding bike racks
• Traffic-calming measures like decreasing speed limits
• Exterior upgrades to venues like The 13th Floor and Elysium

Next, the district will have to secure funding to finance the upgrades. District officials did not say how much the upgrades may cost.

“We’re excited to see where this road goes next as the Red River team plan for meetings with city council, city commissions, and city staff and in the coming months, although so far, public feedback from our community has been very positive and supportive,” a statement from the district says.

While the renderings the organization released are not set in stone, they give a good idea of what the road downtown may look like in the future: