As of now, the proposal includes removing all parking spaces from the Capitol to Lady Bird Lake. Also, removing at least two lanes of vehicle traffic to allow for the widening of the sidewalks, more storefront space, and areas known as “flexi-spaces”, which basically would be just open space where food kiosks, artist exhibits, and more would replace the current parking spaces.
As talks continue over transforming Congress Avenue into a pedestrian-dominated strip, one of the proposals includes the addition of new public restrooms.
Each of the public toilets the City of Austin will install around downtown could cost as much as $140,000 apiece. And now, a recommendation has also been made for more toilets on Congress Avenue. Adam Greenfield with the Pedestrian Advisory Council said there are only two bathrooms accessible to the public on Congress right now and, he said, public toilets are “just something civilized places have”.
The city plans to spend $25,000 a year to clean the toilets twice per day.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
