Council sets hearings for multiple street projects and hears details on $15 million Oakland/First Avenue reconstruction

Austin City Council received feasibility reports and called public hearings on multiple street-improvement projects, including a detailed presentation on a major reconstruction of Oakland Avenue and First Avenue estimated at about $15 million.

Council approved resolutions calling public hearings for several projects (see "Votes at a glance" below). Staff described the Oakland/First Avenue corridor project as a three‑phase reconstruction to be built in 2025–27 with new 8‑inch concrete pavement, storm‑sewer and sanitary‑sewer replacements, decorative street lighting, widened sidewalks in selected locations and traffic‑pattern changes on one segment of Oakland Avenue. Staff said the project will remove most boulevard trees in the corridor because of narrow boulevards and construction impacts.

Key details from staff: The total project estimate is about $15,000,000; staff said grants totaling $7,680,000 will be applied over several years. The project will be phased: 2025 work will begin near Twin Towers and proceed west; 2026 will continue the corridor and include a First Avenue segment; 2027 will finish remaining sections. Staff said the city will use assessment bonds and grants to fund about two‑thirds of the project, with wastewater and storm funds used for utility work.

Sidewalks and assessments: Staff recommended sidewalks be replaced at 5‑foot widths in some locations and 8‑foot widths on specified sides of the new one‑way segments; staff also recommended the city not assess homeowners for the sidewalk portion on the Oakland/First Avenue project because the work involves full corridor reconstruction and grant funding. Assessment billing will use the 2025 rates for all properties but will be charged in the fall of the year their phase is constructed (2025, 2026 or 2027), staff said.

Construction and community impacts: Staff acknowledged the corridor overlaps bridge and detour work and that staging will be planned to avoid major school‑period interruptions; the project schedule is driven in part by grant timing, and staff said delaying construction could jeopardize grant funding. Councilors asked whether further delay was possible; staff said delay would risk forfeiting grant dollars.

Votes at a glance:
- Item 10: Sixth Street NE (Thirtieth Ave to 30 Sixth Ave NE), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 11: First Avenue SW (Fourth Drive to Twelfth St SW), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 12: Oakland Avenue / First Avenue SW major corridor (project 25‑103), public hearing moved from April 7 to March 3, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 13: Sixth Avenue NE / Eighteenth Drive NE (project 25‑106), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.
- Item 14: Fifth Street SW mill-and-overlay (project 25‑107), public hearing set for Feb. 18, 2025 — resolution approved.

All feasibility‑report resolutions passed by council vote during the meeting.

Ending: Staff will post formal notices, prepare assessment letters for affected property owners and return with final plans, contract documents and assessment amounts as each project's design and schedule are finalized.