When we talk about making transportation improvements in Austin, often the conversation revolves around funding. Whether it’s the city’s budget or the $720 million mobility bond proposal, we’re usually talking about money.

But there is another way to help fix Austin’s traffic problems – city planning. CodeNEXT, the city’s own effort to rewrite its land development code, is trying to do just that. The team just published its third “code prescription.” This one focuses on transportation.

These code prescriptions are designed to be a preview of what will likely be in the new draft code (to be released in early 2017). The CodeNEXT team hopes that the prescriptions will serve as conversation starters to gather feedback on whether or not these code changes reflect the community’s values.

Here are the major topics covered in the Mobility Prescription:

• Changing from an auto-centric city to a multimodal region
• Mitigating the effects of congestion
• Parking
• Affordability
• Cost of growth
• Safety

Throughout the Mobility Prescription is a focus on increased density along transit corridors, unbundling the cost of housing from the cost of parking, and creating compact and connected development patterns to encourage alternatives to driving. You can read the entire Mobility Prescription here. You can also give your feedback on the prescription through theonline SpeakUpAustin portal.

This intersection between transportation, city planning, and the environment is going to be the primary topic of discussion at our next Civics 101 Happy Hour on August 16th from 6pm to 8pm. Be sure to save the date!