The Austin Police Department has announced plans to reopen its popular Sixth Street to vehicular traffic during weekend nights, despite recent concerns in the wake of the New Year’s Eve terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
The move comes as law enforcement agencies nationwide remain cautious about safety for upcoming large events.
“The opening is in phases … the current phase is opening it on Thursdays and Sundays, and that has been taking effect over the past three weekends and without any incident,” said Austin police Chief Lisa Davis during a press conference. “Priorities here are keeping people safe.”
In response to the attack in New Orleans, where a man drove a truck into a crowd of holiday revelers on Bourbon Street, causing multiple casualties, Austin police said they are taking additional precautions.
“Next couple of weeks, we will see increased presence of officers, not just in the downtown area, but throughout the city,” Davis said.
The initiative to open Sixth Street is not new.
“Since the 90s and the 80s, I believe, it has been tried multiple times to open the street, and it can be done, but we have to be very thoughtful about the way to do it,” Davis said.
To ensure public safety, a crowd management expert and a crowd psychologist have been hired to assist with the process, according to the chief.
“We’re gonna start with the 300 and 400 block of Sixth Street, because that is where it was concentrated,” Davis said. “When it comes to a point we’re seeing crowds that are too big, we’re gonna close the street down and so just to get that flexibility.”