AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin is trying to assist restaurants and customers ordering food amid the recent health order to close restaurant dining rooms.
On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a public health disaster, which enacts a ban on dine-in eating and gathering in groups of more than 10 as the state ramps up efforts to battle the coronavirus.
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Austin city officials shut down bars, restaurants for six weeks
The order goes into effect today (3/17) and will last until at least May 1.
In an attempt to improve community access to curb-side food pickups, the Austin Transportation Department is installing temporary customer pickup zones for local restaurants currently transitioning into take-out and delivery-only services.
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These new zones have been marked with white and blue signs that say "Food Pick-UP Priority." So far crews have established approximately 50 curbside customer pickup zones to make it easier for customers to quickly check in with businesses and receive their food.
"These pick-up zones will help our community practice social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19 while still supporting our local businesses & maintaining access to food," the city wrote.
Areas with a high concentration of restaurants in locations that do not have enough loading options and where off-street parking is unavailable have been chosen to be the first to receive the temporary customer pickup zones.
"Austin Transportation plans to install more temporary customer pick-up zones in the coming days based on needs evaluations and field observations," the city said in a press release.
The city plans to install more of these zones in the coming days' based on-road evaluations. Restaurants can request an evaluation by filling out the online contact form.
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