APD still planning on opening 6th Street up to cars after New Orleans truck attack

APD still looking at opening 6th Street to cars

Austin police say they are still planning to open Sixth Street to vehicular traffic, even after the deadly truck attack in New Orleans where 14 people were killed when a man drove a truck into a crowd of Bourbon Street revelers on New Year's Day.

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Police said they are still planning on opening Sixth Street up for vehicular traffic during weekend nights. This comes after a man plowed his truck into a large crowd on Bourbon Street on Wednesday.

Barricades have blocked off Sixth Street in Austin on weekend nights for years. Just last month, Austin Police and other departments said they were looking at options to open the area and allow cars to go through.

"Opening Sixth Street. Putting cars where pedestrians are causes a problem," Downtown business owner Bob Woody said.

APD looking at reopening 6th Street

The Austin Police Department is looking at possibly reopening 6th Street to vehicle traffic.

On New Year's Day in New Orleans, at least 14 people were killed, and dozens were injured when a man driving a truck steered around a police blockade, plowed into a large crowd on Bourbon Street, then got out and started shooting. He was killed by law enforcement.

This is being investigated as an act of terror.

"First of all, we're going to learn that we have to get better at preventing these crimes. Number two is that we're all vulnerable to terrorism still in this United States and it’s very much so alive and well today. Number three is that law enforcement, we need to get ahead of this all the time, not just sometimes, right, and we have to get it right 100% of the time, because otherwise we're going to have sadly carnage and we're going to have these folks that are going to die in the midst of what they perceive to be a safe event in this case, celebrating the new year," criminologist Dr. Alex del Carmen said.

Law enforcement agencies around the country are now on high alert as big events are coming up.

"We have the Super Bowl, we have all these college bowls coming up, and then we have various festivities across the country, including, of course, the most significant one, which is the transition of power on the 20th. So when you put all of that together, it really becomes almost a nightmare for law enforcement in the context of how do you understand the intelligence coming in, how do you analyze it, how do you put it into practice in terms of preventive mechanisms, and how do you get ahead of this?" Dr. Del Carmen said.

APD talks safety on 6th St. in downtown Austin

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis talks about plans to improve safety on 6th Street after the recent terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said her department is increasing officer visibility and working closely with state and federal partners in a statement following the attack in New Orleans:

"Although there are no known threats to the Austin community at this time, APD is engaged in additional proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our community and officers. We are saddened by the loss of life and those injured in New Orleans. We ask our community to remain vigilant. It is imperative to call 9-1-1 should you observe any suspicious activities or become aware of potential threats."

"Anytime you have mass gatherings or crowds gathering, that is a high vulnerability and there is a risk," International Association of Venue Managers director of safety and security Mark Herrera said. "Could it happen again? Absolutely."

Herrera said preparation is key to keeping people safe.

"Your physical barriers are a deterrent, the combination of trained personnel, advanced technologies, and rapid response protocols to that unified incident command system is the framework for protecting attendees and guests at all events," Herrera said.

Austin Police create plan to make East 6th street safer

The Safer Sixth Street Initiative is a plan to make the popular entertainment district in Austin safer.

In June 2023, the ‘Safer Sixth Street Initiative’ included plans to either widen the sidewalks or have bollards to reduce people from congregating in the road.

Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, representing the area, has previously said he was a proponent of bollards, saying:

"We are always looking at ways to keep pedestrians safe downtown, and many cities have utilized bollards to great effect to that end. While these are still early discussions, I am very open to these kinds of simple and effective commonsense measures that save lives."

Neither plan has yet to come to fruition.

Chief Davis said Sixth Street has been open for cars to go through on Thursday and Sunday nights for the past three weekends without incident. She said the next phase is to make the curb edges taller and eventually work up to having every night open to traffic.

Latest on New Orleans truck attack

Louisiana officials are addressing concerns about security around New Orleans after the deadly terror attack. Meanwhile, police are revealing more about how the suspect reached the city. FOX's Rebekah Castor has the latest.

Council Member Qadri’s statement on the New Orleans terror attack:

"The tragedy in New Orleans underscores the need for our City to remain dedicated to safe streets and public spaces. Whether you're a local patron on 6th Street or visiting from abroad for SXSW, City Council and Departments like the Austin Police Department, Transportation and Public Works, and Homeland Security and Emergency Management are constantly evaluating our policies and procedures to keep you safe. I'm committed to exploring with staff enhanced safety treatments for major street closures downtown, along with anything applicable to our City that investigations in New Orleans may reveal."

When FOX 7 asked the city about trainings for Sixth Street bar owners, a city representative said that since April 2023, DSD’s Entertainment and Permitting Services team has organized additional trainings for bars, clubs, and venues throughout Austin, not just 6th St. These include:

Two Active Shooter Response/Stop the Bleed Trainings
Four Overdose Awareness and Naloxone Administration Trainings
One Door Staff Training (conflict resolution, de-escalation, reducing liability, etc.)

In the next few months, there are also plans to hold two more Overdose Awareness and Naloxone Administration trainings.

These trainings are part of ongoing efforts to ensuring a safe and vibrant nightlife in Austin and are designed to educate and empower bar staff and enhance the experience of both guests and staff across Austin’s entertainment districts.

The Source: Information in this story comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis.

Downtown Crime and Public Safety