Rainey Street could see changes

AUSITN (KXAN) - Plans are underway to change the look of Rainey Street in Austin. The area is seeing a lot of development. But as quickly as its growing commercially, the infrastructure is not up to par.

At Thursday's city council meeting, a team of people from various city departments presented their plans for improving the Rainey Street area.

The plans include sidewalks; first, repairing damaged ones. Also, the plans include constructing new sidewalks.

The proposal also recommends adding more parking spaces, parking meters and pay stations.

Planners want to make Rainey Street one-way heading northbound, allowing for reverse angle parking.

Some business owners in the area say they like that idea.

 "I think one-way will help the traffic flow. I think that's the best option," said Vilod Lagi, who owns a business just one block from Rainey Street.

But not everyone likes that idea. Other business owners want to keep it a two-way street.

"It's been my experience talking to other business owners in the area that there's almost anonymous opposition to that," said Ben Seigel, who owns Bangers, "Not only do we think it would be more dangerous, in the case of an emergency when a fire truck or police car has to come in, but turning this into a one-way street further alienates businesses from downtown."

Other proposed improvements include re-doing the traffic circle at River Street and adding better lighting.