Austin police say arrests, use-of-force incidents fall on 6th Street after reopening to vehicles

February 9, 2026

Austin police say public-safety indicators improved on 6th Street after the city reopened the corridor to vehicular traffic on Thursdays through Sundays. The reopening, announced in January 2025 by city officials and APD Police Chief Lisa Davis, aimed to boost pedestrian safety and reduce injuries to officers.

APD emailed its data showing a 25 percent decrease in arrests and use-of-force incidents from 2024 to 2025, and a 24 percent drop in officer injuries over the same period. The department also recorded a 7 percent fall in person crimes, which include assaults, a category commanders identified as a frequent cause of arrests on the strip.

Carey Chaudoir, the APD commander overseeing downtown, said the department plans to keep the street open on those nights, with public safety as the priority. Chaudoir credited changes in how the street is managed for some of the improvement, noting the city and APD have focused on moving away from a street-party environment.

City staff and APD crews added lighting, cleared alleyways, and placed concrete barriers to temporarily widen sidewalks while the 6th Street Mobility and Revitalization project continues. Officials say those measures helped spread crowds and reduce conflicts that previously arose when the street was closed to vehicles.

Not all trends moved in the same direction. APD data shows aggravated property crimes rose by 23 percent, with increases in credit card and cell phone thefts. Chaudoir said concentrated crowds made it easier for thieves to target phones and wallets during busy nights.

The department still closed 6th Street to vehicle traffic on about 40 days last year, particularly in October when large events like the Austin City Limits festival, Formula 1 race weekends, and Halloween brought unusually heavy crowds. Those closures were used to manage exceptionally large gatherings and special event logistics.

City Council member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, who represents 6th Street and much of the University of Texas West Campus, said reopening the street is not a single solution for all safety concerns. Qadri said he understands staff prioritized public safety when making the decision, but he remains cautious about pedestrian impacts and overall safety as changes continue.

Qadri described a longer-term goal of making 6th Street a place that offers opportunity beyond late-night nightlife, and he said progress is gradual. City and police leaders say they will keep monitoring data and adjust tactics as the mobility project advances.