City of Austin launches Spanish-language option for 3-1-1 mobile app

January 21, 2026

The City of Austin announced Jan. 6 that the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app now includes a full Spanish-language option. Austin 3-1-1 serves as the city's non-emergency information and service request line, handling reports and requests about city services and public works.

City staff said Spanish speakers can now submit non-emergency service requests and report problems directly through the app in Spanish. Marisa Campbell, a senior public information specialist with Austin 3-1-1, said the update was designed to broaden access and make sure language does not prevent residents from getting help or staying informed.

The mobile app will switch to Spanish automatically when a user's phone is set to that language. For people who use the web version, officials say a globe icon at the top of the page lets users change the site language manually.

Work on translating and integrating Spanish into the app took roughly a year, city staff reported, including a six-month soft-launch period to test functionality and user experience. The city said that phase helped refine translations and the technical flow before a full public release.

Officials also noted that Spanish-language requests will not face additional delay compared with English submissions. The app uses real-time translation for incoming user entries and for request updates, which city staff said keeps response times consistent across languages.

City demographer Lila Valencia highlighted the significance of the update given Austin's population makeup. Hispanics make up about 32 percent of the city's residents, roughly 320,000 people, making that group the city's second-largest ethnic population.

Valencia outlined differences in English proficiency within the Hispanic community, noting approximately 39 percent of Hispanics in Austin speak both English and Spanish, while about 24 percent do not speak English well. She said lack of language access is more common among older Hispanics, with smaller shares among working-age adults and children.

Valencia warned that when information and services are not equally accessible, city programs risk reaching only a portion of the population. City officials framed the Spanish-language app option as a step toward more inclusive service delivery and broader civic access.